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The Mountains to Sound Greenway Tr

EIN 91-1531234 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust leads and inspires action to conserve and enhance the landscape of the Mountains to Sound Greenway, ensuring a long-term balance between people and nature.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
43
Volunteers
1,500
Highest pay
$184,731, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 76% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    53 of 61 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $3.9 million spent. Field Programs: The Greenway Trust's Field Program continues to implement ecological restoration and recreational trail projects throughout the Greenway NHA. Thisincludes completing significant ecological restoration projects (nearing 500 acres of public land in active restoration) in partnership with Washington State Parks and the cities of Issaquah, Seattle, Shoreline, Burien, North Bend, and several other partners. More than 16,000 native trees and shrubs were planted on these sites. Key recreational projects included completing major trail improvements in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley and completing wild land trail maintenance on nearly 80 miles of trail.
  2. $1.1 million spent. Conservation & Partnerships: The Greenway Trust continued management planning for the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area. The Greenway Trust continues to support land conservation and regional recreation throughout the Greenway NHA facilitating land conservation transactions between willing sellers and buyers, supporting sustainable land use and land management, and pursuing opportunities to fill in regional trail gaps. The Greenway Trust continues to strengthen its efforts in the eastern half of the Greenway, supporting and/or leading efforts on the Towns-to-Teanaway Trail Network, planning and development of the Teanaway Community Forest, the East Cascades recreation partnership and the checkerboard partnership planning committee.
  3. $359,785 spent. Education:THE GREENWAY TRUST'S EDUCATION PROGRAM CONTINUES TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO STUDENTS THROUGHOUT KING COUNTY AND EXPAND YOUTH INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOCUSED ON WATER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.
  4. $307,285 spent. Other Program Services: The Greenway Trust's Education Program continues to provide environmental education to students throughout King County and expand youth internship opportunities focused on water quality and environmental conservation.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 November 1996.

    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.