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Washington Conservation Action Education Fund

EIN 91-0839385 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CHAMPION POLICIES THAT CENTER THE EXPERTISE AND RESILIENCE OF OVERBURDENED COMMUNITIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS AND JUSTICE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
14.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
52
Volunteers
286
Highest pay
$238,655, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 (6)
  1. $1.1 million spent. EVERGREEN FORESTS: WASHINGTON CONSERVATION ACTION EDUCATION FUND'S FOREST PROGRAM WORKS TO ENSURE WASHINGTON HAS A STRONG REGULATORY AND POLICY FRAMEWORK THAT GUIDES THE RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTS. THROUGH CONVENING, LEGISLATION, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY WORK, WE PROMOTE MANAGEMENT OF FORESTS ECOSYSTEMS THAT ADDRESSES THE CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY CRISES AND SUPPORTS RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM'S FOUR THEMATIC AREAS OF WORK ARE: SCIENCE-BASED FOREST PRACTICES, ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC STATE TRUST LANDS, COMMUNITY AND ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE TO WILDFIRE, AND BUILDING CLIMATE-SMART WOOD SUPPLY CHAINS.
  2. $1.0 million spent. NATIVE VOTE WASHINGTON: THE GOAL OF NATIVE VOTE WASHINGTON IS TO INCREASE THE POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT OF NATIVE PEOPLES IN WASHINGTON STATE.
  3. $799,629 spent. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: THE GOAL OF THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM SEEKS TO INCREASE CIVIC PARTICIPATION THROUGH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, INCREASED VOTING ACCESS, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH STATE AND LOCAL DECISION-MAKERS. WE INVEST IN RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION TO LEARN HOW TO ENGAGE MORE PEOPLE IN THE VOTING PROCESS AND OUR WORK MORE BROADLY. WE ALSO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, PROVIDING RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE FOR BOTH NEWLY ELECTED AND SEASONED LAWMAKERS TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS.
  4. $771,591 spent. PUGET SOUND: THE GOAL OF THE PUGET SOUND PROGRAM IS TO RESTORE CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY HABITAT FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE THROUGHOUT THE REGION. WCAEF PUSHES FOR STRONGER PROTECTIONS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT USING A VARIETY OF TOOLS, FROM REGULATORY TO INCENTIVES.
  5. $565,632 spent. CLIMATE: THE CLIMATE PROGRAM WORKS TO ADVANCE STATE POLICIES THAT REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, ADVANCE AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE CLEAN ENERGY, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY INPUT, AND RESPECT TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY.
  6. $478,609 spent. OIL TRANSPORTATION: THE GOAL OF THE OIL PROGRAM IS TO STOP NEW FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM BEING BUILT, STRENGTHEN OIL SPILL PREVENTION AND PROTECTIONS, AND OVER TIME TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 September 1986.

    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 November 4, 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.