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Passes our checks

Nihon Ki-In Go Institute of the West Inc

EIN 91-1653572 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To promote educational exchange between people of different cultural backgrounds, including, but not limited to, promotion of instruction, training, and competition in the game of "Go".

Income
$62,275
Spending
$50,405
Reserves
45.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%

Source: Form 990EZ 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 86% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 45.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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)
  1. $34,361 spent. The Seattle Go Center continued to ramp up our programs -- fun tournaments, outreach events, and starting more meetups in nearby communities that find it more difficult to come to SGC regularly (providing equipment, teaching, and coordination). Our general attendance has steadily improved since COVID, and we may be leveling off at pre-COVID crowds. Our most attended days are Tuesday (25-30 attendees) and Saturday (10-20 attendees). We continued our monthly ratings tournaments for members to record national rankings. JUN 2024: 2-day class at the International Community School (12-18 kids)... JUN 2024: taught Go at a school for a multicultural night (teaching 15 kids)... JUL 2024: outreach event at the Bellevue WA Japan Fair, teaching Go to 250+ people... JUL 2024: hosted Go pro visit, Chihiro Sensei, for teaching, simuls, and game reviews for our membership... JUL 2024: outreach event at the Bon Odori Festival, teaching Go to 185 people... AUG 2024: we participated in the From Hiroshima to Hope remembrance, playing and explaining the Atomic Bomb Game... SEP 2024: outreach event at Seattle Chinatown International District, teaching Go to 114 people... JUL 2024: hosted Go pro 2-day workshop with famous Michael Redmond, very popular player, reviewer, and teacher... OCT 2024: outreach event at Bellevue College Japan Week, teaching go to 110 people... OCT 2024: SGC Anniversary Tournament with 36 participants and several others just spectating... NOV 2024: pair Go tournament with 23 participants... DEC 2024: hosted the annual state championship for the AGA, 20 participants and several others spectating... JAN 2025: outreach event at a board game convention, OrcaCon, teaching 60+ people the game of Go... JAN 2025: lighting (blitz) tournament with 24 participants... JAN 2025: outreach event at the Chinook Middle School in Bellevue, teaching 50+ people the game of Go... JAN-JUN 2025: teach a Go Program at the Mt Si Senior Center in North Bend, WA every Friday afternoon... FEB 2025: Go class at Chinook Middle School for four weeks, 22 kids initially with some attrition... FEB 2025: outreach event at Edmunds Lunar New Year, teaching Go to 70 people... FEB 2025: hosted Go pro 2-day workshop with Lee Dong Sensei 9d from Korea... MAR 2025: hosted Go pro workshop with Maeda Ryo Sensei... MAR 2025: teaching a weekly class at the Loyal Heights Community Center for two months... APR 2025: Spring Tournament... APR 2025: outreach event at Cherry Blossom Festival, teaching Go to 210+ attendees... APR 2025: outreach event at SakuraCon over three days, teaching 370+ attendees and hosting a tournament... APR 2025: outreach event teaching Go at Shoreline Library, 28 attendees, a very popular library event... MAY 2025: outreach event at the U District Street Fair, teaching Go to 200+ attendees over two days... MAY 2025: hosted workshop for Seattle School District's Focus Week Program, teaching Go to 16 kids... MAY 2025: lighting (blitz) tournament with 12 participants... JUN 2025: hosted Go insei two-day workshop with Seokbin Cho (Korean 9d amateur)... JUN 2025: pair Go tournament.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.