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Friends of the Bing

EIN 46-2203771 · Spokane, WA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF THE BING IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PRESENTS AND PROMOTES PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS IN THE SPOKANE AND INLAND NORTHWEST AREAS.

Income
$577,340
Spending
$515,475
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
9.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
31
Volunteers
30

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

Good: 83 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 67 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $420,497 spent. BETWEEN JULY 1, 2024, AND JUNE 30, 2025, FRIENDS OF THE BING OPENED THE DOORS TO THE BING CROSBY THEATER FOR A TOTAL OF 107 DAYS, WELCOMING AN AUDIENCE OF APPROXIMATELY 28,265 PEOPLE. BEING THE HUB OF COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS FOR SPOKANE, WE WELCOMED AMAZING COMMUNITY GROUPS TO OUR STAGE. THE CHRISTIAN YOUTH THEATER JOINED US FOR 48 DAYS WHERE OVER 82 CHILDREN PRACTICED AND PRESENTED A MUSICAL OVER A TWO-WEEK PERIOD. CYT PERFORMED FOR NINE AUDIENCES INCLUDING TWO DAYS WHERE THE LOCAL SCHOOLS BROUGHT CHILDREN TO THE THEATER AS A FIELD TRIP TO ENJOY THE SHOW. SPOKANE JAZZ ORCHESTRA PLAYED AT THE BING ON OCTOBER 5, 2024. NORTHWEST PASSAGES FEATURED LOCAL AND NATIONAL WRITERS INTERVIEWED ON STAGE BY OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER EDITOR ON FEBRUARY 9, 2025. TEDX SPOKANE, PRESENTED ON SEPTEMBER 28,2024, FEATURED LOCAL AND NATIONAL PEOPLE SHARING THEIR BIG IDEAS. THE SPOKANE STRING QUARTET PLAYED THEIR BEAUTIFUL MUSIC ON OUR STAGE ON MARCH 16, 2025, AND WERE RECORDED TO BE PLAYED ON THE LOCAL PUBLIC RADIO STATION THE NEXT WEEK. ADRIANO FERRARO, LOCAL AUTHOR AND SINGER, PRESENTED A HOLIDAY SHOW ON DECEMBER 1, 2024, CELEBRATING HIS FAITH IN GOD AND HUMANITY. GET LIT, A YEARLY LITERARY FESTIVAL AT OUR THEATER HELD ON APRIL 12, 2025, AND SPONSORED BY EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY COLLABORATES WITH US TO HOLD THEIR YEARLY CHOIR CONCERTS. FAMILIES WERE THRILLED BY THEIR PRESENTATION ON MAY 3, 2025. EVERY MOTHER'S DAY, "LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER" PRESENTS TO THE COMMUNITY A CELEBRATION OF MOTHERS AND THE JOYS AND TRIBULATIONS OF BEING A MOTHER. ON MAY 11, 2025, SELECTED LOCAL MOTHERS SHARED THEIR STORIES OF MOTHERHOOD ON OUR STAGE.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.