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The Hyogo Business & Cultural Center

EIN 91-1481060 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceWeak24 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 11% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

HYOGO BUSINESS & CULTURAL CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1990 BY THE HYOGO PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT. THE CENTER'S PRIMARY SOURCE OF SUPPORT IS GRANTS FROM THE HYOGO PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT. THE CENTER WAS ORGANIZED TO STRENGTHEN BUSINESS, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE HYOGO PREFECTURE AND THE STATE OF WASHINGTON (AND THE UNITED STATES) AS WELL AS TO INTRODUCE JAPANESE CULTURE THROUGH CULTURAL PROGRAMS AND TO PROMOTE JAPANESE LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

Income
$225,136
Spending
$227,411
Spent on programs
11%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$107,805, 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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    11% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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. $1,320 spent. JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL PROGRAM: SUPPORT OF JAPANESE LANGUAGE EDUCATION AND JAPANESE CULTURE IN WASHINGON STATE.
  2. $23,397 spent. BUSINESS PROGRAM: PROMOTION OF MUTUAL ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN COMPANIES IN HYOGO AND WASHINGTON STATE.
  3. SISTER-CITY AFFILIATION PROGRAM: SUPPORT OF THE SISTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HYOGO PREFECTURE IN JAPAN AND WASHINGTON STATE, AS WELL AS 12 HYOGO-WASHINGTON SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS.

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

  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 October 13, 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 March 2025.

    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 August 1995.

    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 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.