Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Vera Project

EIN 31-1816016 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A MUSIC AND ARTS NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO FOSTERING A PARTICIPATORY CREATIVE CULTURE THROUGH POPULAR MUSIC CONCERTS, ARTS PROGRAMS, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, AND VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 14-24. SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES CLASSIFIED BY PRESENTATION, EDUCATION, AND PARTICIPATION IN MUSIC AND ART.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
12
Volunteers
340

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 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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. $778,290 spent. POPULAR MUSIC CONCERTS AND VISUAL ART PRESENTATION FOR AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES, SERVING OVER 75,000 PEOPLE IN 2024, INCLUDING 50,000 SHOW ATTENDEES, 3,500 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS, AND OVER 22,000 THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN LARGE-SCALE REGIONAL FESTIVALS, OFFSITE PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
  2. $103,772 spent. YOUTH-ORIENTED MUSIC AND ARTS-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, OPEN SESSIONS, INTERNSHIPS, AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, SERVING 2,000 PEOPLE.
  3. $155,658 spent. YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT ALL CONCERT EVENTS AND A MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE THAT INTEGRATES YOUTH MEMBERS INTO THE ORGANIZATIONS GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS. VERA ENGAGED OVER 400 NEW AND ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS IN 2024, FULFILLING 20,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS IN 2,800 SHIFTS OF TOTAL OPPORTUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, 130 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED AS MEMBERS IN 2024, AND OVER 100 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN OTHER LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH VERAS COMMITTEE STRUCTURES

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 January 2002.

    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.