Kentucky Waterways Alliance

What Kentucky Waterways Alliance does

Kentucky Waterways Alliance (KWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, with a mission to protect, restore, and celebrate Kentucky's 90,000 miles of waterways. The organization operates across seven river basins in the state, with leadership including Executive Director Michael Washburn, Policy Director Nick Hart, Watershed Program Director Laura Gregory, and Artist-in-Residence Al Gorman. It is the Kentucky state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.

KWA's programmatic portfolio spans watershed planning, policy advocacy, community cleanups, and cultural programming. Core programs include the Commonwealth Sweep cleanup initiative, the Watershed Network Summit and broader Kentucky Watershed Network of local groups, technical policy work (including testimony on Senate Bill 39 and engagement with EPA, Kentucky Division of Water, ORSANCO, and Louisville MSD), the Co-Immunity Project, and the River Cowboys documentary. Consumer-facing campaigns such as Clean Water Better Beer and Clean Water Better Bourbon link water-quality outcomes to branded partners including West Sixth Brewing, Patagonia, and Hydro Flask. The organization operates with 1-10 employees.

Revenue is generated through individual donations and memberships, merchandise sales, and grants from foundation, corporate, and agency sources. Strategic partnerships span federal and state agencies, regional bodies (Ohio River Basin Alliance), national federations (National Wildlife Federation), and consumer brands. The organization's 30th anniversary was marked in 2023, and its regional footprint has expanded through participation in multi-state Ohio River Basin restoration planning.

Name

Kentucky Waterways Alliance

Legal name

Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Inc

Website

https://kwalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that protects, restores, and celebrates the state's 90,000 miles of waterways across seven river basins through policy advocacy, watershed planning, community cleanups, and strategic agency and brand partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy and Watershed Conservation

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Watershed conservation services
• Environmental advocacy nonprofit
• Waterway restoration programs
• Watershed planning services
• River cleanup events

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: KWA operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization supported by individual donations from members and supporters who pay annual dues or make one-time contributions.
2. Merchandise Sales: KWA sells branded merchandise including t-shirts through their Square online store. A $5.00 flat rate shipping fee applies to all orders.
3. Grants and Funded Programs: KWA receives grant funding from organizations including U.S. EPA under Clean Water Act §319(h), Kentucky Division of Water, National Wildlife Federation, Hydro Flask Parks for All program, and other foundations for watershed planning and implementation projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kentucky Waterways Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental organization that protects, restores, and celebrates Kentucky's 90,000 miles of waterways. It delivers watershed planning assistance, coordinates cleanup events across the state's seven major river basins, runs educational programs and an annual watershed summit, administers grant funding for local watershed groups, advocates for clean water policy at the state and federal level, and sells branded merchandise to support its mission.

Product overview

Kentucky Waterways Alliance is a non-profit environmental organization offering programs and services to protect, restore, and celebrate Kentucky's waterways. The organization operates an e-commerce merchandise store selling branded apparel, provides newsletter subscription services, organizes the annual Kentucky Watershed Network Summit for education and networking, coordinates the Commonwealth Sweep cleanup program across Kentucky's seven river basins, and offers watershed planning services and grants to local communities. These offerings are standalone programs rather than an integrated software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kentucky Watershed Network: A network of watershed groups and stewards working to protect Kentucky's waterways
• Commonwealth Sweep
• River Cowboys
• Co-Immunity Project
• Clean Water Better Beer
• Clean Water Better Bourbon

Products and services

• KWA Merchandise Store Online merchandise store selling branded apparel including the 'Kentucky is Water' unisex t-shirt available in multiple colors, with $5.00 flat rate shipping within the US.
• Commonwealth Sweep Program Annual cleanup program hosting at least one cleanup in each of Kentucky's seven river basins, partnering with local organizations and funded by Hydro Flask's Parks For All program and other sponsors.
• Watershed Planning Services Assistance to groups and communities on watershed projects including writing watershed plans, implementing Best Management Practices, and organizing creek cleanups using the Watershed Planning Guidebook for Kentucky Communities.
• Watershed Grants Program Grant program supporting local watershed groups with cost-share programs for septic system replacements and agricultural best management practices to reduce pollutant runoff.
• Kentucky Watershed Network Summit Annual summit bringing together watershed stewards, leaders, volunteers, professionals, community members, and officials to learn about water quality, share resources, and network. The 2026 summit will be held at Berea College on October 14-15 with the theme 'What's in Your Water?'.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 82 miles of stream cleaned and over 6,000 hours of volunteer time in Red River alone
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Wildlife FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKWA is the National Wildlife Federation affiliate for Kentucky. This partnership involves collaboration on Ohio River Basin restoration planning, regional conservation initiatives, and joint advocacy for federal environmental protections.
• Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKWA participates in the Ohio River Basin Alliance which is leading a collaborative effort to develop a regional restoration and protection plan for the 14-state Ohio River Basin. The plan addresses toxic pollution, sewage contamination, nonpoint pollution, and flooding.
• Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerORSANCO collaborates with KWA on Ohio River water quality monitoring, pollution control, and the regional restoration plan. KWA participates in ORSANCO-sponsored events and initiatives.
• U.S. Environmental Protection AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKWA receives grant funding under §319(h) of the Clean Water Act through EPA to support watershed planning guidebook development and implementation programs.
• Kentucky Division of WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKWA works with Kentucky Division of Water on Clean Water Act Nonpoint Source Section 319(h) grants, watershed planning guidebook development, and approval of watershed plans.
• Friends of Red RivercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-hosts of the annual Wild & Scenic Red RiverFest celebration and collaborative partners on Red River cleanup activities, river access improvements, and environmental education programs.
• Hydro FlaskminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHydro Flask's Parks for All program provided grant funding to support KWA's 2024 Commonwealth Sweep cleanup events across Kentucky's seven river basins.
• Louisville Metro Sewer District (MSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSD partners with KWA on Beargrass Creek restoration planning and co-sponsors the annual Beargrass Creek Clean Sweep events.
• West Sixth BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWest Sixth hosts regular fundraising events for KWA at their multiple taproom locations. During September KWA Month, West Sixth donates a portion of sales to KWA.
• Olmsted Parks ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with KWA on Beargrass Creek cleanup events and watershed stewardship efforts in Louisville's park system.
• PatagoniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPatagonia presented a grant check to KWA to support ongoing environmental protection efforts and has partnered with KWA at community events.
• Wolfe County Sanitation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKWA's Watershed Program Director Laura Gregory serves on the Wolfe County Sanitation District Board of Directors. The district received funding for a new wastewater treatment plant benefiting the Red River.
• Quest OutdoorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuest Outdoors hosts KWA at community events and has fostered the relationship between Patagonia and KWA, supporting KWA for 31 years.
• Kentucky River AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKWA works with Kentucky River Authority on river management issues. Kentucky River Authority co-presents the Wild & Scenic Red RiverFest.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MountainTrue: Regional nonprofit based in western North Carolina that protects forests, waters, and communities. Comparable as a regional grassroots environmental advocacy organization with watershed and water quality programs.
• River Network: National nonprofit that supports a network of state and regional grassroots water organizations across the U.S. Directly comparable to KWA as a water-focused advocacy and capacity-building nonprofit working through local watershed groups.
• Indiana Wildlife Federation: Indiana state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation and a statewide conservation nonprofit. Directly comparable to KWA as another NWF state affiliate operating advocacy and habitat/water programs.
• West Virginia Rivers Coalition: Statewide advocacy organization dedicated to clean water and rivers in West Virginia. Directly comparable to KWA as a state-level water protection nonprofit with advocacy, restoration, and member-driven programs.
• Ohio River Foundation: Ohio-focused nonprofit working on water quality, education, and restoration in the Ohio River Basin. Highly comparable to KWA in geography of focus and program mix (watershed stewardship, education, advocacy).
• Waterkeeper Alliance: Global nonprofit network of Waterkeeper groups protecting rivers, streams, and coastlands. Comparable as a grassroots water protection umbrella organization, with affiliates operating locally much like KWA's watershed groups.
• Tennessee Clean Water Network: Statewide nonprofit working on water policy, watershed protection, and grassroots organizing in Tennessee. Highly comparable as a neighboring state-level water advocacy nonprofit with similar structure and mission.

Regional players

• Freshwater Land Trust: Regional land trust in Alabama focused on protecting freshwater resources through land conservation. Comparable in freshwater protection mission, though operating in a different geography with a land trust rather than advocacy model.

Broad incumbents

• American Rivers: National river conservation organization working on protection, restoration, and policy for rivers across the U.S. Comparable to KWA in mission and advocacy function, but with significantly larger national scope and resources.
• Sierra Club: Large national environmental organization with active water and river protection campaigns and grassroots chapters. Comparable as an advocacy-focused environmental nonprofit, though far broader in scope than KWA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KentuckyWaterwaysAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kentucky-waterways-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Waterways Alliance