Tacoma Community Boat Builders Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Tacoma Boat Builders TBB creates transformational opportunities for youth through positive mentorship woodworking and boat building. We pair youth with experienced craftspeople and together they create objects of functional beauty. By providing youth with a safe space to learn and grow including a mentor to learn from youth are given opportunities to build skills find creative outlets and most importantly increase their sense of safety and belonging.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 73%
- Employees
- 54
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $103,608, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
10 of 10Gave 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (2)
- $647,333 spent. Tacoma Boat Builders TBB was founded in 2014 in partnership with Pierce County Juvenile Court as a community-based alternative to traditional juvenile justice responses. Since then TBB has expanded to provide prevention-focused programs for young people ages 12-18 especially those at risk of system involvement. Through a strengths-based approach TBB fosters youth development with an emphasis on early intervention emotional resilience and positive decision-making. The demographics of youth served are reflective of the youth population in Pierce County. TBBs core programs offer hands-on learning opportunities in a fully equipped woodshop and on the water with youth supported by trained mentors and staff. Participants build skills develop self-advocacy and choose personalized activities--from crafting projects to boat-based experiences. Beyond these core offerings TBB provides individualized support for youth facing challenges including housing instability and justice system involvement. When needed TBB connects youth to trusted partner organizations for wraparound services. In 2024-25 TBB served 680 youth across all programs including 135 youth experiencing housing instability or court involvement. Community-based programs engaged an additional 544 children youth as well as approximately 54 adult caregivers at libraries parks and other public spaces. Guided by the Youth Program Quality Initiative YPQI TBB uses data-driven evaluation to ensure continuous improvement. Consistently high youth completion rates 85% overall and strong outcomes 91-100% demonstrate the programs positive impact on skill development connection and personal growth. Through our public facing programs designed for all ages and abilities we served 532 children youth and families. Programs included make and take popups at community events middle schools and libraries. From our facility we provided additional programs for youth families and other youth serving organizations through community boating and an intergenerational building together program. We also staff and support two Canoe Families for the annual Tribal Canoe Journey. These programs are low barrier create access and opportunity for all people in our community and align with tradition and history of our region.
- $860,143 spent. Imagine Justice Project enrolled 20 AmeriCorps members who served 398 non-duplicated youth across 12 partner organizations. 18 AmeriCorps members successfully completed their full terms of service. Through Peace Point Imagine Justice Project directed a community-led taskforce composed of 10 community members and 5 violence prevention and public health experts and awarded six grants of 30,000 each to build capacity for organizations serving the highest risk youth in the Pierce County area.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 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 September 2014.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Community Builders Inc (Boston, MA), EIN 04-2324773. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.