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Vital Talk

EIN 30-0745689 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INTEGRATE EVIDENCE-BASED SERIOUS ILLNESS COMMUNICATION SKILLS INTOHEALTHCARE PRACTICE THROUGH AN ENGAGED NETWORK OF TRAINED FACULTY.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
11
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$222,034, ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 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, 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 (4)
  1. $868,310 spent. Coaching and other ongoing support to learners who have completed one of our courses.
  2. $542,119 spent. VIRTUAL Communication COURSESTHESE COURSES ARE BOTH PRIMARY COMMUNICATION COURSES AND TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSES THAT HAPPEN VIRTUALLY. LEARNERS AND FACULTY MEET LIVE VIRTUALLY TO COMPLETE TRAINING. WE TAUGHT 627 LEARNERS VIRTUALLY IN 2025.
  3. $267,932 spent. Face to Face Communication CoursesTHESE COURSES ARE TWO-SESSION COHORTS THAT MEET IN PERSON TO TEACH LEARNERS HOW TO TEACH OUR PRIMARY COMMUNICATION COURSE (TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSES). WE TAUGHT 134 PEOPLE IN LIVE COURSES WHO WILL GO ON TO TEACH THE PRIMARY COMMUNICATION COURSE IN THEIR HOME INSTITUTION AND IN VITAL TALK HOSTED COURSES.
  4. $91,091 spent. Online communications COURSESTHESE ARE SELF-PACED, FULLY ONLINE COURSES THAT LEARNERS TAKE AT THEIR CONVENIENCE. THEY TEACH THE SAME SKILLS AS THE PRIMARY COMMUNICATION COURSE IN SMALLER COMPONANTS, AS WELL AS PRESENTING MATERIAL FOR SPECIFIC SPECIALTIES OR CLINICIAN. WE TAUGHT 481 LEARNERS ASYNCHRONOUSLY IN 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 February 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.