Friends of Mukai
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO STABILIZE, RESTORE AND PRESERVE THE MUKAI AGRICULTURAL COMPLEX, AND PROMOTE ITS CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY INTERPRETING ITS HISTORY AND CELEBRATING THE ONGOING ROLE OF THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK IN THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $712,773
- Spending
- $189,620
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 79.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 89%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $22,253, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 79.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 73% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 308% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 46 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, 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)
- $134,238 spent. ENGAGE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ONCE VIBRANT PRE-WWII JAPANESE FARMING COMMUNITY THAT THRIVED ON VASHON ISLAND, AS WELL AS CELEBRATE JAPANESE HISTORY AND CULTURE THROUGH EVENTS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. EVENTS INCLUDE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, HAIKU FESTIVAL, DAY OF EXILE, ANIME CLUB, MOVIES AT THE MUKAI, GHIBLI FEST, MONTHLY OPEN HOUSES AND THE JAPAN FESTIVAL. IN 2024 APPROXIMATELY 1,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED THE JAPAN FESTIVAL. STEWARDSHIP CONTINUES ON THE HISTORIC MUKAI HOUSE AND JAPANESE GARDEN, BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY PRE-WWII STROLLING GARDEN DESIGNED BY A WOMAN IN THE UNITED STATES. PRESERVATION CONTINUES ON THE HISTORIC MUKAI FRUIT BARRELING PLANT. THE RESTORATION OF THIS BUILDING IN AN IMPORTANT PART OF DEVELOPING THE CAMPUS INTO A MULTI-CULTURAL GATHERING PLACE TO HONOR VASHON'S AGRICULTURAL HISTORY AND IT'S GROWING DIVERSE POPULATION. ENGAGE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ONCE VIBRANT PRE-WWII JAPANESE FARMING COMMUNITY THAT THRIVED ON VASHON ISLAND, AS WELL AS CELEBRATE JAPANESE HISTORY AND CULTURE THROUGH EVENTS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. EVENTS INCLUDE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, HAIKU FESTIVAL, DAY OF EXILE, ANIME CLUB, MOVIES AT THE MUKAI, GHIBLI FEST, MONTHLY OPEN HOUSES AND THE JAPAN FESTIVAL. IN 2024 APPROXIMATELY 1,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED THE JAPAN FESTIVAL. STEWARDSHIP CONTINUES ON THE HISTORIC MUKAI HOUSE AND JAPANESE GARDEN, BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY PRE-WWII STROLLING GARDEN DESIGNED BY A WOMAN IN THE UNITED STATES. PRESERVATION CONTINUES ON THE HISTORIC MUKAI FRUIT BARRELING PLANT. THE RESTORATION OF THIS BUILDING IN AN IMPORTANT PART OF DEVELOPING THE CAMPUS INTO A MULTI-CULTURAL GATHERING PLACE TO HONOR VASHON'S AGRICULTURAL HISTORY AND IT'S GROWING DIVERSE POPULATION.
- DEPRECIATION EXPENSE ON BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT AND FURNITURE AND FIXTURES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 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 June 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.
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.