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Helping Hands Food Bank of Sedro Woolley

EIN 91-1203572 · Sedro Woolley, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HELPING HANDS PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR NEEDY FAMILIES IN SKAGIT COUNTY WE HAND OUT FOOD THOUGH OUR WEEKLY DISTRIBUTION, BACKPACK PROGRAM, MOBILE FOOD AND EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$5.6 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
23
Volunteers
3,914
Highest pay
$150,850, 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: 49 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 77 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $5.4 million spent. WEEKLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION: HELPING HANDS DISTRIBUTED NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO SKAGIT COUNTY. IN 2023 THERE WERE 270,000 VISITS TO THE 7 DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS OF OVER 2 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD. HELPING HANDS HAS 300 VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE GIVEN 85,000 HOURS IN 2023 TO SORT PRODUCE, DELIVER GROCERIES TO SENIORS AND CHILDREN, HAND OUT FOOD AT FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND CHECK IN CLIENT NUMBERS.
  2. $44,839 spent. THE SOLUTIONS PROGRAM WORKS ON GETTING PEOPLE FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING. THEY CONNECT PARTICIPANTS WITH RESOURCES THAT ARE NOT FOOD. THE EXAMPLE OF THAT IS WORKING WITH SENIORS TO APPLY FOR THE SENIOR EXEMPTION FOR THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, GETTING WORK BOOTS FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO WORK, SIGNED UP FOR CLASSES AT GOODWILLS, SIGNED UP FOR SNAP AND THEY DO STREET OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO THE UNHOUSED.
  3. $5,361 spent. KIDS BACKPACK PROGRAM:CHOW IS A PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS 5 MEALS A WEEK TO OVER 800 KIDS A WEEK TO KEEP THEM NOURISHED OVER THE WEEKEND. PARENTS SIGN THEMSELVES UP FOR THE PROGRAM AND VOLUNTEERS DELIVER THE WEEKLY BAGS.

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 July 1986.

    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.