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William D Ruckelshaus Centerfoundation

EIN 20-4490085 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The William D Ruckelshaus Center Foundation exists for the purpose of supporting the programs, initiatives, and properties associated with the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, a joint project of the University of Washington and Washington State University. The mission of the Center is to act as a neutral resource for collaborative problem solving. Its aim is to provide expertise that improves the availability and quality of voluntary collaborative approaches to policy development and multi-party dispute resolution.

Income
$484,320
Spending
$178,437
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
51.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 51.8 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 63% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $61,637 spent. Learning from Responses to COVID-19:COVID-19 response and recovery efforts require effective crisis decision-making and further innovation to address critical needs, policy challenges, and infrastructure gaps. To address this need, the Center engaged in a comprehensive learning effort to identify and share key insights from Washington state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, culminating in a December 2024 preliminary summary of lessons,reflections, and recommendations.
  2. $35,117 spent. Chairman's Circle Celebration:As part of the Ruckelshaus Center's mission to create awareness around the impact of collaborative governance efforts both regionally and beyond, the Center hosts forums with national and international leaders. In October 2024 and March 2025, the center hosted conversations on both sides of the state with Roelf Meyer and Mohammed Bhabha, noted peace activists who helped negotiate the end of apartheid in South Africa and who have participated in peace-and-democracy-building efforts across the world.
  3. Collaborative Capacity Building Initiative:The Ruckelshaus Center is dedicated to building regional capacity for collaboration by helping individuals and organizations better understand, initiate, participate in, and lead collaborative public policy efforts. As part of this work,in 2024 we partnered with the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance to launch the Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute (WA-CELI). This annual program provides local elected officials with training in collaborative leadership skills. The inaugural cohort included 45 elected officials from communities throughout the state, ensuring a balance of demographic, geologic, and political perspectives.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 August 2014.

    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.

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.