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Washington State Stem Education Foundation

EIN 26-4107233 · Richland, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WASHINGTON STATE STEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT CONNECTS AND UNITES THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION ASSETS IN THE STATE TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS OF THE MID-COLUMBIA. THE ORGANIZATION'S UNDERLYING GOAL IS TO PROVIDE AN INNOVATIVE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK ENGAGING ALL OF WASHINGTON'S FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE STEM LEARNING, ASSESSMENT, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

Income
$658,884
Spending
$618,690
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
19.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
100

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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

    14 of 14 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 August 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 (1)
  1. $543,232 spent. THE WASHINGTON STATE STEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION WAS BORN FROM OUR COMMUNITY'S PASSION FOR IMPROVING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND HAS LED A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT TO EXPAND STEM EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. WE WORK WITH EDUCATORS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND LEGISLATORS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NECESSITY OF STEM EDUCATION BOTH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE STEM FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE PROGRAMS LISTED BELOW AND CONTINUES TO SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE STEM EDUCATION FOR ALL LOCAL STUDENTS.1. EXPANSION OF STEM-RELATED EVENTS WHICH RAISE SUPPORT FOR THE STEM LITERACY INITIATIVE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND THROUGH OUR STEM LIKE ME! INITIATIVE TO RECRUIT, TRAIN AND DEPLOY STEM PROFESSIONALS TO BE MENTORS AND RESOURCES FOR OUR LOCAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS.2. CONSISTENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND KEY MESSAGING TO EXPAND AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF STEM EDUCATION BOTH LOCALLY AND STATEWIDE.-SHIFT IN KNOWLEDGE: ANSWER THE QUESTION: WHY STEM? -SHIFT IN ATTITUDES, BELIEFS AND EXPECTATIONS: WE BELIEVE STEM IS A WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE FOR THE COMMUNITY-INCREASED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: STEM IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVE, EMPOWERING MEMBERS TO TAKE ACTION; -INCREASED INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL SCHOOLS: INCREASED EFFORTS OF THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVING LOCAL SCHOOLS, CONTRIBUTE TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE; -INCREASED CAPACITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF STEM INITIATIVES: DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES AND MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS AND EVALUATION TOOLS3. COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS: STEM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: PUBLIC/ PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS SUPPORTING COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH OTHER STEM FOCUSED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. 4. DELTA HIGH SCHOOL: DELTA STUDENTS HAVE HAD MANY EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH STEM PROFESSIONALS FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE STATE BOTH IN-SCHOOL AND OUT, SUCH AS CAREER GUEST SPEAKERS, MENTORS, TOUR FACILITATORS AND ENHANCED CLASSROOM PROJECTS WORKING WITH SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS. IN SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF DELTA HIGH SCHOOL AND ITS INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL APPROACH, THE STEM FOUNDATION HAS WORKED TO BUILD AUTHENTIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND TO SUPPORT REAL-WORLD, PROJECT BASED, STEM LEARNING. THESE PARTNERSHIPS HAVE NOT ONLY LED TO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, BUT HAVE REKINDLED IN THE VOLUNTEERS THEIR PERSONAL PASSION FOR STEM FIELDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 2025.

    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 October 2009.

    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.