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Puget Soundworks

EIN 83-1286693 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Puget Soundworks is an all-gender, LGBTQIA+ centered community chorus serving the Puget Sound region. We are here to make the world a kinder, more inclusive place, one song at a time.

Income
$233,266
Spending
$155,503
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 44%
Employees
0
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$30,500, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 66% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • 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 (3)
  1. $116,816 spent. Mainstage Choral Productions: In fiscal year 2024-2025, Puget Soundworks presented 2 mainstage choral productions: Happy Dolly Days and The Beat Goes On. For Happy Dolly Days we performed four live performances, and for The Beat Goes On we performed 3 live performances. Both shows also were offered for online viewing. Combined, the two concerts featured 178 singers, involved over 100 volunteers, and reached 1,257 audience members. We were able to provide no-questions-asked dues waivers to over 30% of our singers and free or reduced community admission to 15% of our live performance audiences. Through song, dance, and dynamic production elements, Happy Dolly Days celebrated the musical legacy of LGBTQIA+ ally and icon Dolly Parton, with a special focus on LGBQTIA+ and BIPOC artists that influenced and were influenced by her career. The Beat Goes On also highlighted music by LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC artists, and explored themes of strength, resilience, legacy, and meaning-making through music. It too included production elements such as a live band, lighting, costumes, poetry, and dance. As a tribute to Dolly Parton's focus on literacy and reading, Puget Soundworks invited four community nonprofit partner organizations for Happy Dolly Days to table and speak at our shows, giving their work more visibility as well. These partnering organizations were Page Ahead, Reading Partners, the Queer Liberation Library, and Reading with Rover. Community nonprofit partners for The Beat Goes On were the Seattle Dyke Alliance, Gen Pride, and Lifelong.
  2. $11,113 spent. GALA Chorus Festival: GALA Chorus Festival is a quadrennial international gathering of LGBTQ+ choruses. Programming includes performances by participating ensembles, professional artistic and leadership education opportunities, and collaborative and networking events. Puget Soundworks is a member of GALA Choruses and makes every effort to financially support as many attendees as possible from our organization. In 2024, Puget Soundworks sent nearly 100 singers and staff to the Festival in Minneapolis, providing financial assistance for airfare to 11 singers and lodging for 14 singers. The representing chorus members performed a select repertoire for GALA Festival attendees, opted to join in a number of additional specialized choruses, attended multiple organizational and singer education workshops, and had the opportunity to network with LGBTQIA+ musicians from around the world.
  3. $2,326 spent. Pride Programming: Puget Soundworks participates annually in Pride events around the Seattle area. In 2025, Puget Soundworks centered their engagement around Trans Pride, organized by the Gender Justice League. Nearly 60 singers performed on stage to a large crowd of attendees, focusing on repertoire of queer and trans joy and resilience. Puget Soundworks also reserved a half-table at the festival, staffed by volunteers throughout the event to share information about our chorus and organization. Puget Soundworks also participated in the Seattle Pride Parade in 2025, bringing out a large and enthusiastic group of singers and volunteers to march, hand out treats and information cards to audiences, and to sing along the route. A truck and trailer were rented to ensure accessibility for all participants.

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? 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.

  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 August 2018.

    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.