Washington Coast Sustainable Salmon Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION BOARD IS COMPRISED OF MEMBERS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERTISE WHO DEVOTE THEIR SHARED COMMITMENT AND PASSION TO COLLECTIVELY SUPPORT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF THE WASHINGTON COAST REGION SALMON BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AND HELPING GUIDE ECOSYSTEM AND SCIENCE-BASED, COMMUNITY-INFORMED APPROACHES. THE BOARD SUPPORTS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY NEEDS OF THE COAST SALMON PARTNERSHIP WITH AN EMPHASIS ON OUTCOMES THAT ARE RESISTENT TO LONG-TERM CHANGE. THE FOUNDATION SECURES DIVERSE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS TO EMPOWER THE PARTNERSHIP'S DURABLE SALMON RECOVERY OUTCOMES IN WATERSHEDS THROUGHOUT THE WASHINGTON COAST REGION.
- Income
- $897,236
- Spending
- $854,854
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $119,915, executive di
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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 73% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 98% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
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 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 (1)
- $763,757 spent. THE WASHINGTON COAST SUSTAINABLE SALMON FOUNDATION (FOUNDATION) IS THE SISTER ORGANIZATION AND FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE WASHINGTON COAST SUSTAINABLE SALMON PARTNERSHIP (PARTNERSHIP). TOGETHER, THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORK TO PROTECT AND RESTORE PACIFIC SALMON POPULATIONS IN THE WASHINGTON COAST REGION, WHICH COMPRISES ALL WATERSHEDS THAT DRAIN DIRECTLY INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN BETWEEN CAPE FLATTERY AND CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT (3.75 MILLION ACRES). THIS WORK IS GUIDED BY THE WASHINGTON COAST SUSTAINABLE SALMON PLAN (SALMON PLAN). THE FOUNDATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, CONTRACTING, FUNDRAISING, AND OUTREACH NEEDED FOR THE PARTNERSHIP TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THE SALMON PLAN. FOUNDATION STAFF SUPPORT BOTH PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND FINANCIAL, FUNDRAISING, AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. SALMON PLAN IMPLEMENTATION: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SALMON PLAN INCLUDES COORDINATING WITH LOCAL WATERSHED GROUPS ON THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AND PRIORITIZATION OF HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS, WHICH ARE THEN PROPOSED FOR FUNDING THROUGH ELIGIBLE FUNDING SOURCES. EACH YEAR, AN AVERAGE OF 1.7 MILLION ON-THE-GROUND HABITAT RESTORATION AND PROTECTION PROJECTS ARE IMPLEMENTED IN THE REGION THROUGH GRANTS FROM WASHINGTON STATE'S SALMON RECOVERY FUNDING BOARD. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SECURING AN ADDITIONAL 12 MILLION IN HABITAT PROJECT FUNDING FROM THE STATE CAPITAL BUDGET THROUGH THE WASHINGTON COAST RESTORATION AND RESILIENCY INITIATIVE. THIS EFFORT HAS INVOLVED A BROAD COALITION OF LOCAL, STATE, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES WHO WORK TOGETHER TO RESTORE COAST ECOSYSTEMS THEREBY BENEFITING COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUALLY PURSUES ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SALMON PLAN. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THIS HAS INCLUDED MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION IN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT THE COLDWATER CONNECTION CAMPAIGN. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL ACCELERATE RESTORATION WORK WITH THE GOAL OF 50 PROJECTS IN 10 YEARS TO RE-CONNECT 40% OF THE COLD-WATER SALMON AND STEELHEAD STREAMS THAT ARE BLOCKED BY OUTDATED CULVERTS AND OTHER "MINI-DAMS" ON RIVERS OF THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA. COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH: A COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH STRATEGY WAS DEVELOPED IN 2016 TO ELEVATE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE SALMON PLAN. THE FOUNDATION IS IMPLEMENTING THIS STRATEGY WITH ITS STRONG SALMON FUTURE CAMPAIGN WHICH WAS LAUNCHED IN 2022. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROJECT SIGNAGE, FIELD TOURS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND LOCAL BUSINESS OUTREACH. PUBLIC SPEAKING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS AT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND IN-PERSON DISCUSSION WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS. ACTIVITIES ALSO LEVERAGE MEDIA PLATFORMS INCLUDING A WEBSITE, AN E-NEWSLETTER, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND GUEST FEATURES IN REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS AND PARTNER NEWSLETTERS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE ACTIVITIES IS TO COMMUNICATE HOW THE WORK OF THE COAST SALMON PARTNERSHIP CONTRIBUTES TO THE ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCY OF THE WASHINGTON COAST REGION. ESA-LISTED SALMON SPECIES: THE WASHINGTON COAST REGION IS THE ONLY SALMON RECOVERY REGION WITHIN WASHINGTON STATE THAT IS NOT DOMINATED BY SALMON SPECIES LISTED AS THREATENED OR ENDANGERED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT(ESA). HOWEVER, LAKE OZETTE SOCKEYE SALMON AND BULL TROUT ARE LISTED AS THREATENED UNDER ESA. AS THE REGIONAL SALMON RECOVERY ORGANIZATION, THE PARTNERSHIP WORKS WITH NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS STATE AGENCIES AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAKE OZETTE SOCKEYE RECOVERY PLAN AND WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BULL TROUT RECOVERY PLAN. TWO ADDITIONAL SPECIES IN THE WAHSINGTON COAST REGION ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR LISTING UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT - OLYMPIC PENINSULA STEELHEAD AND WASHINGTON COAST SPRING CHINOOK. THE WASHINGTON COAST SUSTAINABLE SALMON FOUNDATION (FOUNDATION) IS THE SISTER ORGANIZATION AND FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE WASHINGTON COAST SUSTAINABLE SALMON PARTNERSHIP (PARTNERSHIP). TOGETHER, THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORK TO PROTECT AND RESTORE PACIFIC SALMON POPULATIONS IN THE WASHINGTON COAST REGION, WHICH COMPRISES ALL WATERSHEDS THAT DRAIN DIRECTLY INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN BETWEEN CAPE FLATTERY AND CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT (3.75 MILLION ACRES). THIS WORK IS GUIDED BY THE WASHINGTON COAST SUSTAINABLE SALMON PLAN (SALMON PLAN). THE FOUNDATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, CONTRACTING, FUNDRAISING, AND OUTREACH NEEDED FOR THE PARTNERSHIP TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THE SALMON PLAN. FOUNDATION STAFF SUPPORT BOTH PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND FINANCIAL, FUNDRAISING, AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. SALMON PLAN IMPLEMENTATION: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SALMON PLAN INCLUDES COORDINATING WITH LOCAL WATERSHED GROUPS ON THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AND PRIORITIZATION OF HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS, WHICH ARE THEN PROPOSED FOR FUNDING THROUGH ELIGIBLE FUNDING SOURCES. EACH YEAR, AN AVERAGE OF 1.7 MILLION ON-THE-GROUND HABITAT RESTORATION AND PROTECTION PROJECTS ARE IMPLEMENTED IN THE REGION THROUGH GRANTS FROM WASHINGTON STATE'S SALMON RECOVERY FUNDING BOARD. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SECURING AN ADDITIONAL 12 MILLION IN HABITAT PROJECT FUNDING FROM THE STATE CAPITAL BUDGET THROUGH THE WASHINGTON COAST RESTORATION AND RESILIENCY INITIATIVE. THIS EFFORT HAS INVOLVED A BROAD COALITION OF LOCAL, STATE, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES WHO WORK TOGETHER TO RESTORE COAST ECOSYSTEMS THEREBY BENEFITING COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUALLY PURSUES ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SALMON PLAN. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THIS HAS INCLUDED MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION IN GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT THE COLDWATER CONNECTION CAMPAIGN. THIS CAMPAIGN WILL ACCELERATE RESTORATION WORK WITH THE GOAL OF 50 PROJECTS IN 10 YEARS TO RE-CONNECT 40% OF THE COLD-WATER SALMON AND STEELHEAD STREAMS THAT ARE BLOCKED BY OUTDATED CULVERTS AND OTHER
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 August 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.
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