Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Arc of Whatcom County

EIN 31-1579359 · Bellingham, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, AND ASSURE THE FULL INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY OF ALL PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

Income
$356,549
Spending
$405,066
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
21.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 56%
Employees
13
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$64,265, executive director

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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $159,814 spent. PARENT COALITION AND SELF-ADVOCACY PROVIDES LEADERSHIP SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS. THE GOAL IS TO ENABLE PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THE PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE AND INVOLVED IN ACCESSING SERVICES. SELF-ADVOCATES ARE PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. INFORMATION, EDUCATION & TRAINING EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE COMPLEX SERVICE SYSTEMS & LIVE A FULFILLING LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY. PROVIDED 10 EDUCATIONAL NEWSLETTERS & FREQUENT ELECTRONIC ALERTS WITH TIMELY INFORMATION ON ACTIVITIES, TRAININGS & EVENTS TO 2,649 FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS & PROVIDERS. PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESOURCES & SUPPORT TO 123 EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. PROVIDED ONE ON (CONTINUED) ONE INFORMATION & EDUCATION TO 1,571 INDIVIDUALS, PARENTS & CARGIVERS. INCLUSION ADVOCACY, DISABILITY AWARENESS & OUTREACH TO OVER 547 COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
  2. $88,786 spent. PARENT TO PARENT PROVIDES EMOTIONAL SUPPORT & INFORMATION ABOUT DISABILITIES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO PARENTS & CAREGIVERS WHO ARE LEARNING ABOUT &/OR SEEKING NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CHILD'S DISABILITY OR CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION. TRAINED VETERAN PARENTS (HELPING PARENTS) PROVIDE ONE TO ONE EMOTIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL SUPPORT TO NEW OR REFERRED PARENTS WHO HAVE A CHILD WITH SIMILAR NEEDS. PROVIDED SUPPORT TO 28 PARENTS THROUGH 70 SUPPORT MEETINGS. PROVIDED ONE TO ONE SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO 1,571 PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS. WE HAVE 85 TRAINED HELPING PARENT VOLUNTEERS. MATCHED 25 PARENTS WHO RECENTLY LEARNED THEIR CHILD HAS A DISABILITY TO A HELPING PARENT MENTOR. PROVIDED NETWORKING, CONNECTIONS & INFORMATION TO 578 PEOPLE THROUGH FAMILY SOCIAL EVENTS. PROVIDED ONE ON ONE SUPPORT, INFORMATION & RESOURCES TO 565 SPANISH SPEAKING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS. SENT 4 PADRES A PADRES NEWSLETTERS TO 163 SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES.
  3. $47,352 spent. WHATCOM TAKING ACTION IS A COLLABORATIVE COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY LEADERS, PARENTS, SERVICE AND CARE PROVIDERS. TOGETHER WE ARE BUILDING AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF CARE & SUPPORT THAT LOCAL FAMILIES CAN ACCESS EASILY AND EFFICIENTLY. AS LEAD AGENCY FOR WHATCOM TAKING ACTION, THE ARC OF WHATCOM COUNTY HAS HELPED BUILD, ENHANCE & MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO SERVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS, IMPROVED HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES BY ENGAGING FAMILIES AS PARTNERS, LEADERS & AGENTS OF CHANGE IN LOCAL POLICY-MAKING. IMPROVED CARE-COORDINATION AND SUPPORTED MEDICAL HOME ACTIVITIES. PROVIDED DIRECT SUPPORT FOR 316 FAMILIES GOING THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATION PROCESS.

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 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 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 December 1997.

    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.