Center for Dialog & Resolution
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCESAND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE DIALOG.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 61%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 97
- Highest pay
- $143,233, execute 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: 47 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $1.3 million spent. 2024 BEGAN WITH A STRATEGIC GOAL: STEP OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY TO LISTEN AND LEARN. TO IMPROVE OUR IMPACT AND VALUE, WE NEEDED TO LEARN TO HOW OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGES WITH CONFLICT. THROUGH OVER 130 OUTREACH CONVERSATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, TRAININGS, AND COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS WITH PARTNERS IN 2024 (UP FROM 54 IN 2023), WE HEARD FROM INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONFLICT FEELS OVERWHELMING. MANY SHARED THAT THEY AVOID CONFLICT BECAUSE THEY FEAR THE OUTCOMES OR ARE UNSURE WHERE START TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. WE CHALLENGED OURSELVES: "HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR SERVICES MORE INVITING WHILE REDUCING THE FEAR OF ENGAGING IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND REMOVE ANY BARRIERS TO ACCESS? THIS SHAPED OUR YEAR. WE FOCUSED ON REMOVING BARRIERS IN TANGIBLE WAYS. WE REFINED OUR WEBSITE AND REDESIGNED THE REQUEST FOR SERVICE FORMS WITH PLAIN ENGLISH AND PRICING STRUCTURE TO ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY FOR CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS. ONE EXAMPLE, WE IMPROVED OUR TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS BY ADDING A NEW ONLINE APPLICATION, DECISION RUBRIC, AND STREAMLINING ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS. WE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO 11 INDIVIDUALS IN 2024. IN OUR PHYSICAL SPACE, WE ADDED SOUND PANELS AND UPDATED OUR OFFICE ENVIRONMENT TO CREATE A MORE WELCOMING, CALMING, AND CONFIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CLIENTS. NEW AUDIOVISUAL EQUIPMENT SUPPORT OUR HYBRID (COMBINE IN PERSON AND ONLINE) TRAININGS WHICH MADE PARTICIPATION MORE FLEXIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE.IN 2023, WASHINGTON STATE STOPPED FUNDING THE EVICTION RESOLUTION PILOT PROGRAM, IN PIERCE COUNTY WE ADJUSTED AND CONTINUED TO DELIVER FREE LANDLORD TENANT MEDIATION SERVICES INCLUDING PROCESSING 439 REQUESTS IN 2024. WE SERVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF CLIENTS, USING TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACHES SUCH AS CONFLICT COACHING OR CONCILIATION TO NAVIGATE THE GROWING NUMBER OF CONFLICTS IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR THIRD YEAR OF THE SPACE BETWEEN: EQUITY & ACCESS INITIATIVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW WE APPROACHED THIS WORK BECAUSE IT SHIFTED OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BARRIERS TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND COMMUNITY TRUST. THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE MEDIATORS DOUBLED IN 2024. THIS IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF TARGETED OUTREACH TO BASIC MEDIATION TRAINING (BMT) GRADUATES, INCREASED PARTICIPANTS IN OUR MEDIATOR PRACTICUM, AND MORE CONSISTENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEDIATOR COMMUNITY. WE STRENGTHENED OUR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE PROGRAM BY RE-ENGAGING A CORE GROUP OF ATTORNEY-MEDIATORS AND RENEWING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR LEGAL COMMUNITY TO BE A ESSENTIAL PARTNER IN ACCESS TO JUSTICE. WE PROVIDE A COST-SAVINGS TO CLIENTS, OFFERING A LESS STRESSFUL MANDATORY PARTICIPATION WHILE ALLEVIATING BACKLOG IN THE COURTS AND INCREASING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FAMILY LAW CASES THAT REACHED RESOLUTION THROUGH MEDIATION. OUR TRAINING PROGRAM EXPANDED IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY REQUESTS. WE ADDED A FOURTH BMT, OFFERING A PARTICIPATORY ONLINE COURSE IN 2024. WE INCREASED THE ACCESS TO TRAINING WITH 82 GRADUATES. WE BROUGHT BACK WORKPLACE-FOCUSED TRAININGS SUCH AS "WHEN THE PUBLIC ATTACKS: CUSTOMER SERVICE" WHICH HAD BEEN ON HIATUS SINCE 2020 . WE ALSO HELD A FACILITATION 101 TRAINING COURSE FOR OUR GROUP OF FACILITATOR TRAINEES, BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR GROWING LOCAL CAPACITY IN ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT SUPPORT. WE INVESTED IN STAFF DEVELOPMENT IN 2024. ALL STAFF RECEIVED FUNDAMENTALS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND BASIC MEDIATION SKILLS, WITH SOME PARTICIPATING IN ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LIKE SUPERVISION AND COMMUNICATION SKILL BUILDING. THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE IMPROVED HOW WE DELIVER SERVICES AS WE RESPOND TO CLIENT AND VOLUNTEER NEEDS. STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS ALSO COLLABORATED TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO GUIDE OUR FUTURE WITH LESSONS FROM THE PAST FIVE YEARS. TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATION IMPROVEMENTS, TO REMOVE BARRIERS FOR STAFF AND CLIENTS, WAS A PRIORITY. WE IMPLEMENTED A NEW SYSTEM FOR FILE STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL, DATA SECURITY, AND INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS TO ENHANCE EFFICIENCY AND CLIENT RESPONSIVENESS. AS WE LEARN HOW TO BETTER TELL THE STORY OF OUR IMPACT, WE MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR DATABASE TO CAPTURE DETAILS OF OUR SERVICE DELIVERY AND VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT METRICS. IN FALL 2024, OUR CUSTOMIZED FACILITATION AND CONSULTING SERVICES GREW WITH MORE REQUEST AND MORE CONSULTANTS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH NONPROFITS, STATE AGENCIES, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, WE DELIVERED TRAININGS, LISTENING CIRCLES, AND FACILITATIONS TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF CONFLICT AND ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES. THROUGH OUR EFFORTS WE GUIDED CONVERSATIONS THAT HELPED UNCOVER TENSIONS, BUILD UNDERSTANDING ACROSS DIFFERENCES, AND SUPPORT TRUST BUILDING. OUR WORK EMPOWERED GROUPS TO MOVE BEYOND SURFACE CONFLICT AND BEGIN ADDRESSING DEEPER PATTERNS AND SHARED GOALS. AS PART OF CELEBRATING OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF SERVING PIERCE COUNTY, WE INVITED SUPPORTERS TO BECOME RECURRING DONORS, HELPING BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE SERVICES. THIS EFFORT INCREASED MONTHLY GIVING WHICH SUPPORTS SLIDING SCALE MEDIATION, COMMUNITY EDUCATION ON COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BUILDING THIS MOMENTUM MORE IN 2025. WITH NEW TRAINERS AND MEDIATORS, STRONGER SYSTEMS, MORE SUSTAINED COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND A DEDICATED TEAM, THE CENTER FOR DIALOG & RESOLUTION REMAINS COMMITTED TO MAKING DISPUTE RESOLUTION MORE ACCESSIBLE, EQUITABLE, AND IMPACTFUL THROUGHOUT PIERCE COUNTY.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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