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Communities in Schools of Washington State

EIN 91-1541026 · Tacoma, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
67
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$160,842, interim state executive director

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: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (3)
  1. $3.6 million spent. AFFILIATE CAPACITY BUILDING COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF WASHINGTON IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY THROUGH AFFILIATE CAPACITY BUILDING. THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING AFFILIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND NETWORK RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT/COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS WITH ESSENTIAL MESSAGING, TOOLS, TRAINING, AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT. THE PROGRAM TAKES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, SERVING AS A STATEWIDE VOICE FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. CISWA IS COMMITTED TO SCALING ITS IMPACT BY EXTENDING ITS REACH INTO MORE SCHOOLS THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE. THE PROJECT FACILITATES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONVENINGS, PROGRAM MANAGER CONVENINGS, AND SITE COORDINATOR CONVENINGS, FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES AMONG THE CIS WA NETWORK. THE PROGRAM'S TRAINING COMPONENT ADDRESSES CRITICAL TOPICS SUCH AS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE. BY EQUIPPING THE CIS WA NETWORK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, THE INITIATIVE ENSURES A MORE SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON NURTURING EMERGING AFFILIATES AND CREATING AND INCUBATING INITIATIVES IN NEW COMMUNITIES. THIS FORWARD-THINKING APPROACH AIMS TO EXPAND THE ORGANIZATION'S FOOTPRINT, BRINGING THE BENEFITS OF EDUCATIONAL EQUITY TO PREVIOUSLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. AFFILIATE CAPACITY BUILDING IS A COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING COLLABORATION, AND CREATING LASTING CHANGE IN THE EDUCATION LANDSCAPE.
  2. $331,635 spent. PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING AND MAINTAINING COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES SUCH AS ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, THE COMMUNITY, AND OTHER NON-PROFITS, AS WELL AS THE CIS WA NETWORK. POLICY AND ADVOCACY ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR MISSION, WHERE WE ACTIVELY ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES. BY COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ENTITIES, WE POOL OUR RESOURCES TO AMPLIFY OUR VOICES, INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKERS, AND ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY FOR SOCIAL AND POLICY CHANGES. THIS APPROACH ENABLES US TO RAISE AWARENESS AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SUPPORTIVE AND EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE. THROUGH OUR VARIOUS INITIATIVES, WE STRIVE TO CREATE A MORE SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY THAT EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
  3. $199,534 spent. PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING THE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING PROGRAMS OF CISWA PROVIDE MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS FOR VARIOUS MARKETING AND PR EFFORTS THAT GENERATE AWARENESS FOR THE ORGANIZATION. THIS RESULTS IN INCREASED VISIBILITY AND CONTINUITY ACROSS THE CIS WA NETWORK, FUNDRAISING AND BRAND VISIBILITY. THE DEPARTMENTS LEAD INITIATIVES FOR PLANNING, CREATING, DEVELOPING, AND IMPLEMENTING BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING STRATEGIES. THIS PROGRAM IS INSTRUMENTAL IN ENSURING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND CONSISTENCY OF CISWA'S COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING EFFORTS. THE MATERIALS THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED AND MANAGED INCLUDE BRAND IDENTITY ELEMENTS, WEBSITE CONTENT, ANNUAL REPORTS, MISSION VIDEOS, MARKETING COLLATERAL, AND COORDINATION OF EXTERNAL CONTRACT WORK.

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 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 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 July 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 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.