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Environmental Coalition of South Seattle

EIN 91-1613460 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ECOSS IS DEVOTED TO PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES THAT CAN SHAPE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURES. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY: PROMOTING CONNECTIONS WITH NATURE TO BUILD COMMUNITY, FOSTER HEALING, AND INTEGRATE ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE INTO ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES;CREATING INCLUSIVE SPACES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENGAGE, CONNECT, AND EMPOWER COMMUNITIES; LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP EFFORTS THROUGH SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE, COMMUNITY-LED CONSERVATION, ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION, AND PARTNERSHIP COLLABORATION; ANDADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITIES ON THE FRONTLINES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS; CENTERING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND NEEDS.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
17
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$142,253, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (4)
  1. $947,993 spent. CLEAN WATER. ECOSS' CLEAN WATER FOCUSES ON ADDRESSING STORMWATER POLLUTION IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, HOMEOWNERS AND COMMUNITIES, WITH INTENTIONAL EMPHASIS ON WORKING WITH IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE MAJORITY OF THIS WORK CENTERS AROUND GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE (GSI). ECOSS PROVIDES MULTIPLE LANGUAGE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT EDUCATION ON GSI; SUPPORTS PEOPLE IN OBTAINING GSI; AND RECRUITS AND HELPS TRAIN MULTICULTURAL CONTRACTORS TO INSTALL GSI.
  2. $296,300 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. ECOSS WORKS WITH IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCES THAT PROMOTE PEOPLE TO BE STEWARDS OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT. THIS INCLUDES ASSESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS AND AMBITIONS, PROVIDING IN-LANGUAGE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT RESOURCES, AND LEADING ACTIVITIES AROUND OUTDOOR RECREATION, HABITAT RESTORATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
  3. $147,018 spent. CLEAN ENERGY. ECOSS WORKS WITH IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ON CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS, WITH A FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION AND OTHER DECARBONIZATION EFFORTS SPONSORED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
  4. $72,313 spent. ECOSS PILOTED AN OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, BRINGING TOGETHER DIVERSE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO COLLABORATIVELY SHAPE AN OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE. BY PROVIDING TRAINING IN KAYAKING, BIRDING, BACKPACKING, AND TIDEPOOLING, LEADERS GAINED EXPERTISE TO EXPAND OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES AND CREATE WELCOMING SPACES FOR FIRST-TIME PARTICIPANTS. ADDITIONALLY, ECOSS ENHANCES COMMUNITY ACCESS TO URBAN AND RURAL GREEN SPACES THROUGH IN-LANGUAGE OUTINGS USING THE COMMUNITY VAN SERVICE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 September 1994.

    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.