Highlands Council
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
HIGHLANDS COUNCIL WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY CREATING A LEGACY OF COMMUNITY THAT WILL LAST FOR GENERATIONS. THE COUNCIL WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VIBRANT AND CARING COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO SERVICE, DIVERSITY, AND WELL-BEING.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $883,170
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $150,579, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- $233,060 spent. BLAKELY HALL: ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS IS AN URBAN VILLAGE WITH A DIVERSITY OF INCOMES, HOUSEHOLD MAKEUPS, LIFESTYLES, ETHNICITIES, AND BACKGROUNDS THAT PROVIDE A UNIQUE AND MEMORABLE NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY WITHIN THE CITY OF ISSAQUAH. NOW REPRESENTING 1/3 OF THE CITY'S POPULATION, RESIDENTS ARE COMPRISED OF AN ENGAGED, MULTI-CULTURAL DEMOGRAPHIC. HIGHLANDS COUNCIL HELPS FACILITATE COMMUNITY TRADITIONS THAT ENGENDER PRIDE IN ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS. THESE TRADITIONS ARE BORN FROM THE VOICES OF THE DIVERSE RESIDENTS, WHERE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOSTER A SENSE OF INCLUSIVENESS AND A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY. BLAKELY HALL HAS SERVED THE BROAD COMMUNITY OF ISSAQUAH BY OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF FREE, PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, COFFEE DATES, AND YOUTH CLASSES.
- $170,834 spent. SOCIAL PROGRAMMING: ONE OF HIGHLANDS COUNCIL'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVES IS TO FOSTER COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMMING THAT "BUILDS COMMUNITY." AS WE TRANSITIONED OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE RETURNED TO COMMUNITY GROUPS AND EVENTS IN PERSON, INCLUDING SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES LIKE BINGO NIGHTS, CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS LIKE OUR SUMMER GLOBAL GRUB & GROOVE SERIES, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITH CAMPAIGN FORUMS AND COMMUNITY SAFETY NIGHTS. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT RESIDENT-LED, CULTURALLY DIVERSE, COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR ALL AGES: FROM TODDLERS TO TEENS, TO SENIORS, INCLUDING BOOK CLUB, CHESS CLUB, AND MINECRAFT MANIA. HIGHLANDS COUNCIL ALSO MANAGES A 172-PATCH COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM.FACILITATING COMMUNITY TRADITIONS THAT ENGENDER PRIDE IN ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS IS A CORE COMMUNITY VALUE. OUR STAFF DID A REMARKABLE JOB CREATING AND MANAGING SAFE EVENTS THAT PROVIDED AN OUTLET OF ACTIVITY, SOCIALLY DISTANCED ENGAGEMENT WITH NEIGHBORS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
- $191,124 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: HIGHLANDS COUNCIL MANAGES ALL THE OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY. COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT INCLUDES ISSAQUAHHIGHLANDS.COM, BLAKELYHALL.COM, THE QUARTERLY CONNECTIONS NEWSPAPER, WEEKLY E-LETTER, AND OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. CONNECTIONS NEWS IS A VERY IMPORTANT OUTREACH TOOL FOR OUR MISSION OF BUILDING COMMUNITY AT HIGHLANDS COUNCIL. CONNECTIONS NEWS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, SPONSORSHIP BY LOCAL BUSINESSES, AWARENESS OF GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, MEDIA SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER NON-PROFITS IN THE AREA, PROMOTION OF OUR OWN PROGRAMMING THAT IS MOSTLY FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND BRANDING OF OUR COMMUNITY AS THE MOST DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY! WE AVERAGE 10-15 VOLUNTEER WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ANNUALLY. WRITING AND PHOTOGRAPHY ARE ALSO WONDERFUL WAYS FOR THE TEENS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO BUILD WRITING SKILLS, GET PUBLISHED, AND CREATE A PORTFOLIO FOR THOSE IMPORTANT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS! WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEER WRITERS; THEY LEND CREDIBILITY TO THE CONTENT WE PUBLISH BECAUSE THEY ARE TOLD BY A NEIGHBOR.HIGHLANDS COUNCIL SEEKS TO KEEP OUR READERS ENGAGED CIVICALLY. OUR STAFF FOLLOWS CLOSELY ISSUES AROUND LAND DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, TRAFFIC AND COMMUNITY SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND EDUCATION. WE ATTEND CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND REPORT BACK WHAT WE LEARNED AND HOW IT IMPACTS COMMUNITY LIFE IN ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS. WE ARE CAREFUL NOT TO TELL OUR READERS WHAT TO THINK BUT PROVIDE THE FACTS SO OUR READERS CAN FORM THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND KNOW WHEN PUBLIC FORUM OPPORTUNITIES EXIST TO ENGAGE OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. NEWSPRINT MAY BE A DYING INDUSTRY, BUT CONNECTIONS NEWS IS A HIGHLY DESIRED PUBLICATION IN OUR AREA. CONNECTIONS NEWS CONTINUES TO BE RECOGNIZED BY NEIGHBORHOODS USA AS A TOP COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER IN THE COUNTRY!
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 June 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 December 2005.
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 November 4, 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.