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Washington Aerospace Scholarsfoundation

EIN 20-5085342 · Tukwila, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) THROUGH A STATEWIDE INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND RESIDENCY AT THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT IN SEATTLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS IN WASHINGTON STATE.

Income
$246,888
Spending
$427,702
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
7.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
4
Volunteers
24

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 73% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $374,092 spent. THE WASHINGTON AEROSPACE SCHOLARS FOUNDATION (WAS) PROGRAM, HOSTED BY THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT IN SEATTLE, WAS MODELED AFTER A SUCCESSFUL NASA PROGRAM TO PROMOTE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) LEARNING AMONG HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS. WAS IS COMPOSED OF TWO PARTS: (1) A FIVE-MONTH COMPETITIVE STATEWIDE INTERACTIVE ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOLLOWED BY (2) A SIX-DAY SUMMER "DESIGN" EXPERIENCE HOSTED BY THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT. DURING THE SUMMER RESIDENCY, OVER 130 STUDENTS JOINED US IN-PERSON AT THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT, ALONG WITH 12 WASHINGTON STATE CERTIFIED TEACHERS, TO WORK IN COLLABORATIVE TEAMS WITH INPUT FROM PROFESSIONAL SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS ON THE DESIGN OF A HUMAN MISSION TO MARS. THEY ALSO TOURED STEM INDUSTRY FACILITIES AND COMPETED IN A HANDS-ON ENGINEERING CHALLENGES. AFTER COMPLETING THE PROGRAM, STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PURSUE STEM CAREERS AND REPORT THEIR POST-HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE AND DEGREE FIELD CHOICES TO THE WAS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. THE PROGRAM WAS FUNDED THROUGH PRIVATE SOURCES SO THAT ANY INSPIRED STUDENT WILLING TO WORK COULD PARTICIPATE, REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC ABILITY. STUDENTS REPRESENT MANY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE. AS OF DECEMBER 2024, OVER 4,000 STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE DISTANCE LEARNING PORTION OF THE WASHINGTON AEROSPACE SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND 2,303 STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A SUMMER EXPERIENCE AND BECAME PROGRAM ALUMNI.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.