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Whatcom Community Foundation

EIN 91-1726410 · Bellingham, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CULTIVATE NEIGHBORLINESS. LIFT COMMUNITY VOICES. INVEST IN EQUITY AND HOPE.

Income
$18.4 million
Spending
$11.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
88.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
15
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$246,105, president & ceo

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 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 88.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 (4)
  1. $6.7 million spent. GRANTMAKING - ONE WAY THE WHATCOM COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PUTS DOLLARS TO WORK IS BY MAKING GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. OUR THREE PRIMARY GRANTMAKING PROGRAMS ARE:(1) COMPETITIVE & RELIEF GRANTS: WE HOLD MULTIPLE FUNDS FOR WHATCOM COUNTY FROM WHICH WE AWARD GRANTS ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. SOME OF THE GRANTS HAVE A SPECIFIC FOCUS AREA. OTHERS ARE MORE BROADLY DESIGNED TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY'S CHANGING NEEDS. WE INVITE CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION IN THE PREPARATION OF GRANT REQUESTS THAT HELP CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE THRIVES. GRANTS ARE ALSO ISSUED TO SUPPORT FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.(2) DONOR RECOMMENDED GRANTS: WE STEWARD A VARIETY OF DONOR ADVISED FUNDS. GRANTS ARE AWARDED FROM THESE FUNDS BASED UPON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DONORS OR THEIR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES. GRANTS CAN BE MADE TO LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT ENTITIES. ALL GRANTS ALIGN WITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION VISION, MISSION AND VALUES.(3) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: THE FOUNDATION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATES OF LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS TO ATTEND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, HELPING REMOVE THE BARRIERS THAT STAND BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE EDUCATION THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND DEMONSTRATING TO STUDENTS THAT THEIR COMMUNITY IS INVESTED IN THEIR POTENTIAL, THEIR FUTURE, AND THEIR SUCCESS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. THE MILLWORKS IS A MIXED-USE, BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED OPPORTUNITY ZONE THAT WILL INCLUDE 100+ RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UNITS FOCUSED ON WORKFORCE HOUSING, A NONPROFIT OFFICE HUB, AND A FOOD CAMPUS SUPPORTING LOCAL ARGICULTURE AND FOOD BASED BUSINESSES.
  3. $430,994 spent. EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - THE FOUNDATION BECAME A WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (WSDA) CONTRACTOR IN 2018, COORDINATING PAYMENTS TO LOCAL VENDORS FOR FOOD PURCHASES MADE BY LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES, OR REIMBURSING FOOD BANKS FOR THEIR DIRECT PURCHASES. THE WSDA CONTRACT RAN THROUGH JUNE 2025.
  4. $1.5 million spent. VARIOUS PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: AN EQUITY/ANTI-RACISM INITIATIVE, THE WASHINGTON CENTER FOR EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP, THE YOUTH PHILANTHROPY PROJECT, AND STRENGTHENING NONPROFITS 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 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 October 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.