Water Education Foundation

The Water Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing impartial information on water resource issues in California and the Southwestern United States. Founded in 1977 during a severe drought, the organization aims to foster public understanding and collaborative solutions through education, outreach, and stakeholder engagement[1][3][4].

Mission and Activities

The foundation's mission is to "inspire understanding of water and catalyze critical conversations to build bridges and inform collaborative decision-making." It develops educational materials, hosts watershed tours, and organizes leadership training programs and conferences to address challenges in sustainable water management[1][3]. Key initiatives include:

• Publications and documentaries: Produces articles, reports, and Emmy-winning public television documentaries, such as Salt of the Earth: Salinity in California’s Central Valley (2008) and High Stakes at the Salton Sea (2002), narrated by Val Kilmer[4].
• School and public programs: Collaborates with libraries and educational institutions to distribute water-related resources, including a 2009–2010 project with the California Center for the Book[4].
• Fiscal sponsorship: Supports projects like the documentary California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown, which highlights former Governor Pat Brown’s role in water infrastructure development[4].

Governance

The foundation is governed by a 33-member volunteer board representing water agencies, environmental groups, businesses, and public interests. It has received Candid’s Platinum Seal for transparency and is categorized under Environmental Quality, Protection, and Beautification by the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities[5][4].

Awards and Recognition

The organization has earned regional Emmy Awards for its documentaries and is recognized for its role in facilitating dialogue on critical water issues, such as salinity management and ecosystem restoration[4].