Bellwether Housing
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $51.3 million
- Spending
- $60.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -26.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 73%
- Employees
- 233
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $399,698, chief executive officer
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: 35 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 75% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: BELLWETHER HOUSING IS THE LARGEST NONPROFIT PROVIDER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE. WE OWN AND OPERATE 3,592 AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS IN 39 BUILDINGS IN SEATTLE PROVIDING FAMILIES AND SENIORS WITH SAFE, STABLE HOMES, AND BY DOING SO, WE BUILD STRONGER, SAFER, MORE PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES. WE SERVE HOUSEHOLDS WITH ANNUAL INCOMES BETWEEN 0-60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME (THAT IS AN ANNUAL INCOME OF UP TO ROUGHLY $82,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR). WE HOUSE 7,000 RESIDENTS FOR WHOM MARKET-RATE HOUSING IS OUT OF REACH. WE LOCATE OUR HOMES NEAR TRANSIT, JOB CENTERS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, OFFERING RESIDENTS ACCESS TO THE OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY OF OUR REGION. MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS INCLUDE FAMILIES EXITING HOMELESSNESS, INDEPENDENT SENIORS, IMMIGRANTS SEEKING OPPORTUNITY, WORKERS EARNING MODEST WAGES, AND YOUNG PEOPLE JUST STARTING OUT. WE BELIEVE EVERYONE SHOULD LIVE IN A HOME THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT. ACCORDINGLY, OUR STAFF TAKE PRIDE IN KEEPING OUR BUILDINGS CLEAN, SAFE, AND WELL-MAINTAINED. BELLWETHER'S RESIDENT SERVICE COORDINATORS CONNECT RESIDENTS TO LOCAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS THAT CAN SUPPORT THEM IN ACHIEVING STABLE, HEALTHY, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. WE HAVE FIVE BUILDINGS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WHEN THEY ARE COMPLETE, OUR COMMUNITY WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 1,124 AFFORDABLE APARTMENT HOMES. BELLWETHER HOUSING HAS FOUR CORE PROGRAMS. 1. DEVELOP AND MANAGE AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS. BELLWETHER MANAGES THE MAJORITY OF ITS BUILDINGS IN-HOUSE. WE PROACTIVELY PLAN FOR MAJOR PROJECTS TO REPAIR, SUSTAIN, AND PRESERVE OUR APARTMENTS. 2. PROVIDE ENHANCED SERVICES THAT FOSTER SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENT LIVING AND HOUSING STABILITY. BELLWETHER'S ON-SITE RESIDENT SERVICES COORDINATORS (RSCS) PROVIDE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND REFERRALS, FACILITATING CONNECTIONS TO BOTH IN-BUILDING ACTIVITIES AND WIDER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS. WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION, HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, OUR PROGRAM NOT ONLY SUPPORTS RESIDENTS IN OVERCOMING LIFE'S CHALLENGES BUT ALSO EMPOWERS THEM TO ACTIVELY PURSUE THEIR PERSONAL GOALS. WE PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN ENSURING FAMILIES EXITING HOMELESSNESS REMAIN HOUSED BY PROMOTING STRONG, SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL NETWORKS. THIS INCLUDES ENCOURAGING RESIDENT-LED SOCIAL EVENTS LIKE POTLUCKS, BINGO, AND MOVIE NIGHTS, WHICH ARE INTEGRAL TO BUILDING A CONNECTED AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY. OUR OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO FOSTER HOUSING STABILITY THROUGH THE CULTIVATION OF SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS. 3. AMPLIFY OUR IMPACT BY PROVIDING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. BELLWETHER PROVIDES HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO OTHER MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO DEVELOP OR PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE ASSET MANAGEMENT, ENERGY EFFICIENCY CONSULTING, GREEN RETROFITS, AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. 4. ADVOCATE TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE PLACES TO LIVE. AS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM, BELLWETHER HOUSING IS PART OF A COALITION ACTIVELY ADVOCATING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS.
- $48.2 million spent. AS PART OF ITS REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO BELLWETHER HAS SOLE OWNERSHIP OF 27 BUILDINGS IN THE PUGET SOUND AREA PROVIDING 1,858 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. WE CREATE AND MAINTAIN OUTSTANDING HOMES AND CONNECT RESIDENTS IN NEED OF SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP THEM LEAD HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT LIVES.
- $2.8 million spent. BELLWETHER HOUSING, THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SEVERAL LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT (LIHTC) PARTNERS, ALSO SHARES OWNERSHIP OF SEVERAL BUILDINGS THAT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. ON THESE JOINTLY OWNED BUILDINGS, BELLWETHER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REFURBISHMENT OF UNITS, CONSTRUCTION OF NEW UNITS AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL BUILDINGS.
- $691,409 spent. BELLWETHER HOUSING PROVIDES FEE-BASED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP OTHER NON-PROFITS CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE MARKETS. SERVICES INCLUDE CONSULTING IN THE AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND ASSET MANAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, BELLWETHER PROVIDES FEE-BASED OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO ITS LIHTC PARTNERS IN THE BUILDING AND DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1980.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.