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Islandwood

EIN 31-1654076 · Bainbridge Is, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO HELP CHILDREN & ADULTS DEVELOP A COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING & ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP THROUGH HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES COMBINING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, & THE ARTS AT ISLANDWOOD'S 255-ACRE OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER AND IN SCHOOLS.

Income
$13.3 million
Spending
$12.2 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 43%
Employees
204
Volunteers
97
Highest pay
$267,171, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 June 30, 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. $9.3 million spent. ISLANDWOOD DELIVERS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT HELP CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE UNDERSTAND THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND DISCOVER THE IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE ON THE WORLD AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. OUR PLACE-BASED, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR PUGET SOUND AREA SCHOOLS ARE OFFERED ON OUR BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASHINGTON CAMPUS, AT THE BRIGHTWATER WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN WOODINVILLE, WASHINGTON, AND IN SEATTLE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. ISLANDWOOD EXTENDS ITS IMPACT ON ELEMENTARY STUDENTS THROUGH OUR GRADUATE PROGRAM IN EDUCATION, THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM, TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND STATEWIDE ADVOCACY INITIATIVES.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.ISLANDWOOD'S GRADUATE PROGRAM IS A 10-MONTH IMMERSIVE RESIDENCY IN JUSTICE-ORIENTED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENTIAL, STUDENT CENTERED LEARNING AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, 14 STUDENTS EARNED THEIR CERTIFICATE FROM THE GRADUATE PROGRAM. ISLANDWOOD IS HELPING TEACHERS CONNECT SCIENCE LEARNING TO STUDENTS' LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES. DURING THE 2024- 2025 FISCAL YEAR, OVER 350 TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN THE SERIES, IMPACTING OVER 20,000 STUDENTS. ISLANDWOOD'S COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SUMMER CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AND OPEN TRAIL DAYS, IMPACTED AN ADDITIONAL 6,500+ PEOPLE IN THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 1999.

    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.