Cottonwood Mutual Water Company
Cottonwood Mutual Water Company shows consistent asset growth and no reported officer compensation over a decade.
EIN: 201880254 · Mtn Green, UT · NTEE: C32 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Cottonwood Mutual Water Company Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Cottonwood Mutual Water Company directs 95% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Cottonwood Mutual Water Company
Cottonwood Mutual Water Company (EIN: 201880254) is a nonprofit organization based in Mtn Green, UT, classified under NTEE code C32. The organization reported total revenue of $837K and total assets of $4.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Cottonwood Mutual Water Company's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Cottonwood Mutual Water Company with a Mission Score of 92 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 5%
- programs: 95%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Cottonwood Mutual Water Company allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 95%, fundraising: 0%. With 95% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers or key employees receive compensation, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with assets exceeding $4 million and annual revenues approaching $1 million. This suggests a volunteer-led leadership or that compensation is structured in a way not reported as officer compensation on the 990, but it significantly boosts their spending efficiency.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Cottonwood Mutual Water Company's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low liabilities relative to assets in earlier years (e.g., $3,666 liabilities vs. $3,600,062 assets in 2017), which could indicate minimal debt but also potentially less leverage for growth, though this has increased in recent years.
- The consistent 0% officer compensation is unusual for an organization of this scale and could warrant further investigation into how leadership is compensated or if it's entirely volunteer-run, to ensure sustainability and proper governance.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Cottonwood Mutual Water Company:
- Consistent asset growth, increasing from $298,061 in 2014 to $4,715,827 in 2023, indicating strong financial health and investment.
- Generally positive operating margins, with revenues often exceeding expenses (e.g., $734,280 revenue vs. $704,465 expenses in 2023).
- 0% reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting extremely high spending efficiency and direct allocation of funds to program services.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, particularly in earlier years, indicating a strong balance sheet.
- Consistent filing history over 11 periods, demonstrating good transparency and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cottonwood Mutual Water Company
Is Cottonwood Mutual Water Company a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Cottonwood Mutual Water Company (EIN: 201880254) some concerns. Mission Score: 92/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Cottonwood Mutual Water Company spend its money?
Cottonwood Mutual Water Company directs 95% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Cottonwood Mutual Water Company tax-deductible?
Cottonwood Mutual Water Company is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201880254). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Cottonwood Mutual Water Company a good charity?
Based on the available IRS 990 data, Cottonwood Mutual Water Company appears to be a very well-managed and efficient organization. They consistently grow assets, maintain positive operating margins, and report 0% officer compensation, suggesting a strong dedication to their mission and efficient use of resources.
How does Cottonwood Mutual Water Company manage its finances?
The company demonstrates sound financial management, consistently growing its assets from $298,061 in 2014 to $4,715,827 in 2023. Revenues generally exceed expenses, as seen in 2023 ($734,280 revenue vs. $704,465 expenses), indicating fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
What is the trend in Cottonwood Mutual Water Company's assets?
Cottonwood Mutual Water Company has shown a strong and consistent upward trend in assets, increasing from $298,061 in 2014 to $4,715,827 in 2023, reflecting significant growth and investment in its infrastructure or reserves.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Cottonwood Mutual Water Company showing financial trends over 11 years of public records:
Over 11 years of IRS 990 filings (2013–2023), Cottonwood Mutual Water Company's revenue has grown by 86.7%, moving from $393K to $734K. Total assets increased by 2227.3% over the same period, from $203K to $4.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 112.4%, from $332K to $704K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Cottonwood Mutual Water Company reported a surplus of $30K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $525K in liabilities against $4.7M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 11.1%), resulting in net assets of $4.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $734K | $704K | $4.7M | $525K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $693K | $709K | $4.7M | $565K | — | — |
| 2021 | $783K | $694K | $4.5M | $378K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $949K | $694K | $4.3M | $356K | — | — |
| 2019 | $644K | $670K | $4.0M | $370K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $639K | $541K | $3.7M | $41K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $581K | $580K | $3.6M | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $544K | $368K | $594K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $489K | $369K | $418K | $619 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $440K | $346K | $298K | $1K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $393K | $332K | $203K | $13 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $734K, expenses of $704K, and assets of $4.7M (revenue +5.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $693K, expenses of $709K, and assets of $4.7M (revenue -11.5% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $783K, expenses of $694K, and assets of $4.5M (revenue -17.5% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $949K, expenses of $694K, and assets of $4.3M (revenue +47.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $644K, expenses of $670K, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +0.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $639K, expenses of $541K, and assets of $3.7M (revenue +9.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $581K, expenses of $580K, and assets of $3.6M (revenue +6.9% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $544K, expenses of $368K, and assets of $594K (revenue +11.2% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $489K, expenses of $369K, and assets of $418K (revenue +11.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $440K, expenses of $346K, and assets of $298K (revenue +11.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $393K, expenses of $332K, and assets of $203K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Cottonwood Mutual Water Company is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.