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Puget Sound Sage

EIN 20-8974030 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PUGET SOUND SAGE COMBINES RESEARCH, INNOVATIVE PUBLIC POLICY AND ORGANIZING TO ENSURE ALL PEOPLE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE, A GOOD JOB, A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
18
Highest pay
$131,870, executive di

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
  1. $248,484 spent. EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT OUR EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT WORK FOCUSED ON 2 CAMPAIGNS IN 2024. OUR FIRST CAMPAIGN, KING COUNTY EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (EDI), LED OUR CREST COALITION MEMBERS IN ADVOCATING TO BUILD REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE CITY LIMITS. OUR TEAM WORKED HARD TO ADVOCATE FOR 13,000,000 OF DEDICATED FUNDING AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO FUND FUTURE EDI PROGRAMS. OUR SECOND CAMPAIGN WAS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO ORGANIZE THE CHINATOWN/INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IN WORKING WITH SOUND TRANSIT TO DEVELOP TRANSIT STATION ALTERNATIVES AND FIGHT FOR CULTURALLY RELEVANT DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENTS. IN 2024 WE FACILITATED 3 COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES AND 4 RESIDENTIAL MEETINGS, TALKING WITH HUNDREDS OF CID ELDERS, WORKERS AND RESIDENTS. WE GATHERED COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THROUGH 150 COMPLETED SURVEYS AND HELD NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOURS TO EDUCATE STAKEHOLDERS. EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT OUR EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT WORK FOCUSED ON 2 CAMPAIGNS IN 2024. OUR FIRST CAMPAIGN, KING COUNTY EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (EDI), LED OUR CREST COALITION MEMBERS IN ADVOCATING TO BUILD REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE CITY LIMITS. OUR TEAM WORKED HARD TO ADVOCATE FOR 13,000,000 OF DEDICATED FUNDING AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO FUND FUTURE EDI PROGRAMS. OUR SECOND CAMPAIGN WAS WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO ORGANIZE THE CHINATOWN/INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IN WORKING WITH SOUND TRANSIT TO DEVELOP TRANSIT STATION ALTERNATIVES AND FIGHT FOR CULTURALLY RELEVANT DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS AND NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENTS. IN 2024 WE FACILITATED 3 COMMUNITY ASSEMBLIES AND 4 RESIDENTIAL MEETINGS, TALKING WITH HUNDREDS OF CID ELDERS, WORKERS AND RESIDENTS. WE GATHERED COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THROUGH 150 COMPLETED SURVEYS AND HELD NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOURS TO EDUCATE STAKEHOLDERS.
  2. $274,225 spent. CLIMATE AS PART OF OUR CLIMATE WORK, WE SIT ON SEATTLE'S GREEN NEW DEAL (GND) BOARD TO PARTICIPATE IN CRAFTING AND FUNDING A REGIONAL CARBON-REDUCTION STRATEGY. IN 2024, OUR GND BOARD REPRESENTATIVE MAINTAINED THEIR LEADERSHIP POSITION AS CO-CHAIR OF THE BOARD. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THE GND BOARD DEVELOPED POLICY FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE HUBS WHICH WILL HELP THE CITY OF SEATTLE PREPARE, ADAPT AND RECOVER FROM CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES. OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD, WE CONVENED THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE KITCHEN COALITION, WHERE 14 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS MET TO IDENTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES TO PRESENT TO THE GND BOARD. DURING THESE MEETINGS WE DISCUSSED FRAMEWORKS FOR COMMUNITY-LED CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE. CLIMATE AS PART OF OUR CLIMATE WORK, WE SIT ON SEATTLE'S GREEN NEW DEAL (GND) BOARD TO PARTICIPATE IN CRAFTING AND FUNDING A REGIONAL CARBON-REDUCTION STRATEGY. IN 2024, OUR GND BOARD REPRESENTATIVE MAINTAINED THEIR LEADERSHIP POSITION AS CO-CHAIR OF THE BOARD. UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THE GND BOARD DEVELOPED POLICY FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE HUBS WHICH WILL HELP THE CITY OF SEATTLE PREPARE, ADAPT AND RECOVER FROM CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES. OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD, WE CONVENED THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE KITCHEN COALITION, WHERE 14 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS MET TO IDENTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES TO PRESENT TO THE GND BOARD. DURING THESE MEETINGS WE DISCUSSED FRAMEWORKS FOR COMMUNITY-LED CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
  3. $94,333 spent. LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (CLI) IS A 6-MONTH FELLOWSHIP THAT TRAINS EMERGING LEADERS IN ISSUES SUCH AS HOUSING, LAND USE, TRANSIT, CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. GRADUATES LEARN THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCESSES SUCH AS MUNICIPAL BUDGETING, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, AND LAWMAKING, AS WELL AS ADVOCACY, STORYTELLING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. IN 2024, WE AWARDED SAGE LEADERS, OUR SISTER ORGANIZATION WHO RUNS CLI, WITH 150,000 TO SUPPORT 27 FELLOWS FROM CLARK, KING, SNOHOMISH AND PIERCE COUNTIES IN WASHINGTON STATE. 70% OF THOSE GRADUATES HAVE APPLIED TO SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. OUR FALL COHORTS BROUGHT ANOTHER 30 PARTICIPANTS INTO OUR PROGRAMS, AND WE ENGAGED OUR 130 PROGRAM ALUMNI THROUGH VARIOUS SOCIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (CLI) IS A 6-MONTH FELLOWSHIP THAT TRAINS EMERGING LEADERS IN ISSUES SUCH AS HOUSING, LAND USE, TRANSIT, CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. GRADUATES LEARN THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCESSES SUCH AS MUNICIPAL BUDGETING, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES, AND LAWMAKING, AS WELL AS ADVOCACY, STORYTELLING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. IN 2024, WE AWARDED SAGE LEADERS, OUR SISTER ORGANIZATION WHO RUNS CLI, WITH 150,000 TO SUPPORT 27 FELLOWS FROM CLARK, KING, SNOHOMISH AND PIERCE COUNTIES IN WASHINGTON STATE. 70% OF THOSE GRADUATES HAVE APPLIED TO SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. OUR FALL COHORTS BROUGHT ANOTHER 30 PARTICIPANTS INTO OUR PROGRAMS, AND WE ENGAGED OUR 130 PROGRAM ALUMNI THROUGH VARIOUS SOCIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  4. $341,423 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS

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 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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 April 2008.

    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 November 4, 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.