Nonprofit · EIN 87-3663862
FRESHWATER LIFE INC
Tax-exempt · SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990-EZ | $40,197 | $71,107 | -$30,910 | $0 | $1,643 | -$1,643 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990-EZ | $138,312 | $203,620 | -$65,308 | $29,267 | – | $29,267 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990-EZ | $110,982 | $65,907 | $45,075 | $124,727 | $30,152 | $94,575 |
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $33,697
- Other revenue
- $6,500
Expenses
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $0
- Professional fees and payments to contractors
- $61,596
- Other expenses
- $9,511
- Program services (functional)
- $59,915
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $29,267
- Total assets, end of year
- $0
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,643
- Net assets, end of year
- -$1,643
- Gross receipts
- $40,197
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graden Froese | CEO | 10 | $0 |
| Don Croll | Board Chair | 4 | $0 |
| Bernie Tershy | Treasurer | 7 | $0 |
| Gregg Howald | Board Member | 5 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2024: 4 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graden Froese | CEO | 0 | $0 |
| Don Croll | Board Chair | 0 | $0 |
| Bernie Tershy | Treasurer | 0 | $0 |
| Gregg Howald | Board Member | 0 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2023: 3 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gregg Howald | Interim CEO | 10 | $29,244 |
| John Dawson | Board Chair | 3 | $0 |
| Bernie Tershy | Secretary | 3 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 235 ALTA AVE, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060-6439
- Mailing address (990-N for 2021)
- 2141 Byron Street, Palo Alto CA 94301
- Principal officer (990-N for 2021)
- John Dawson, 2141 Byron Street, Palo Alto CA 94301
- Signed the 990-EZ
- Bernie Tershy, Treasurer
- Phone
- (831) 430-6716
- Website
- www.fwlife.org
- Return prepared by
- Iryna AC
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 87-3663862 or by the name FRESHWATER LIFE INC.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
Save freshwater species from extinction
Program accomplishments
- In 2025 Freshwater Life:1.California- a.continued our work with the National Park Service to protect the Endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog Rana sierrae.2.Argentina- a.continued our work with Fundacin Somuncura to protect four critically endangered species in the Valcheta watershed El Rincon Stream Frog (Pleurodema somuncurense), Naked characin (Gymnocharacnus bergii) Critically Endangered, Freshwater snail (Potamolithus elenae) Critically Endangered*, Freshwater snail (Potamolithus valchetensis) Critically Endangered*b.Continued our work with Fundacin Mac Tobiano (formerly Aves Argentina) to protect the Critically Endangered Hooded Grebe Podiceps gallardoi 3.Global-a.Developed a network for academics, agencies and practitioners to compile records of all invasive freshwater animal eradications and create a 1.0 version of a publicly accessible database.b.Expanded our search for catalytic demonstration projects beyond North and South America to Africa and Asia.4.Organizational-a.Hired Dr. Graden Froese as our first full time CEOExpenses $59,915
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990-EZ on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 87-3663862
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2022
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990-N (e-Postcard)
- Category (NTEE)
- Animal-related (D30)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1
- Income (IRS master file)
- $40,197
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | December 2025 | $40,197 | $71,107 | $0 | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2024 | $138,312 | $203,620 | $29,267 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2023 | $110,982 | $65,907 | $124,727 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $275,300 | $225,800 | $50,105 | IRS |
| 990-N for 2021 Officer: John Dawson | December 31, 2021 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 87-3663862).
Questions about FRESHWATER LIFE INC
- What is the EIN of FRESHWATER LIFE INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FRESHWATER LIFE INC is 87-3663862.
- Is FRESHWATER LIFE INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
- Are donations to FRESHWATER LIFE INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FRESHWATER LIFE INC file?
- Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less.
- When is the next return of FRESHWATER LIFE INC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did FRESHWATER LIFE INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of FRESHWATER LIFE INC?
- The 990-N for 2021 names John Dawson.
- Who are the officers and directors of FRESHWATER LIFE INC?
- The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 4 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does FRESHWATER LIFE INC have?
- On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $40,197, expenses of $71,107 and total assets of $0 at year end.
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