Transit Riders
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
TRU organizes for economic justice including better public transit, stronger renter protections & labor standards, and progressive funding for public goods and services in Seattle and King County. In 2024, our main areas of work included campaigns to raise the minimum wage; organizing to protect renters; continuing direct "mutual aid" work with people living unsheltered; and advocating for robust public goods and social services funded with progressive revenue.
- Income
- $198,395
- Spending
- $219,916
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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, 2024, 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 (4)
- $36,492 spent. Stay Housed Stay Healthy Coalition: TRU continued working with and helping to lead this coalition, organizing with renters and championing renter interests. In 2024, we successfully fended off plans to weaken Seattle's renter protections. We also collected information from Seattle renters about the growing problem of arbitrary and manipulative rental "junk fees" that landlords charge and created a document that we shared with elected officials. In the Seattle City Budget process, we fought with partial success to restore funding for tenant services and rental assistance that was cut in half in the mayor's proposed budget. These funds are vital to ensure that renters in distress have access to counseling, legal services, and organizing support as they try to avoid eviction or resolve other issues with their landlords. 56% of Seattle households are renters and benefit from the renter protections we are defending.
- $15,213 spent. Camp Outreach Project: TRU members continued a 100% volunteer-run project providing direct assistance to the growing number of people living unsheltered in Seattle. Volunteers cooked weekly meals to serve at several homeless encampments where they built relationships and assisted the residents. They also purchased basic supplies like water, clothing, batteries and fuel, especially during the winter months. TRU members fundraised from individual supporters specifically for this project. This project served around 60 homeless individuals every week throughout the year, and over 25 TRU members and volunteers participated in running the program.
- $65,856 spent. Minimum Wage: TRU supported the successful ballot initiative campaign to raise the minimum wage in Renton, and led a successful effort to pass minimum wage legislation through the King County Council for unincorporated King County. And we led a coalition campaign to qualify a minimum wage and access to hours initiative for the February 2025 ballot in Burien. Raising the minimum wage in these jurisdictions will benefit thousands of low-wage workers.
- $20,001 spent. Progressive Revenue and Budget Advocacy: TRU led a community-labor coalition to advocate for new progressive revenue during the Seattle budget process and to push back against shifting JumpStart payroll expense tax funding away from affordable housing, equitable development, and climate resilience programs. All Seattle residents benefit from the programs and services we are fighting to protect against cuts.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 March 2015.
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.