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Passes our checks

Rat City Roller Derby

EIN 83-3117487 · Edmonds, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL AND THE FOSTERING OF NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR SPORTS COMPETITION PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: A. TO ADVANCE THE SPORT OF FLAT TRACK ROLLER DERBY IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY, MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE ATHLETIC PROGRAM, PROVIDE QUALITY SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT FOR OUR FANS, AND MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY, THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ATHLETIC TRAINING, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, AND OPEN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL WHO ARE WILLING TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TOWARD THE ADVANCEMENT OF THESE GOALS.

Income
$211,487
Spending
$188,437
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
0
Volunteers
166

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 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 (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 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 (1)
  1. $163,261 spent. PROMOTING ROLLER DERBY WITH QUALITY SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT:WE ACTIVELY PROMOTE THE SPORT OF ROLLER DERBY THROUGH VARIOUS INITIATIVES. THIS INCLUDES ORGANIZING ROLLER DERBY CLINICS, COLLABORATING ON COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND FACILITATING DERBY GAMES AT A LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR VIEWING. BY PROMOTING ROLLER DERBY, WE AIM TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN THE SPORT, FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG ROLLER DERBY ENTHUSIASTS AND ENCOURAGING NEW TALENT TO JOIN OUR LEAGUE. THIS PROGRAM GENERATES REVENUE THROUGH TICKET SALES, MERCHANDISE, AND CONCESSIONS, WHICH HELPS SUSTAIN OUR LEAGUE AND FUND OUR OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES. IT ALSO SERVES AS A PLATFORM FOR PROMOTING ROLLER DERBY AND ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.IN ADDITION TO BEING PUBLIC, THE GAMES ARE BROADCAST LIVE AND LATER MADE AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE. MANY LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL DERBY COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE IN OR WATCH OUR ANNUAL EVENTS. LIVE SCREENING AND ARCHIVED ACCESS ON DEMAND INCREASES ACCESSIBILITY TO THE SPORT. VIDEOS WITH LEAGUE SKATERS AMASS FROM A COUPLE THOUSAND FOR HOME EVENTS AND SOME INTERNATIONAL GAMES GARNERING OVER 22K VIEWS. WE INTERACT WITH OUR COMMUNITY USING AN EMAILED NEWSLETTER, INSTAGRAM (OVER 8800 FOLLOWERS), AND FACEBOOK (OVER 48K FOLLOWERS).INDIVIDUALS WHO BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM RANGE FROM A FEW HUNDRED TO OVER 20,000, DEPENDING ON THE EVENT AND MEDIUM OF INTERACTION. SMALLER EVENTS INCLUDE CLINICS AND FUNDRAISERS, WHILE OUR COMPETITIVE GAMES AND REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS CAN ATTRACT SEVERAL HUNDRED TO SEVERAL THOUSAND IN-PERSON AND REACH THOUSANDS, LIVE ON DEMAND.COMMUNITY IMPACT:MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR MISSION. WE ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERING AT LOCAL EVENTS, HOSTING CHARITY BOUTS, AND SUPPORTING YOUTH PROGRAMS RELATED TO ROLLER SPORTS. THIS PROGRAM BENEFITS THOSE DIRECTLY SERVED AND ENHANCES OUR LEAGUE'S REPUTATION AS A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE ORGANIZATION. IT ALLOWS US TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS US AND FOSTERS GOODWILL. ROLLER DERBY IS MORE THAN JUST A SPORT; IT'S A POWERFUL VEHICLE FOR EMPOWERMENT AND COMMUNITY UPLIFTMENT. IN THE HEART OF THE ROLLER DERBY ARENA, INDIVIDUALS FIND NOT ONLY PHYSICAL STRENGTH BUT ALSO A SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY THAT ENCOURAGES PERSONAL GROWTH AND SELF-CONFIDENCE.THROUGH ROLLER DERBY, INDIVIDUALS DISCOVER THEIR INNER STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE, PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT THEY ONCE THOUGHT POSSIBLE. THEY LEARN THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, AND PERSEVERANCE, ON AND OFF THE TRACK. ROLLER DERBY TRANSCENDS TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES, OFFERING AN INCLUSIVE SPACE WHERE ANYONE CAN THRIVE, REGARDLESS OF AGE, BACKGROUND, OR IDENTITY.BEYOND THE ARENA, ROLLER DERBY LEAGUES OFTEN ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH, VOLUNTEERING, AND PHILANTHROPY. THEY WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT BY SUPPORTING LOCAL CHARITIES, PROMOTING WOMEN'S SPORTS, AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR EVERYONE.OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAM REACHES APPROXIMATELY 3,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY THROUGH VARIOUS OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.COMPETITIVE ATHLETIC PROGRAM:AS SEATTLE'S PREMIER, ALL VOLUNTEER MEMBER-OWNED ROLLER DERBY LEAGUE, IT IS OUR MISSION TO MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE ATHLETIC PROGRAM, PROMOTE THE SPORT OF ROLLER DERBY, PROVIDE QUALITY SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT FOR OUR FANS, AND MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.WE FIELD AND SUPPORT COMPETITIVE ROLLER DERBY TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS. OUR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ATHLETE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, TEAM BUILDING, AND COMPETITIVE EXCELLENCE IN ROLLER DERBY. THIS PROGRAM HELPS OUR ATHLETES HONE THEIR SKILLS TO COMPETE AT A HIGH LEVEL, WHICH ATTRACTS FANS TO OUR EVENTS AND CONTRIBUTES TO OUR LEAGUE'S REPUTATION IN THE ROLLER DERBY COMMUNITY. OUR LEAGUE HAS FOUR MAIN TRAINING LEVELS, ALLOWING POINTS OF ACCESS BASED ON CURRENT SKILL AND EXPERIENCE. 1. PINKIES, 2. RAT LAB, MAUL RATS, MISCHIEF, 3. HOME TEAMS, 4. ALL STAR PROGRAM PINKIES IS AN INTRODUCTORY LEVEL FACILITATED BY LEAGUE MEMBERS THAT IS OPEN TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FOCUSING ON FOUNDATIONAL SKATING AND ROLLER DERBY SKILLS. RAT LAB, MAUL RATS AND MISCHIEF ARE THE NEXT LEVELS, WHERE THOSE CAN BEGIN WORKING ON CONTACT AND LEARNING HOW TO PLAY ROLLER DERBY IN ANTICIPATION OF JOINING A LEAGUE HOME TEAM. MISCHIEF IS FOR SKATERS QUALIFIED FOR THE HOME TEAM DRAFT AND IS ALSO A LEVEL WHERE TRANSFER SKATERS CAN JOIN OUR LEAGUE. THERE ARE FOUR INTERLEAGUE HOME TEAMS WITH A LOCAL SEASON. THE ALL-STAR PROGRAM HAS A AND B PRIMARILY TRAVEL TEAMS THAT ARE INTERNATIONALLY RANKED DIVISION 1 LEVEL TEAMS. OUR LEAGUE DEVELOPS SKATERS AT EVERY LEVEL AND ACTIVELY WORKS TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT TO WELCOME NEW FOLKS TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP AND ACCESS FUND THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THOSE WITH NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SPORT AND A GEAR LIBRARY WITH DONATED EQUIPMENT TO HELP THOSE OVERCOME THE INITIAL BARRIERS TO GETTING STARTED WITH ROLLER DERBY. APPROXIMATELY 170 SKATERS, OFFICIALS, AND VOLUNTEERS DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 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 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 January 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 July 2019.

    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.