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Southeast Effective Development

EIN 91-0947619 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SOUTHEAST EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ("SEED") IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF SOUTHEAST SEATTLE BY FACILITATING SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, HOUSING AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. FOUNDED IN 1975, SEED WORKS TO STRENGTHEN AND REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESS DISTRICTS OF SOUTHEAST SEATTLE.

Income
$15.9 million
Spending
$16.0 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-40.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
42
Volunteers
42
Highest pay
$182,944, executive director

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: 38 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 106% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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. $13.1 million spent. AFFORDABLE HOUSING: SEED'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN 1986 AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION IN SOUTH EAST SEATTLE. SINCE THEN, SEED HAS REDEVELOPED AND CONSTRUCTED OVER 1,000 UNITS OF MULTI-FAMILY UTILIZING FEDERAL HOUSING TAX CREDITS. STATE TAX-EXEMPT BONDS AND OTHER PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. SEED HAS INCREASED THE AVAILABILITY OF DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND FAMILIES/INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED INCOME.
  2. $1.4 million spent. SEEDARTS BUILDS COMMUNITY BY PRESENTING DIVERSE ARTS EXPERIENCES, NURTURING LOCAL ARTISTS, AND INFUSING CREATIVITY INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE OFFER VISUAL, PERFORMING, MEDIA, AND PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE THAT SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN ARTISTS, INSPIRE AND CONNECT RESIDENTS, AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITY.OUR PROGRAMS FOCUS ON:-CURATING, FACILITATING AND PROMOTING ARTS AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, ESPECIALLY THOSE CREATED BY UNDER-REPRESENTED VOICES AND YOUTH;-PRESERVING AND GROWING VENUES AND RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS TO WORK AND GENERATE INCOME FROM THEIR CREATIVE ENDEAVORS; AND-INTEGRATING ART INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.VALUES:-REPRESENTATIVE: EMPHASIZING UNDER-REPRESENTED VOICES AND STORIES-COMMUNITY CENTERED: FACILITATING THE ARTIST AND THE COMMUNITY TO DRIVE THE WORK-HYPER-LOCAL: FOCUSING ON SOUTHEAST SEATTLESEEDARTS IS COMMITTED TO BECOMING AN INCLUSIVE AND ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION. TO MAKE OUR ARTS EXPERIENCES ACCESSIBLE, OUR PROGRAMS ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, ARE COMMUNITY DRIVEN AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT, AND ARE OFFERED FOR FREE OR LOW-COST. SEEDARTS HAS GROWN FROM A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM, LAUNCHED IN 1982, INTO A MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES ONE OF THE MOST GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE AND ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.

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 2001.

    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.