Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROTECTING OUR SALMON AND ENSURING THEIR SURVIVAL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
- Income
- $661,701
- Spending
- $333,198
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 16.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $98,602, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 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 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 (1)
- $278,503 spent. PROTECTING OUR SALMON AND ENSURING THEIR SURVIVAL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.FISH EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACH THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND ADULTS. IN 2023, OVER 50,000 VISITORS BENEFITED FROM EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS AT THE HATCHERY. THE GOAL OF FISH'S IN-CLASS PRESENTATIONS IS TO CULTIVATE A SENSE OF WONDER ABOUT SALMON AND TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN KING COUNTY WHO ARE LEARNING ABOUT SALMON. THEY ARE PROVIDED AT COST TO CLASSES THAT HAVE SCHEDULED A FIELD TRIP TO THE HATCHERY. SUPER SALMON SLEUTHS IS DESIGNED FOR PRESCHOOL GROUPS. PROGRAM CONTENT CUSTOMIZATION IS OFFERED UPON REQUEST. FISH EDUCATES VISITORS ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE HATCHERY IN SALMON RECOVERY, THE ECONOMY OF ISSAQUAH CREEK AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP. 70 TRAINED VOLUNTEER GUIDES PROVIDE TOURS OF THE HATCHERY TO SCHOOL CHILDREN DURING THE WEEK AND TO ADULT AND YOUTH GROUPS IN THE EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS. FISH IS ENGAGED IN A COMMUNITY-WIDE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE SAVING OF THE ENDANGERED LAKE SAMMAMISH KOKANEE POPULATION AND THE HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CAUSING ITS DECLINE. THE GOAL OF FISH'S YOUTH AND ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS IS TO CULTIVATE A SENSE OF WONDER ABOUT SALMON AND TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND OTHER GROUPS IN KING COUNTY WHO ARE LEARNING ABOUT SALMON, THEIR IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE TO THE HEALTH OF PUGET SOUND IN KEEPING THE SALMON COMING HOME.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.