Sustainable Ballard
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Sustainability Education for Ballard Seattle USA residents.
- Income
- $144,144
- Spending
- $148,848
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Highest pay
- $34,475, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (12)
- $93,194 spent. RainWise Rebates and Outreach: Funded by King County Wastewater Treatment Division. Sub-contractors and interns teach workshops host events and share information about stormwater issues in Seattle. We publicize rebates given by the city and county for installing rain gardens and cisterns on private property. Sustainable Ballard represented RainWise at 37 community events in 2025. 2063 RainWise brochures were distributed through information boxes in ambassador yards.
- $13,689 spent. Ballard Tool Library: Our library houses over 1000 tools including garden craft and event tools. Rental fees are low 1-10 and the library serves hundreds of households that choose to participate. Ballard Tool Library is part of a network of neighborhood tool libraries in the Seattle area. 2279 tool rentals were made in 2025.
- $3,564 spent. Sustainable Ballard Festival: An annual festival where attendees can learn about daily practices and green steps toward more sustainable living. At the 2025 festival over 500 attendees were able to interact with 19 booths highlighting local sustainable businesses and volunteering opportunities within the community
- $613 spent. Edible Garden Tour: The garden tour is an annual event that allows people to tour their neighbors fruit and vegetable gardens. Gardeners are on hand to answer any questions the tour attendees may have. 265 attendees toured 18 gardens in 2025.
- Game and Puzzle Swap: These swaps give participants the chance to trade out their puzzles and games for new to them ones. 326 participants attended 5 swaps in 2025.
- $895 spent. Ballard Sprouts: Volunteers grow vegetable starts to share with P-Patches and Giving Gardens where food is grown for local food banks. Over 400 starts were distributed in 2025 meaning hundreds of pounds of produce for the food banks.
- Ballard Knitters for People Experiencing Homelessness: Knitters meet once per month to produce hats scarves gloves and more. Each session hosts knitters of all skill levels to build community and share experience. The group produced over 400 knit items in 2025.
- Ballard Farmers Market Gleaning: In 2025 farmers donated 31,000 pounds of produce which our dozen volunteers retrieve from the Ballard Farmers Market and deliver to the Ballard Food Bank every Sunday. This increases food access and decreases food waste.
- Free Letters Home: This program offers the homeless community and other community members the opportunity to reestablish relationships and connect with loved ones via a mailed letter or card. Over 600 people were served in 2025.
- $203 spent. Spring Beer Hop: This event gives attendees the opportunity to learn more about Sustainable Ballards many grassroots activities. Sixty participants attended in 2025.
- Bakery Gleaning: In 2025 volunteers collected 1000s of pounds of delicious end-of-day baked goods from local bakeries. Bread and pastries are delivered to St. Lukes Edible Hope feeding project providing over 2000 meals per month.
- $370 spent. Meaningful Movies: In 2025 7 films intended to raise awareness encourage dialogue and create positive change were screened. Over 190 participants attended.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2019 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2019.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.