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Washington Farmland Trust

EIN 91-2021165 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CURRENT NEEDS OF WASHINGTON'S LAND AND FARMERS CALL FOR A NEW STRATEGY TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE, AND RESILIENT FUTURE. AT WASHINGTON FARMLAND TRUST, WE AIM TO: PERMANENTLY PROTECT WHAT IS LEFT OF OUR MOST VALUABLE AGRICULTURAL LANDS. REDUCE BARRIERS TO LAND ACCESS AND CREATE LAND AFFORDABILITY FOR A NEW GENERATION OF FARMERS. PROMOTE CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN LAND CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-14.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
17
Volunteers
63
Highest pay
$198,313, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $659,174 spent. CONSERVATION: EVERY DAY, WE WORK TO PROTECT ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE NATURAL RESOURCES: FARMLAND. WE PROTECT FARMLAND FOREVER BY WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO REMOVE THEIR FARM'S DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL, OR BY PURCHASING AT-RISK FARMLAND WITH THE GOAL OF LEASING OR SELLING IT TO A LOCAL FARMER. CONSERVATION MAKES FARMLAND MORE AFFORDABLE AND HELPSKEEP IT PRODUCTIVE INTO THE FUTURE.
  2. $440,267 spent. FARM TO FARMER: FARM TO FARMER IS A PROGRAM OF WASHINGTON FARMLAND TRUST THAT AIMS TO HELP FARMERS FIND LAND, BUILD CAPACITY, ACCESS RESOURCES, AND ULTIMATELY, THRIVE AS BUSINESS OWNERS AND STEWARDS OF THE LAND. WE OFFER PERSONALIZED SUPPORT TO CURRENT AND ASPIRING FARMERS, FARMING COLLECTIVES AND COOPERATIVES, FARM ORGANIZATIONS, AND FARMLAND OWNERS IN WASHINGTON. WE WORK WITH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO CO-CREATE PLANS THAT ADVANCE THEIR FARM BUSINESS AND FARMLAND STEWARDSHIP GOALS, AND PARTNER WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS SUCH AS LAWYERS, REALTORS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO OUR PARTICIPANTS.
  3. $426,815 spent. STEWARDSHIP: WASHINGTON FARMLAND TRUST'S STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE HEALTH OF OUR CONSERVED FARMS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SIMPLY PROTECTING FARMLAND FROM FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT ENOUGH TO ENSURE IT REMAINS VIABLE AND PRODUCTIVE INTO THE FUTURE. AFTER ALL, HEALTHY FARMS INVEST IN OUR SOIL, WATER, AND HABITAT CREATING RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF A CHANGING CLIMATE. PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND FEEDS COMMUNITIES, BUILDS ECONOMIES, AND PROVIDES A LIVELIHOOD FOR FARMERS. THE CORE TENANT OF OUR STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IS TO ENSURE THAT THE NATURAL RESOURCES ON OUR CONSERVED FARMS ARE PROTECTED, TO KEEP THE LAND IN FARMING FOREVER. IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE LAND WE PROTECT THRIVES INTO THE FUTURE, WE SUPPORT FARMERS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND SOIL HEALTH ON THEIR FARMS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WE PROVIDE A VARIETY OF RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE, RANGING FROM VOLUNTEER RESTORATION AND CONNECTIONS WITH TECHNICAL ADVISERS TO OUR MICRO-GRANT PROGRAM, ADVANCING FARM SUSTAINABILITY. WITH EACH OF THESE EFFORTS, WE RELY ON LOCAL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, COST-SHARE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPLEMENT OUR SHARED GOALS OF SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT.
  4. $326,775 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM: THROUGH THE TRUST'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT OUR CAUSE FIRST HAND - EITHER ON THE FARM OR CLOSER TO HOME. WE HOST EVENTS SO THAT ATTENDEES CAN DIG INTO LOCAL FARMING ISSUES AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK THROUGH VOLUNTEERING. WE ALSO SHOW UP AT PARTNER EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE WORK TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND LOCAL CONNECTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 2000.

    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.