Pike Place Market Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT SERVE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, HERITAGE PROGRAMS, AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS IN SEATTLE'S PIKE PLACE MARKET.
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $3.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 16.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 327
- Highest pay
- $174,050, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2537 of 37 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
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 (3)
- $1.5 million spent. CONSISTS OF DISBURSEMENTS TO THE FOLLOWING MARKET-RELATED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES: PIKE MARKET MEDICAL CLINIC - PROVIDES LOW COST OR FREE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR ELDERLY AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF THE MARKET AREA AND DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. $413K PIKE MARKET SENIOR CENTER - PROVIDES MEALS, SOCIAL WORK, EMPLOYMENT, AND HOUSING SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS OF THE MARKET AREA AND DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. $360K PIKE MARKET CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL - PROVIDES DAYCARE FOR LOW INCOME WORKING FAMILIES IN THE AREA. $376,632 PIKE MARKET FOOD BANK - PROVIDES FOOD TO DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS WHO WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO GET FOOD. $245K FOOD ACCESS PROJECT & MARKET FRESH COUPONS - A FOOD-COUPON SYSTEM FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE FARM FRESH PRODUCE $172,929 HERITAGE HOUSE AT THE MARKET - AN ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAM TO SERVE LOW INCOME AND SENIOR DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS. $85K.
- $721,645 spent. IN LATE 2017, THE FOUNDATION OPENED THE MARKET COMMONS ("THE COMMONS"), LOCATED IN THE NEW MARKETFRONT. THE COMMONS IS A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER THAT PROVIDES COMMUNITY RESOURCES AS WELL AS PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE MARKET. THE COMMONS EXPANDS DELIVERY OF SOCIAL SERVICES - BOTH IN THE SCOPE OF SERVICES CURRENTLY OFFERED AND IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED BY PARTNER AGENCIES.
- $220,632 spent. SAFETY NET EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR THOSE LIVING/WORKING IN AND AROUND THE MARKET COMMUNITY. GRANTS ARE PAID DIRECTLY TO SERVICE PROVIDE I.E. UTILITY COMPANY, RENTAL AGENCY. $76,423 SMALL BUSINESS GRANTING PROGRAM - GRANTS PAID TO MARKET BUSINESS, STARTED AS COVID RELIEF, CONTINUES. APPLICATIONS WITH SPECIFIC BUSINESS EXPENSES CITED. $135,904
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 March 2026.
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 April 1983.
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.