The Larry Bingaman - RWA Foundation

For more than 175 years, RWA has believed in the importance of being a good neighbor and steward of the environment.

Our former President and CEO, Larry Bingaman, who led the RWA from 2009 to 2024, had an unwavering spirit of service, which inspired the creation of this memorial Foundation. 

The Larry Bingaman – RWA Foundation proudly invests in organizations, initiatives and programs that provide broad, meaningful and sustainable change in the communities served by the RWA. The memorial Foundation honors Mr. Bingaman’s values, community spirit and philanthropic impact, and continues his commitment and advocacy for the health of the environment, education, and inclusive community and economic growth.

Larry Bingaman

Support Provided by the Larry Bingaman - RWA Foundation

Grants provided by the Larry Bingaman – RWA Foundation are focused on three pillars of giving: Clean Water & Environmental Stewardship; Education & Workforce Development; and Inclusive Community & Economic Growth. Within these pillars, grant opportunities are available to eligible nonprofit organizations.

Eligibility

• Must be based in the RWA’s service territory.
• Open to nonprofit organizations with the status as an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) in the United States.
• Cannot be private foundation or charity.
• The Foundation would not knowingly contribute to an organization that discriminates based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other status or condition by local, state, or federal law.

What We Don't Fund

• Organizations that do not qualify as charitable as defined by IRS code.
• Fraternal and political organizations.
• Golf outings (unless a fundraiser event for a nonprofit organization that fits within the Foundation’s three pillars for giving), sporting leagues, walks, and races.
• Capital projects.
• Private foundations or endowments.
• Reducing or eliminating a pre-existing debt.
• Personal expenses related to events, conferences, etc.
• Advertising, goods and services
• Funding for a job/position.
• Utility bill assistance.

Award Amounts

Typical grants are between $1,000 and $10,000 and do not automatically renew.

Application Deadline

Grant requests are reviewed on a rolling basis. Review time can take 6-12 weeks. There is a limit of one awarded donation per organization in a calendar year, with restricted renewal of 2-3 years.

How To Apply

If you qualify for a grant from the Larry Bingaman-RWA Foundation, please submit a one-page letter with your proposal and why the Foundation would be a good partner. Please email your proposal to giving@rwater.com. Please allow at least 6-12 weeks advanced notice for review of your request. 

Employee Giving

The RWA’s commitment to the community is demonstrated in part through the time and talent contributed by our employees. We are proud of our team members’ dedication to making our communities better places to live and work through a variety of efforts such as volunteering, serving on boards, contributing financially to organizations and other ways that match our team members’ interests and local needs.

The Larry Bingaman – RWA Foundation is proud to support our employees through two programs:

• DOLLARS FOR DOERS provides financial support to qualifying organizations where an employee regularly volunteers on their own time.

• MATCHING GRANTS encourage employee giving by matching employee donations to eligible organizations.