Washington County Council of Churches
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to embody mercy, justice and love as diverse faith partners in Washington County. The Council is a coalition of churches and houses of faith in the Hagerstown area of Washington County Maryland.
- Income
- $477,693
- Spending
- $408,915
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $50,650, executive director
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% 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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
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 (6)
- $222,044 spent. Micah's Backpack, a partnership with Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), Maryland Food Bank, and 48 houses of worship and organizations, provides weekend meals throughout the school year for more than 1,300 food-insecure children.
- $91,001 spent. Refugee Welcome Network helps to settle refugees fleeing violence or persecution in their home country and seeking to rebuild their lives in the United States. In 2024, HARC welcomed and supported 24 families/individuals - a total of 70 people. Eleven of those families are now independent.
- $9,631 spent. Lighthouse After-School Program, launched in September 2024, offers fun educational and enrichment programs for more than 200 children in multiple schools. Programs include financial literacy, cooking, songwriting, astronomy, learning through games, arts and more.
- $14,985 spent. Equity in Education Scholarships, a partnership between HARC and WCPS, aims to increase the diversity of educators in our public school system and support retention efforts. Scholarships of $1,500-$7,000 are awarded annually to local racially minoritized students who are pursuing a degree in education or a related field. Since 2022, HARC and WCPS have awarded $45,000 in scholarships, with $15,000 in awards in 2024.
- $660 spent. Additionally the work of the Washington Council of Churches for racial justice supported a Black Professionals Network, our interest in a healthy community lead to our support of a Parish Nursing program and we continued the practice of passing donated funds through to the work of local food pantries
- $3,367 spent. HARC supported the work of the Parish Nursing program, the work of local Food Pantries and various justice initiatives
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.
The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.