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The Sustainable Living Center

EIN 04-3690725 · Walla Walla, WA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONSERVE RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE BY ENCOURAGING AND FACILITATING SUSTAINABLE LIVING PRACTICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
17
Volunteers
186
Highest pay
$94,536, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $2.4 million spent. COMMUNITY ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM: PROVIDES FREE OR LOW-COST ENERGY ASSESSMENTS AND AUDITS FOR CUSTOMERS. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES. FINANCIAL INCENTIVES CAN BE PROVIDED TO OFFSET A PORTION OF THE COST FOR WORK TO BE COMPLETED BY LICENSED CONTRACTORS. THE PROGRAM PERFORMED 202 ENERGY AUDITS, 178 FINAL INSPECTIONS AND 194 ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES IN 2025.
  2. $174,569 spent. WALLA WALLA VALLEY FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM (WWVF2S): WWVF2S INSPIRES HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH FOOD, FARM AND GARDEN EXPERIENCE. WWVF2S PROVIDES SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY GARDENS WITH INFORMATION, RESOURCES, MAINTENANCE, LESSONS AND SCHOOL MEAL PROCUREMENT ASSISTANCE. IN 2025, THE PROGRAM ACTIVELY MANAGED 9 GARDENS IN THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE WALLA WALLA VALLEY. THE PROGRAM ENGAGED OVER 4,200 STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY WITH ACTIVITIES, GARDEN AND NATURE ACTIVITIES, AND RESOURCES.
  3. $77,114 spent. BUILDERS RESUPPLY: A RETAIL STORE WHICH ACCEPTS DONATIONS OF NEW OR USED REUSABLE BUILDING SUPPLIES AND RESELLS THEM TO THE PUBLIC. BUILDERS RESUPPLY DIVERTED 29 TONS OF USABLE MATERIALS FROM THE LANDFILL IN 2025. THE BUILDERS RESUPPLY PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 3,400 CUSTOMERS IN 2025.
  4. $25,102 spent. BUILDING PERFORMANCE PROGRAM IS AUDITS, FINAL INSPECTIONS, INCOME VERIFICATIONS AND BUILDING PERFORMANCE TESTING PERFORMED BY SUSTAINABLE LIVING CENTER STAFF AND NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMUNITY ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM. SIXTY-TWO HOME AUDITS AND FOURTEEN FINAL INSPECTIONS WERE COMPLETED IN 2025. ADDITIONALLY, APPROXIMATELY 1,248 INCOME VERIFICATIONS WERE PERFORMED.
  5. SMART BUSINESS PARTNERS PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION ADVISORY SERVICE TO HELP REDUCE ENERGY, WATER, WASTE AND MATERIALS. IN 2025, THE PROGRAM PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO REQUEST INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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