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Washington Stem Center

EIN 27-2133169 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WASHINGTON STEM (WA STEM) IS A STATEWIDE, EDUCATION NONPROFIT LEVERAGING STEM FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, REMOVING BARRIERS TO CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT, AND CREATING PATHWAYS TO LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR SYSTEMICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS. FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY, PARTNERSHIP, AND SUSTAINABILITY, WASHINGTON STEM SEEKS SMART, SCALABLE SOLUTIONS THAT LEAD TO REMOVING BARRIERS AND CREATING EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED STUDENTS-STUDENTS WHO WILL BECOME THE LEADERS, CRITICAL THINKERS, AND CREATORS THAT WILL TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING OUR STATE, NATION, AND THE WORLD. WE ENVISION A STATE WHERE SKIN COLOR, ZIP CODE, INCOME, AND GENDER DO NOT PREDICT EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER OUTCOMES.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
35
Volunteers
132
Highest pay
$266,186, chief executive officer

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: 67 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $5.2 million spent. WASHINGTON STEM (WA STEM) IS A STATEWIDE, EDUCATION NONPROFIT LEVERAGING STEM FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, REMOVING BARRIERS TO CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT, AND CREATING PATHWAYS TO LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR SYSTEMICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS. FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY, PARTNERSHIP, AND SUSTAINABILITY, WASHINGTON STEM SEEKS SMART, SCALABLE SOLUTIONS THAT LEAD TO REMOVING BARRIERS AND CREATING EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED STUDENTS-STUDENTS WHO WILL BECOME THE LEADERS, CRITICAL THINKERS, AND CREATORS THAT WILL TACKLE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING OUR STATE, NATION, AND THE WORLD. WE ENVISION A STATE WHERE SKIN COLOR, ZIP CODE, INCOME, AND GENDER DO NOT PREDICT EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER OUTCOMES. WA STEM'S WORK REVOLVES AROUND THREE MAIN STRATEGIES: PARTNERSHIP, DIRECT SUPPORT, AND ADVOCACY. PARTNERSHIP - WASHINGTON STEM COLLABORATES WITH 10 STEM NETWORKS ACROSS THE STATE TO IDENTIFY, SCALE, AND SPREAD EFFECTIVE LOCAL SOLUTIONS AND CONVENE CROSS SECTOR PARTNERS IN BUSINESS, EDUCATION, AND THE COMMUNITY TO SOLVE BIG PROBLEMS. DIRECT SUPPORT - WASHINGTON STEM PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT THROUGH TARGETED COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS, OPEN-SOURCE ACCESS TO DATA AND MEASUREMENT TOOLS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. ADVOCACY - WASHINGTON STEM CHAMPIONS TRANSFORMATIVE SOLUTIONS THROUGH EDUCATING DECISION MAKERS, STORYTELLING, AND COLLABORATION TO CREATE THE FOUNDATION FOR LASTING, EQUITABLE CHANGE IN WASHINGTON.

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 July 2010.

    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.