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South King Tool Library

EIN 83-1562146 · Federal Way, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

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

What it says it does

THE SOUTH KING TOOL LIBRARY (SKTL) PROVIDES ACCESS TO TOOLS AND TRAINING IN ORDER TO HELP MAINTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS, BUILD COMMUNITY AND REDUCE UNNECESSARY CONSUMPTION WITH HOUSEHOLDS OF ALL FORMS, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND UNDER-SERVED POPULATIONS. BY OFFERING FREE TOOL CHECKOUT AND TRAINING, SKTL REMOVES BARRIERS OF COST AND KNOWLEDGE TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTIES.

Income
$264,460
Spending
$288,126
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
6
Volunteers
0

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
  1. $171,000 spent. TOOL LIBRARY - COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN CHECK OUT TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT WHICH REDUCES THE BURDEN OF PURCHASING, STORING AND MAINTAINING TOOLS FOR HOME AND YARD PROJECTS.
  2. $30,170 spent. CLASSES AND EVENTS - SKTL HOSTS RECYCLING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR HARD TO RECYCLE ITEMS SUCH AS APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS, AS WELL AS ON-SITE SHREDDING EVENTS AND CLOTHING SWAPS. SKTL ALSO OFFERS FREE CLASSES AND TRAINING ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS. CLASSES AND EVENTS ARE INTENDED TO EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHARE AND CONSERVE RESOURCES, REPAIR AND REUSE WHAT THEY HAVE, MAKE ECO-FRIENDLY CHOICES AND FEEL CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILTY TO DIY.
  3. $17,490 spent. REPAIR EVENTS - COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN BRING THEIR SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO QUARTERLY REPAIR CAFES FOR FREE REPAIRS BY EXPERT FIXERS.
  4. CLASSES - SKTL OFFERS FREE CLASSES AND TRAINING ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS FROM HOME REPAIRS TO NATURAL YARD CARE.

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

  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 2025.

    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 June 2019.

    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.