Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the places that matter in Washington State and to promoting sustainable and economically viable communities through historic preservation.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 11.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 62%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $120,823, executive dir.
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 29 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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 (1)
- $1.7 million spent. Looking back, 2024 was a year of milestones, as the Washington Trust team worked to promote historic preservation, community placemaking, and cultural heritage in towns across the state.Advocacy remained a cornerstone of our work. We made our annual sojourn to Washington, D.C., for Preservation Advocacy Week, meeting with our states Congressional representatives to support federal preservation policies and funding. At the state level, we continued our work with lawmakers to showcase the importance of preservation as a valuable economic development tool. In partnership with the Department of Archeology & Historic Preservation (DAHP), we supervised capital grant programs for historic barns, county courthouses, cemeteries, and theaters. We added three new listings to Washington's Most Endangered Places: the Ryan House in Sumner, a historic log cabin in Langley, and the Coupeville Wharf.Our programs had stellar years as well. The Washington State Main Street Program, a DAHP program administered by the Washington Trust, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024. The Main Street network overall grew to 77 towns and cities with the addition of one new Community (Snohomish) and ?ve new Affiliates (Cathlamet, Chewelah, Kirkland, Oakesdale, and Pioneer Square in Seattle). Our annual conference, newly re-branded as PLACES, traveled to Walla Walla, attracting 385 attendees and contributing $175,000 to the local economy. We were awarded a Neighborhood Business Districts grant from the City of Spokane, which will support district improvements and organizational development in four of Spokanes historic neighborhood business districts starting in 2025.In our second official year of activities for the MariOme Washington National Heritage Area, we hosted public and network events celebrating Washingtons maritime history and heritage. Our Maritime Washington grant program awarded more than $260,000 in sub-grants. We welcomed a Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Meagan Harden, who will work with sta
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 2024.
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 May 1977.
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.