Herons Key
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
HERON'S KEY IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT NON-DENOMINATIONAL LIFE PLAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND HEALTH CARE FOR RESIDENTS 55 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)AS A LIFE PLAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY IN GIG HARBOR, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF QUALITY PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND FACILITIES TO MEET THE HEALTH, SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, AND INTELLECTUAL NEEDS OF ITS RESIDENTS AND TO SERVE THE BROADER COMMUNITY. HERON'S KEY IS OPERATED TO FULFILL ITS MISSION OF SERVICE WHILE REMAINING TRUE TO ITS CORE VALUES OF INTEGRITY, STEWARDSHIP, EMPOWERMENT, FAITH, CHANGE, AND CHOICE. THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMPRISED OF LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HERON'S KEY RESIDENTS, ALL DEDICATED TO THE MISSION OF HERON'S KEY AND TO ENSURE IT CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ITS HIGH STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE AND REMAINS FINANCIALLY SOUND.
- Income
- $28.8 million
- Spending
- $26.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -65.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 90%
- Employees
- 237
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $507,703, strategy officer (through may 2025)
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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 127% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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 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)
- $12.3 million spent. HERON'S KEY PROVIDES SAFE AND SECURE SENIOR HOUSING AND SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 307 INDEPENDENT LIVING RESIDENTS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S 194 APARTMENTS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MANY SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING MEAL SERVICES PROVIDED IN A CENTRAL DINING ROOM, FITNESS AND EXERCISE CLASSES, EQUIPMENT, AN ON-SITE CLINIC, WELLNESS PROGRAMS, SOCIAL PROGRAMS, A WIDE VARIETY OF RESIDENT ACTIVITIES, BOTH ON SITE AND OTHER LOCATIONS, AND TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND GROCERY STORES, BANKS, AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. ALL LIFE PLAN RESIDENTS HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO ASSISTED LIVING AND SKILLED NURSING HEALTH CARE. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)HERON'S KEY WAS FINANCED WITH BONDS ISSUED BY THE WASHINGTON STATE HOUSING FINANCE COMMISSION. AS A TYPE A FACILITY IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, NO RESIDENT OF HERON'S KEY MAY UTILIZE TAX-PAYER FUNDED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICAID. HERON'S KEY PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS WHO, FOR REASONS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, BECOME UNABLE TO PAY THEIR MONTHLY SERVICE FEES. AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION, REVENUES GENERATED IN EXCESS OF EXPENSES ARE INVESTED AND HELD AS RESERVES TO ENSURE ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS CAN BE FULLY MET, TO REPLACE FACILITY AND PROGRAM ASSETS AS NEEDED, AND TO ALLOW PRUDENT EXPANSION OF THE MISSION. HERON'S KEY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND STAFF TO INTERACT WITHIN THE HERON'S KEY COMMUNITY, THE GREATER GIG HARBOR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND BY ESTABLISHING CLOSE TIES WITH COMMUNITY FACILITIES SUCH AS GIG HARBOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND BY DEVELOPING COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS CONSISTENT WITH ITS MISSION. HERON'S KEY RECRUITS, DEVELOPS AND RETAINS COMPETENT AND CARING STAFF WHO SHARE THE ORGANIZATION'S PRINCIPLES, VALUES AND STANDARDS BY MAINTAINING OPEN COMMUNICATION AND STRESSING TEAM WORK THAT BUILDS UP THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, AND DEVELOPING STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE FOR EVALUATION BASED ON POSITION DESCRIPTIONS, AND PROVIDING FAIR, COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.
- $5.5 million spent. HERON'S KEY HAS 30 SKILLED NURSING BEDS IN PRIVATE ROOMS THAT PROVIDE HOUSING, CARE AND NURSING SERVICES TO RESIDENTS THAT NEED THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE. SERVICES IN THIS AREA MAY BE SHORT TERM TO PROVIDE NEEDED CARE TO REHABILITATE AFTER AN ILLNESS OR INJURY. THE SKILLED NURSING FACILITY ALSO PROVIDES LONG-TERM CUSTODIAL CARE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS NEEDING THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF HEALTH CARE. FOR LIFE PLAN RESIDENTS THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT ARE PROVIDED AT THE RATE THE RESIDENT WOULD PAY IF THEY REMAINED IN THEIR INDEPENDENT LIVING RESIDENTIAL UNIT PLUS THE COST OF RECEIVING ADDITIONAL MEALS. A WIDE VARIETY OF HEALTH CARE, SUPPORT SERVICES, SOCIAL AND PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST AND CARE FOR RESIDENTS.
- $2.3 million spent. HERON'S KEY HAS 49 ASSISTED LIVING APARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE LONG-TERM HOUSING AND SERVICES TO RESIDENTS THAT NEED MORE CARE THAN INDEPENDENT LIVING RESIDENTS. FOR LIFE PLAN RESIDENTS THESE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT ARE PROVIDED AT THE RATE THE RESIDENT WOULD PAY IF THEY REMAINED IN THEIR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL UNIT PLUS THE COST OF RECEIVING ADDITIONAL MEALS. A WIDE VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING AND MEMORY CARE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA. SOCIAL AND PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE PROVIDED.
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 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 November 6, 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 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 November 4, 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.