Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Wellspring Family Services

EIN 91-0567261 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION: TO END THE CYCLE OF FAMILY HOMELESSNESS. OUR VISION: A COMMUNITY IN WHICH EVERY CHILD HAS A SAFE AND STABLE HOME.

Income
$12.0 million
Spending
$12.3 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
-5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 33%
Employees
91
Volunteers
490
Highest pay
$248,512, interim ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    18 of 18 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $3.5 million spent. IN 2024, WELLSPRING CONTINUED TO PROVIDE COST-EFFECTIVE, RESPONSIVE SERVICES THAT SUPPORT EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING AND PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH OUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP). EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES HAD ACCESS TO COUNSELING, CHILD CARE RESOURCES, AND OTHER SUPPORTS THAT HELP THEM REMAIN BOTH EMPLOYED AND STABLY HOUSED. AT THE END OF 2024, WELLSPRING TRANSITIONED THE EAP PROGRAM TO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF SERVICES FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND COMPANIES IT SERVED.
  2. $2.9 million spent. CHILDHOOD SERVICES: EARLY LEARNING CENTER (ELC) AND FAMILY STORE. WELLSPRING'S CHILDHOOD SERVICES PROVIDE EARLY EDUCATION AND ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. IN 2024, THE ELC PROVIDED FREE, TRAUMA-INFORMED, HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE TO 52 CHILDREN AGES 1 TO 5. ELEVEN STUDENTS GRADUATED READY TO SUCCEED IN KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND, WHILE FAMILIES COLLECTIVELY SAVED AN ESTIMATED $1.56 MILLION IN CHILDCARE COSTS THE EQUIVALENT OF 17 MONTHS OF RENT PER FAMILY. THE ELC ALSO EQUIPPED PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WITH SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO CONTINUE BUILDING A STRONGER FUTURE. DURING THE SAME YEAR, THE FAMILY STORE SUPPORTED MORE THAN 2,200 FAMILIES BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ITEMS INCLUDING CLOTHING, DIAPERS, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, AND HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES. THESE RESOURCES HELPED FAMILIES STRETCH LIMITED BUDGETS AND DIRECT THEIR FINANCES TOWARD CRITICAL EXPENSES THAT KEEP THEM SAFELY AND STABLY HOUSED.
  3. $1.8 million spent. WELLSPRING'S HOUSING SERVICES SPECIALIZE IN PREVENTING FAMILY HOMELESSNESS BEFORE IT OCCURS AND INTERVENING EARLY WHEN IT DOES. OUR HOUSING SPECIALISTS PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX WEB OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO STAY HOUSED, FIND TEMPORARY EMERGENCY SHELTER, OR SECURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN 2024, WELLSPRING EXPANDED HOUSING SERVICES BY LAUNCHING A NEW PROGRAM DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND BY INTEGRATING ENHANCED RESIDENT CARE MODELS WITHIN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LANDSCAPE. OUR EMPLOYEE STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) ALSO OFFICIALLY BEGAN SERVICE, EQUIPPING EMPLOYERS WITH TOOLS TO HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES NAVIGATE CRISES AND MAINTAIN OR REGAIN HOUSING STABILITY. IN 2024, WELLSPRING PROVIDED PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES TO 389 FAMILIES, HELPING THEM REMAIN SAFELY HOUSED. THESE EFFORTS SAVED AN ESTIMATED $14.2 MILLION IN TAXPAYER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HOMELESSNESS AND REHOUSING. FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, 100% OF FAMILIES IN OUR RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM REMAINED SUCCESSFULLY HOUSED, WITH NO RETURNS TO HOMELESSNESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 1923.

    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.