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Amara

EIN 91-0577487 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMARA'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN FOSTER CARE HAS THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF A COMMITTED FAMILY - AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AND FOR AS LONG AS EACH CHILD NEEDS. AMARA HAS BEEN SERVING WASHINGTON SINCE ITS FOUNDING AS MEDINA BABY HOME, A TRADITIONAL ORPHANAGE, IN 1921. WHILE AMARA'S SERVICES HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE PAST 100+ YEARS TO MEET URGENT AND EMERGENT NEEDS, OUR FOCUS ON SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, ADOPTEES AND THOSE WHO LOVE THEM HAS NEVER WAVERED. AMARA SERVED 1,615 PARENTS AND 1,412 CHILDREN IN 2024.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
17.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 42%
Employees
52
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$152,989, cfo (end)

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 70% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (2)
  1. $2.7 million spent. RESOURCE CARE PROGRAM: OUR RESOURCE CARE PROGRAMS CONSIST OF 3 PROGRAMMATIC AREAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. AMARA'S FOSTER CARE SERVICES, KINSHIP CARE SUPPORT, AND FAMILY CONNECTIONS PROGRAMS USE A REUNIFICATION-FOCUSED APPROACH AND RECRUIT, PREPARE, AND/OR PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ADULTS AS THEY CARE FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR PARENTS' CARE. PROGRAM STAFF SUPPORT CAREGIVERS IN NAVIGATING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH A CHILD'S FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, AND OBTAIN THE RESOURCES AND TRAINING NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE WELLBEING OF THE CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. AMARA WORKS WITH FAMILIES FROM A BROAD RANGE OF ETHNICITIES, BELIEF SYSTEMS, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, GENDER IDENTITIES AND EXPRESSIONS, AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES AS THEY SUPPORT CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THEIR FOSTER CARE JOURNEY. AMARA IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING RACIAL DISPROPORTIONALITY WITHIN FOSTER CARE AND TO MAINTAINING BIRTH FAMILY TIES WHENEVER POSSIBLE. RESOURCE CARE PROGRAM: OUR RESOURCE CARE PROGRAMS CONSIST OF 3 PROGRAMMATIC AREAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. AMARA'S FOSTER CARE SERVICES, KINSHIP CARE SUPPORT, AND FAMILY CONNECTIONS PROGRAMS USE A REUNIFICATION-FOCUSED APPROACH AND RECRUIT, PREPARE, AND/OR PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ADULTS AS THEY CARE FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR PARENTS' CARE. PROGRAM STAFF SUPPORT CAREGIVERS IN NAVIGATING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH A CHILD'S FAMILY AND COMMUNITY, AND OBTAIN THE RESOURCES AND TRAINING NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE WELLBEING OF THE CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. AMARA WORKS WITH FAMILIES FROM A BROAD RANGE OF ETHNICITIES, BELIEF SYSTEMS, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, GENDER IDENTITIES AND EXPRESSIONS, AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES AS THEY SUPPORT CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THEIR FOSTER CARE JOURNEY. AMARA IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING RACIAL DISPROPORTIONALITY WITHIN FOSTER CARE AND TO MAINTAINING BIRTH FAMILY TIES WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
  2. $1.1 million spent. FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS: OUR FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE THE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS THROUGH CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. AMARA ADDRESSES ROOT CAUSES OF CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT THROUGH OUR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, WHICH HELPS FAMILIES ACCESS RESOURCES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND CONCRETE GOODS SO THAT POVERTY AND LACK OF SUPPORT DO NOT PUSH FAMILIES FURTHER INTO CRISIS. FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PARENTS WHO ARE AT A HIGH RISK FOR HAVING THEIR CHILD(REN) REMOVED FROM THEIR CARE, PARENT FOCUS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS TO PARENTS WHO MAY BE FAST-TRACKED TOWARDS REUNIFICATION, EARLY CHILDHOOD COURT PROGRAM. FURTHERMORE, WE SUPPORT PARENTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REUNIFIED WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEM REFORM AND INFORM PARENT SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMMING. FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS ALSO SEEK TO FOMENT AND STEWARD THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES OF ORIGIN THROUGH SUPPORTING POST-ADOPTIVE FAMILIES IN MAINTAINING OPENNESS WITH CHILDREN'S EXTENDED FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING BIOLOGICAL PARENTS THROUGH SOME OF THE NUANCES OF OPEN ADOPTION AGREEMENTS. LASTLY, WE PROVIDE EDUCATION AND PEER SUPPORT GROUPS BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON TO HELP IMPROVE PARENT AND CAREGIVER WELLBEING AND SKILL-BUILDING, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO BUILD SUPPORTIVE PEER NETWORKS. FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS: OUR FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO REDUCE THE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO THE SEPARATION OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS THROUGH CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. AMARA ADDRESSES ROOT CAUSES OF CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT THROUGH OUR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, WHICH HELPS FAMILIES ACCESS RESOURCES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND CONCRETE GOODS SO THAT POVERTY AND LACK OF SUPPORT DO NOT PUSH FAMILIES FURTHER INTO CRISIS. FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PARENTS WHO ARE AT A HIGH RISK FOR HAVING THEIR CHILD(REN) REMOVED FROM THEIR CARE, PARENT FOCUS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS TO PARENTS WHO MAY BE FAST-TRACKED TOWARDS REUNIFICATION, EARLY CHILDHOOD COURT PROGRAM. FURTHERMORE, WE SUPPORT PARENTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REUNIFIED WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEM REFORM AND INFORM PARENT SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMMING. FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAMS ALSO SEEK TO FOMENT AND STEWARD THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES OF ORIGIN THROUGH SUPPORTING POST-ADOPTIVE FAMILIES IN MAINTAINING OPENNESS WITH CHILDREN'S EXTENDED FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING BIOLOGICAL PARENTS THROUGH SOME OF THE NUANCES OF OPEN ADOPTION AGREEMENTS. LASTLY, WE PROVIDE EDUCATION AND PEER SUPPORT GROUPS BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON TO HELP IMPROVE PARENT AND CAREGIVER WELLBEING AND SKILL-BUILDING, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO BUILD SUPPORTIVE PEER NETWORKS.

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 April 1946.

    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.