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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound

EIN 91-0673185 · Bellevue, 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

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PUGET SOUND CREATES AND SUPPORTS 1-TO-1 MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS THAT IGNITE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH. IT IS OUR VISION THAT ALL YOUTH ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
13.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
60
Volunteers
1,590
Highest pay
$255,485, 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.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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 (1)
  1. $2.9 million spent. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PUGET SOUND IS THE LARGEST ONE-TO-ONE YOUTH MENTORING ORGANIZATION IN WASHINGTON STATE AND HAS OVER 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SUCCESSFULLY MENTORING CHILDREN. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PUGET SOUND'S WORK IS ROOTED IN OUR EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL THAT HAS SHOWN THAT THE IMPACT OF MENTORING EXTENDS BEYOND JUST THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE MATCH. DATA FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SHOWS THAT KIDS WHO ARE MENTORED DO BETTER IN SCHOOL, ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND EARN 20% MORE THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS WITHOUT MENTORSE SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,033 CHILDREN AND MENTORS IN THE PUGET SOUND AREA IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. OUR COMMUNITY-BASED AND SITE-BASED PROGRAMS HELP YOUNG PEOPLE FACING ADVERSITY DEVELOP HIGHER ASPIRATIONS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE, IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, AVOID RISKY BEHAVIORS, AND ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. WE ADHERE TO THE STRICT STANDARDS OF ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING DEVELOPED BY BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA. KEY TO OUR SUCCESS IS HOW WE PARTNER WITH PARENTS, SCHOOL STAFF, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED AND MATCH THEM WITH CARING ADULT MENTORS. THESE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS ARE SO TRANSFORMATIONAL THAT THEIR POSITIVE IMPACT AFFECTS THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND MENTORS WE MATCH, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

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 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 August 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 March 1959.

    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.

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