Eastside Retirement Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EMERALD HEIGHTS IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT NON-DENOMINATIONAL LIFE PLAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND HEALTH CARE FOR RESIDENTS 55 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. AS A LIFE PLAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY ON THE EASTSIDE OF PUGET SOUND, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF QUALITY PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO MEET THE HEALTH, SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL AND INTELLECTUAL NEEDS OF ITS RESIDENTS AND TO SERVE THE BROADER COMMUNITY. EMERALD HEIGHTS IS OPERATED TO FULFILL ITS MISSION OF SERVICE WHILE REMAINING TRUE TO ITS CORE VALUES OF INTEGRITY, STEWARDSHIP, EMPOWERMENT, FAITH, CHANGE AND CHOICE. THE ORGANIZATION IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY EASTSIDE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION. THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMPRISED OF LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EMERALD HEIGHTS' RESIDENTS AND HERON'S KEY RESIDENT, ALL DEDICATED TO THE MISSION OF EMERALD HEIGHTS AND TO ENSURE IT CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN ITS HIGH STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE AND REMAINS FINANCIALLY SOUND.
- Income
- $55.4 million
- Spending
- $40.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -31.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 82%
- Employees
- 423
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $695,453, president & ceo (through dec 2024)
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 69% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 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)
- $24.3 million spent. INDEPENDENT LIVING SENIOR HOUSING AND SERVICES: EASTSIDE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION (DBA: EMERALD HEIGHTS) PROVIDES SAFE AND SECURE SENIOR HOUSING AND SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 534 INDEPENDENT LIVING RESIDENTS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S 375 APARTMENTS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MANY SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING MEAL SERVICES PROVIDED IN A CENTRAL DINING ROOM, FITNESS AND EXERCISE CLASSES, EQUIPMENT AND SWIMMING POOL, WELLNESS PROGRAMS, SOCIAL PROGRAMS, A WIDE VARIETY OF RESIDENT ACTIVITIES, BOTH ON SITE AND OTHER LOCATIONS, TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND GROCERY STORES, BANKS, AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES, SPIRITUAL SERVICES, CHAPEL AND AN ON-SITE CHAPLAIN. ALL RESIDENTS HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO ASSISTED LIVING AND SKILLED NURSING HEALTH CARE.(CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)EMERALD HEIGHTS WAS FINANCED WITH BONDS ISSUED BY THE WASHINGTON STATE HOUSING FINANCE COMMISSION. THROUGH A SEPARATE REGULATORY AGREEMENT WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE HOUSING FINANCE COMMISSION, EMERALD HEIGHTS HAS SET ASIDE 25% OF ALL UNITS FOR LOWER-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AS DEFINED BY THE COMMISSION. EMERALD HEIGHTS IS A TYPE A EXTENSIVE CONTRACT LIFE PLAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY. AS A TYPE A FACILITY IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, NO RESIDENT OF EMERALD HEIGHTS MAY UTILIZE TAX-PAYER FUNDED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICAID. EMERALD HEIGHTS PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS WHO, FOR REASONS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, BECOME UNABLE TO PAY THEIR MONTHLY SERVICE FEES.AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION, REVENUES GENERATED IN EXCESS OF EXPENSES ARE INVESTED AND HELD AS RESERVES TO ENSURE ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS CAN BE FULLY MET, TO REPLACE FACILITY AND PROGRAM ASSETS AS NEEDED AND TO ALLOW PRUDENT EXPANSION OF THE MISSION. EMERALD HEIGHTS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND STAFF TO INTERACT WITHIN THE EMERALD HEIGHTS COMMUNITY, THE GREATER REDMOND COMMUNITY AND BEYOND BY ESTABLISHING JOINT RESIDENT/STAFF COMMITTEES, ESTABLISHING CLOSE TIES WITH COMMUNITY FACILITIES SUCH AS REDMOND HIGH SCHOOL, AND DEVELOPING COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES AND PROGRAMS CONSISTENT WITH ITS MISSION. EMERALD HEIGHTS RECRUITS, DEVELOPS AND RETAINS COMPETENT AND CARING STAFF WHO SHARE THE ORGANIZATION'S PRINCIPLES, VALUES AND STANDARDS BY MAINTAINING OPEN COMMUNICATION AND STRESSING TEAM WORK THAT BUILDS UP THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, AND DEVELOPING STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE FOR EVALUATION BASED ON POSITION DESCRIPTIONS, AND PROVIDING FAIR, COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.
- $7.9 million spent. SKILLED NURSING HOUSING, SERVICES AND HEALTH CARE: EMERALD HEIGHTS HAS 61 SKILLED NURSING BEDS THAT PROVIDE HOUSING, CARE AND NURSING SERVICES TO RESIDENTS THAT NEED THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE. SERVICES IN THIS AREA MAY BE SHORT TERM TO PROVIDE NEEDED CARE TO REHABILITATE AFTER AN ILLNESS OR INJURY. THE SKILLED NURSING FACILITY ALSO PROVIDES LONG-TERM CUSTODIAL CARE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS NEEDING THIS HIGHER LEVEL OF HEALTH CARE. ROOM AND BOARD ARE PROVIDED AT THE RATE THE RESIDENT WOULD PAY IF THEY REMAINED IN THEIR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL UNIT PLUS THE COST OF RECEIVING ADDITIONAL MEALS. A WIDE VARIETY OF HEALTH CARE, SUPPORT SERVICES, SOCIAL AND PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST AND CARE FOR RESIDENTS. SOME OF THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT ADDITIONAL COST TO THE RESIDENT.
- $2.1 million spent. ASSISTED LIVING HOUSING, SERVICES AND HEALTH CARE: EMERALD HEIGHTS HAS 56 ASSISTED LIVING APARTMENTS THAT PROVIDE LONG-TERM HOUSING AND SERVICES TO RESIDENTS THAT NEED MORE CARE THAN INDEPENDENT LIVING RESIDENTS. ROOM AND BOARD ARE PROVIDED AT THE RATE THE RESIDENT WOULD PAY IF THEY REMAINED IN THEIR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL UNIT PLUS THE COST OF RECEIVING ADDITIONAL MEALS. A WIDE VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING AND MEMORY CARE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS WITH DEMENTIA. SOCIAL AND PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE PROVIDED. SOME OF THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT ADDITIONAL COST TO THE RESIDENT.
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 August 1984.
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.
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