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Washington State Transit Association

EIN 91-1152629 · Olympia, WA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceNot ratedToo small or too little detailImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WSTA ADVANCES THE VALUE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, ADVOCACY OF POSITIVE AND EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY AND FOSTERING THE COLLABORATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSIT EMPLOYEES.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Employees
4
Highest pay
$168,054, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate

Governance

This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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. $1.2 million spent. MEMBER SERVICES, MEETINGS AND EVENTS: THE WASHINGTON STATE TRANSIT ASSOCIATION (WSTA) MEMBERS CONSIST OF 30 PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCIES AND THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. WSTA ORGANIZES OVER 50 MEETINGS PER YEAR FOR THE WSTA BOARD AND THE 12 STANDING COMMITTEES MADE UP OF TRANSIT PROFESSIONALS FROM OUR MEMBER AGENCIES. WSTA ALSO ORGANIZES SPECIAL EVENTS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL SPRING MAINTENANCE VENDOR FORUM, ANNUAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROADEO, AND IN ALTERNATING YEARS A STATEWIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYMPOSIUM AND MARKETING & COMMUNICATION EXCHANGE. MANY OF WSTA'S ASSOCIATE MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN WSTA EVENTS. WSTA PRODUCES A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS AND PROVIDES OTHER MEMBER SERVICES AS APPROPRIATE CONSISTENT WITH THE WSTA MISSION AND VISION. THE ASSOCIATION INITIATED A CARBON CREDIT AGGREGATING PROGRAM FOR IT'S MEMBERS IN THE CURRENT YEAR. MEMBER SERVICES, MEETINGS AND EVENTS: THE WASHINGTON STATE TRANSIT ASSOCIATION (WSTA) MEMBERS CONSIST OF 30 PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCIES AND THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. WSTA ORGANIZES OVER 50 MEETINGS PER YEAR FOR THE WSTA BOARD AND THE 12 STANDING COMMITTEES MADE UP OF TRANSIT PROFESSIONALS FROM OUR MEMBER AGENCIES. WSTA ALSO ORGANIZES SPECIAL EVENTS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL SPRING MAINTENANCE VENDOR FORUM, ANNUAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROADEO, AND IN ALTERNATING YEARS A STATEWIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYMPOSIUM AND MARKETING & COMMUNICATION EXCHANGE. MANY OF WSTA'S ASSOCIATE MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN WSTA EVENTS. WSTA PRODUCES A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS AND PROVIDES OTHER MEMBER SERVICES AS APPROPRIATE CONSISTENT WITH THE WSTA MISSION AND VISION. THE ASSOCIATION INITIATED A CARBON CREDIT AGGREGATING PROGRAM FOR IT'S MEMBERS IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
  2. $605,502 spent. LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC OUTREACH: THE WASHINGTON STATE TRANSIT ASSOCIATION (WSTA) MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THEN WORK TOGETHER (MEMBERS, WSTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND WSTA AND SMTA (A CAUCUS OF WSTA) CONTRACT LOBBYISTS) TO PURSUE THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. WSTA PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AND BRIEFINGS, AS WELL AS A CENTRAL POINT OF CONTACT TO LEGISLATORS, LEGISLATIVE STAFF, AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND STAFF, AND STATE AGENCIES. AS NEEDED, WSTA PREPARES COMMENTS ON PROPOSED STATE LAWS, RULES, AND BUDGET PROPOSALS, AND FUNDING PACKAGES. WSTA PROVIDES WEEKLY UPDATTES AND CALLS TO KEEP MEMBERS INFORMED OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES DURING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WSTA PARTICIPATES IN LEGISLATIVE STUDIES RELATED TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. OCCASIONALLY, WSTA PROVIDES LEGISLATIVE UPDATES TO MEMBERS REGARDING ISSUES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND MAY PREPARE COMMENT LETTERS ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS. WSTA ALSO COLLABORATES WITH OTHER PARTNERS TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ON THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIUON. THIS WORK INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATIONAL DOCUMENTS, RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS, DRAFTING OF ARTICLES AND/OR NEWS RELEASES FOR THE PRESS, AND COORDINATING WITH OTHER GROUPS INCLUDING GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AND VARIOUS BUSINESS GROUPS. IN RECENT YEARS, THIS WORK HAS BEEN CLOSELY TIED TO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A POSSIBLE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PACKAGE. LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC OUTREACH: THE WASHINGTON STATE TRANSIT ASSOCIATION (WSTA) MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THEN WORK TOGETHER (MEMBERS, WSTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND WSTA AND SMTA (A CAUCUS OF WSTA) CONTRACT LOBBYISTS) TO PURSUE THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. WSTA PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AND BRIEFINGS, AS WELL AS A CENTRAL POINT OF CONTACT TO LEGISLATORS, LEGISLATIVE STAFF, AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND STAFF, AND STATE AGENCIES. AS NEEDED, WSTA PREPARES COMMENTS ON PROPOSED STATE LAWS, RULES, AND BUDGET PROPOSALS, AND FUNDING PACKAGES. WSTA PROVIDES WEEKLY UPDATTES AND CALLS TO KEEP MEMBERS INFORMED OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES DURING THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WSTA PARTICIPATES IN LEGISLATIVE STUDIES RELATED TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. OCCASIONALLY, WSTA PROVIDES LEGISLATIVE UPDATES TO MEMBERS REGARDING ISSUES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND MAY PREPARE COMMENT LETTERS ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS. WSTA ALSO COLLABORATES WITH OTHER PARTNERS TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ON THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIUON. THIS WORK INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATIONAL DOCUMENTS, RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS, DRAFTING OF ARTICLES AND/OR NEWS RELEASES FOR THE PRESS, AND COORDINATING WITH OTHER GROUPS INCLUDING GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AND VARIOUS BUSINESS GROUPS. IN RECENT YEARS, THIS WORK HAS BEEN CLOSELY TIED TO DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A POSSIBLE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PACKAGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(4) social welfare 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? Caution.

    The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 March 1983.

    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.