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Columbia Play Project

EIN 85-3637110 · Vancouver, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak26 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 28% 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

COLUMBIA PLAY PROJECT PROVIDES INCLUSIVE SPACES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG-AT-HEART TO HAVE SHARED PLAY EXPERIENCES THAT INSPIRE THEM TO DISCOVER THEIR PASSIONS.

Income
$357,382
Spending
$422,868
Spent on programs
28%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
9
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$27,500, executive director

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

Weak: 26 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    28% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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. $68,074 spent. POP-UP MUSEUM: COLUMBIA PLAY PROJECT'S POP-UP MUSEUM DELIVERS MOBILE, HANDS-ON STREAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, READING, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATH) EXPERIENCES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS CLARK COUNTY. PROGRAMMING IS HOSTED AT SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, LIBRARIES, AND PARTNER SITES, INCREASING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION PLAY, ART-MAKING, SCIENCE EXPLORATION, AND COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND CAREGIVER-CHILD INTERACTION. IN 2025 CPP EXPANDED THE REACH OF ITS MOBILE PROGRAMMING, SERVING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGH BOTH FREE AND FEE-FOR-SERVICE EVENTS AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $18,741 spent. INDOOR PLAY SPACE: COLUMBIA PLAY PROJECT HOSTS A MONTHLY FREE INDOOR PLAY SPACE, PROVIDING A CONSISTENT, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS TO PLAY, CONNECT AND TEAM TOGETHER. HELD AT COMMUNITY BASED LOCATIONS, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE EXPLORATION, CREATIVITY, AND SOCIAL INTERACTION. THE INDOOR PLAY SPACE REDUCES BARRIERS TO ACCESS BY OFFERING FREE ENTRY AND INTENTIONALLY SERVING FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM EXPERIENCES. IN 2025 CPP CONTINUED TO GROW ATTENDANCE AND DEEPEN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, POSITIONING THE PROGRAM AS A CORNERSTONE OF ITS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
  3. $7,440 spent. WIGGLES AND GIGGLES: WIGGLES AND GIGGLES IS A TICKETED, FAMILY-FOCUSED PROGRAM THAT COMBINES INTERACTIVE PLAY WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT SUCH AS MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND PERFORMANCE. DESIGNED TO ENGAGE BOTH CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS EARLY LEARNING THROUGH JOYFUL, SHARED EXPERIENCES. EVENTS FEATURE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES ALONGSIDE GUEST PERFORMERS, INCLUDING MUSICIANS AND EDUCATORS, CREATING AN ACCESSIBLE ENTRY POINT FOR FAMILILES TO ENGAGE WITH CPP'S PROGRAMMING. IN 2025 WIGGLES AND GIGGLES CONTINUES AS A KEY EARNED-REVENUE PROGRAM WHILE MAINTAINING A STRONG FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL VALUE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.
  4. $24,585 spent. ADDITONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS FAMILY PLAY DAY, GRANDPARENTS' PLAY DAY, AND SEASONAL OR PARTNER-BASED PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS SMALLER-SCALE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. THESE PROGRAMS COLLECTIVELY EXPAND CPP'S REACH, SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BUILDING, AND REINFORCE ITS MISSION TO PROVIDE INCLUSIVE, PLAY-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2025 COLUMBIA PLAY PROJECT HIRED ITS FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRENGTHENING ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY TO EXPAND PROGRAMS AND ADVANCE PLANNING FOR A PERMANENT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.

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 April 2021.

    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.