Arbutus Folk School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF ARBUTUS FOLK SCHOOL IS TO ENRICH LIVES AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN ARTS, CRAFT, AND CULTURE. OVER A THOUSAND UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS TOOK A CLASS WITH US THIS YEAR, AND HUNDREDS MORE ATTENDED OUR EVENTS. OVER SIXTY ARTISTS LED PROGRAMS IN MUSIC, WOODWORKING, CERAMICS, DYEING, WEAVING, GLASS ARTS, AND MUCH MORE. AT OUR CRAFT CLASSES, OPEN STUDIO HOURS, AND MUSIC & CULTURAL EVENTS, PARTICIPANTS SHARE THAT THEY FEEL EMPOWERED, FALL IN LOVE, LEARN THROUGH DOING, MAKE FRIENDS, AND FIND JOY.
- Income
- $460,522
- Spending
- $467,172
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 53%
- Employees
- 33
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $51,093, 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
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
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)
- $272,074 spent. CRAFT CLASSES: ARBUTUS FOLK SCHOOL OFFERS HANDS-ON COMMUNITY CRAFT CLASSES FOR ALL AGES ACROSS THE OLYMPIA AREA. SUBJECTS INCLUDE CERAMICS, WOODWORKING, FIBER ARTS, GLASS ARTS, BLACKSMITHING, AND CULTURAL ARTS SUCH AS IRANIAN AND SENEGALESE MUSIC; VIETNAMESE CUISINE; TULALIP, NISQUALLY, AND MAKAH CEDAR BARK WEAVING; AND HUICHOL BEADING IN 2024. MOST CLASSES ARE DESIGNED FOR BEGINNERS, AND STUDENT EXPERIENCE IS DOCUMENTED THROUGH REGULAR ASSESSMENT. "YOU'VE OPENED UP A WHOLE WORLD TO ME," A STUDENT SHARED AFTER TAKING A WHEELTHROWING CLASS. "I FEEL ENCOURAGED AND ENABLED," SHARED ANOTHER. THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING MAKE OUR PROGRAMS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE STOOL OR VASE THAT PARTICIPANTS MAKE, OR THE SONGS THEY PLAY.
- $103,647 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS & EVENTS (PROJECTS): ARBUTUS FOLK SCHOOL ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMMING, IN ADDITION TO OUR CLASSES, TO GATHER COMMUNITY AND GROW SKILLS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE OLYMPIA WOODWORKERS GUILD, OPEN MIC NIGHT, AND THE OLYMPIA OLD-TIME MUSIC FESTIVAL. THE OLYMPIA WOODWORKERS GUILD REACHED OVER 80 MEMBERS IN 2024, WITH MONTHLY MEETINGS OPEN TO BEGINNERS AND EXPERTS ALIKE. THE OLYMPIA OLD-TIME MUSIC FESTIVAL INCLUDED OVER 600 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN 2024, WHO PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS, CONCERTS, AND DANCES. AND OUR FREE MONTHLY ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC NIGHT SAW INCREASED ATTENDANCE THIS YEAR WITH NEW LEADERSHIP AND EQUIPMENT.
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.