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Hedgebrook

EIN 80-0012629 · Langley, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

HEDGEBROOK SUPPORTS VISIONARY WOMEN WRITERS WHOSE STORIES AND IDEAS SHAPE OUR CULTURE NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
23
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$212,602, 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (4)
  1. $688,881 spent. HEDGEBROOK HOSTS WOMEN WRITERS FOR FREE RESIDENCIES OF TWO TO FOUR WEEKS. WRITERS ARE CHOSEN THROUGH A COMPETITIVE INTERNATIONAL SELECTION PROCESS. UP TO SEVEN WRITERS ARE IN RESIDENCE AT A TIME, EACH HOUSED IN A HANDCRAFTED COTTAGE, WITH MEALS PREPARED FOR THEM. THE WRITERS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM IS HEDGEBROOK'S CORE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM SERVES UP TO 80 WRITERS A YEAR.
  2. $56,678 spent. RADICAL CRAFT RETREATS AND LAND STAYS: A SERIES OF FIVE-DAY VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON WRITING WORKSHOPS THAT COMBINE HEDGEBROOK'S UNIQUE RETREAT EXPERIENCE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITERS TO STUDY WITH A HEDGEBROOK ALUMNAE TEACHER. WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF GENRES, AND ARE FOCUSED ON VARIOUS INSTRUCTION, GROUP FEEDBACK AND ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH THE INSTRUCTOR.
  3. $35,448 spent. ANNUAL WRITING CONFERENCE AND VARIOUS VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, LIVE WEBINARS, AND ONLINE CLASSES FOR WRITERS TO IMPROVE THEIR CRAFT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
  4. $29,637 spent. VARIOUS CONVENINGS, PARTNER EVENTS AND GATHERINGS FOR WRITERS AND THEIR AUDIENCES, AS WELL AS ANNUAL HEDGEBROOK ALUMNAE SHOWCASES.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.