Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Samuel and Althea Stroum Jewish Community Center of Greater Seattl

EIN 90-0953408 · Mercer Island, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO OFFER EXPERIENCES THAT AMPLIFY PROFOUND JEWISH CONNECTIONS FOR EVERY GENERATION.

Income
$34.0 million
Spending
$13.0 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
344
Volunteers
162
Highest pay
$301,913, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 164% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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 August 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. $4.0 million spent. THE SJCC SCHWARTZ EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL (ECS) IS A UNIQUE PLACE, WHERE THE ELEMENTS OF PREEMINENT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INTERSECT WITH DAILY JEWISH TRADITIONS, HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, AND ULTIMATELY FRIENDSHIPS THAT CREATE AN UNMATCHED COMMUNITY FOR YOUNG FAMILIES. SERVING 212 KIDS IN 2025-2026, A REGGIO EMILIA-INSPIRED PROGRAM, ECS CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT FOSTERING COMPASSIONATE, CURIOUS, AND CONFIDENT LEARNERS. ECS IS A COMPOUNDING FOUNDATION OF THE SJCC, AS NEW FAMILIES BUILD UPON PRECEDING GENERATIONS, REAPING THE BENEFITS OF THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE AS THEY ALSO FORTIFY THE FUTURE.
  2. $1.7 million spent. SJCC YOUTH, CAMP AND FAMILY PROGRAMS ACCOMPLISH THE SJCC'S MISSION BY CREATING SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS TO INTERACT, LEARN, AND SHARE JEWISH-INSPIRED EXPERIENCES THAT FORGE AND DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY. J CAMP WELCOMED AN AVERAGE OF 420 KIDS PER WEEK IN THE SUMMER OF 2025, AND TOGETHER THESE PROGRAMS WELCOME HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES THROUGH YEAR-ROUND HOLIDAY PROGRAMS, RECREATIONAL SPORTS LEAGUES, AND MORE.
  3. $1.1 million spent. FITNESS AND AQUATICS PROGRAMS AT SJCC HELP THE SJCC ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION BY PROVIDING REGULAR PROGRAMS FOR HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS TO MEET AND BUILD COMMUNITY AROUND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. THROUGH DAILY PROGRAMS, FRIENDSHIPS FORM, TRADITIONS ARE DEVELOPED AND REINFORCED, AND COMMUNITIES BUILD THROUGH SHARE EXPERIENCES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SJCC WELCOMED OVER 3,500 MEMBERS IN 2025.
  4. $680,374 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ARTS & IDEAS, AND YOUTH AND ADULT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ACCOMPLISH THE CENTER'S PURPOSE BY ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN VARIOUS SOCIAL, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND HOLIDAY PROGRAMS. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ARTS & IDEAS PROGRAMS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 6,000 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on January 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on April 15, 2013.

    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 August 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 2014.

    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.