The Puget Sound Mycological Society Ctr for Urban Hort Univ of Wash
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To foster the understanding and appreciation of Mycology as a hobby and a science, and to assist related institutions in these purposes. We represent a variety of interests in fungi: the culinary, the weekend naturalists, the serious amateur, and the professional mycologist.
- Income
- $168,781
- Spending
- $125,843
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 59 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 46%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $925, trustee
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.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 59.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 59 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $21,243 spent. PSMS offers a number of classes: 1) Introduction to Mushrooms and Mushroom Hunting 101: The class covers a wide range of topics on ecology, terminology, basics of identifying, edible and toxic mushrooms, poisoning syndromes, hunting, cooking and cultivation. 2) Mushrooms 102: Poison & Edibles, 3) Dyeing Fabrics with Mushrooms, 4) Cultivation, 5) Mycophagy, and 6) Navigation Skills.
- $20,364 spent. Fungal DNA Sequencing Citizen Science Project: Identification of interesting collections from the Pacific Northwest
- $20,303 spent. Ben Woo Memorial Foray: A members only weekend educational session with speakers, classes and field trips exploring the forests, collecting and discussing the numerous species collected. Classes offered cover basic identification, dying with mushrooms, cooking, the role of fungi in various habitat, etc.
- $49,815 spent. Annual Wild Mushroom Show: A two-day program when we share with the general public our knowledge of and enthusiasm for the fungal kingdom. The exhibit includes: displays of mushrooms, mushroom identification, cooking demonstrations, microscopy, cultivation kits, dying with mushrooms, lectures, childrens area, and book and merchandise sales. Monthly meetings: Meetings are held in-person and virtually, with speakers of mycology. Meetings are open to members and the general public. Ben Woo Scholarship program: provides financial support for research and education regarding fungi in the Pacific Northwest. K-12 Grants: supports the study of fungi in K12 classrooms in Washington State. PSMS helps teachers efforts to promote and further their students understanding of fungi and their importance in our lives. Field trips: offered in the Spring and Fall, for members to explore the forest, collect and identify mushrooms, and discuss findings.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.