Schools Out Washington
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SCHOOL'S OUT WASHINGTON DRIVES POSITIVE SYSTEMIC CHANGE SO THAT ALL WASHINGTON'S CHILDREN AND YOUTH, PARTICULARLY THOSE FURTHEST FROM JUSTICE, HAVE ACCESS TO A ROBUST ECOSYSTEM OF HIGH-QUALITY EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $14.8 million
- Spending
- $14.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 92%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $185,466, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 63% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 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 (3)
- $11.0 million spent. THROUGH OUR GRANT MAKING PROGRAM, WE DRIVE RESOURCES TO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BY MAKING GRANTS THAT BREAK DOWN FUNDING BARRIERS, SEED AND EXPAND PROGRAMS, AND STRENGTHEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES TO LEAD. CURRENTLY, WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO SUPPORT REFUGEE YOUTH WITH OUR STATEWIDE REFUGEE SCHOOL IMPACT PROGRAM ("RSIP") AND TO SUMMER AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN KING COUNTY THROUGH THE BEST STARTS FOR KIDS EXPANDED LEARNING INITIATIVE ("BSK").
- $2.6 million spent. SCHOOL'S OUT WASHINGTON'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAM QUALITY SUPPORTS CONTRIBUTE TO A THRIVING EXPANDED LEARNING WORKFORCE, A CORNERSTONE FOR SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS AND POSITIVE YOUTH OUTCOMES. OUR WIDE RANGE OF TRAINING AND COACHING SUPPORTS HELP PROVIDERS DEFINE WHAT QUALITY LOOKS LIKE, UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE AT TODAY, AND PURSUE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAKE THEIR PROGRAMS MORE EFFECTIVE AND JOYFUL.
- $359,310 spent. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, SOWA HAS BEEN SUPPORTING AN EQUITABLE ECOSYSTEM OF EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR WASHINGTON'S YOUTH BY HELPING AFTER-SCHOOL, SUMMER, AND CHILD CARE PROGRAMS BECOME MORE ROBUST AND ACCESSIBLE. IN ADDITION TO OUR GRANT MAKING AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS, SOWA ADVOCATES FOR THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SECTOR, CONVENES COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND SYSTEM LEADERS TO ADVANCE COLLECTIVE IMPACT, AND SHOWCASES THE DATA AND STORIES FROM YOUTH PROGRAM PROVIDERS, HIGHLIGHTING THE STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF WASHINGTON'S EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAMS AND YOUNG PEOPLE, AGES 5 TO 24. OUR EFFORTS BENEFIT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE BY PRIORITIZING YOUTH MOST IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC INEQUITY.
Source: Form 990 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.