Washington Art Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1952 TO PROVIDE A NURTURING PLACE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND EXPLORE NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTIONS WITH CLASSES IN PAINTING, CERAMICS, SCULPTURE, DRAWING, AND MORE. THE ORGANIZATION'S GALLERY IS PROUD TO SHOWCASE A WIDE VARIETY OF ART IN ALL MEDIA.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $532,881
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- 44 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $76,250, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 44.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $232,760 spent. EDUCATION: ART INSTRUCTION USING VARIOUS MEDIA
- $61,492 spent. ART SALES: EXHIBITION OF MEMBERS WORK
- THE ORGANIZATION IS AMENDING ITS 2024 FORM 990 TO CORRECT THE VALUE OF DONATED WORKS OF ART THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED AS IN-KIND DONATIONS IN THE ORIGINALLY FILED TAX RETURN. THE ORIGINAL RETURN REPORTED TOTAL IN-KIND DONATIONS OF WORKS OF ART OF $339,502. AFTER COMPLETION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL AUDIT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACTUAL VALUE OF THE ART DONATED IN 2024 WAS $175,000. THIS CHANGE EFFECTS THE AMOUNTS REPORTED AS CONTRIBUTION REVENUE AND OTHER ASSETS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Washington Education Association (Federal Way, WA), EIN 91-0460645. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.