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Consumer Education and Training Services

EIN 91-2061723 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceFair51 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CENTS is a financial education nonprofit organization with a mission of helping people to improve their financial health. In 1995, CENTS was founded by the Honorable Karen A. Overstreet, the first women bankruptcy judge in the history of Washington, and veteran attorneys and financial professionals. All of CENTS programs are provided free-of-charge

Income
$303,551
Spending
$274,185
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
17.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$204,541, 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (6)
  1. $157,888 spent. DEBT SLAPPED CENTS designed a financial education curriculum to help high school students obtain critical information so they can make informed decisions about postsecondary education or training, The curriculum was used as the centerpiece of the statewide Student Loan Awareness Month SLAM campaign, which received a proclamation from Governor Jay Inslee. In the 2023-24 academic year, CENTS provided 84 Debt Slapped classes accross the state, focusing on areas with higher percentages of Latino/Latina/Latinix students, while enhancing the curriculum. www.debtslapped.org.
  2. $5,048 spent. SENIOR MONEY CENTS partnered with Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson to create a project to help senior citizens identify and avoid scams. The project consists of in-person and virtual presentations educational videos articles written for the newsletters of senior citizens and further resources. CENTS wrote six articles and delivered two in-person presentions in 2024. www.seniormoneyproject.org.
  3. Program Service Expenses 1,182, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 DEBT CLINIC The Debt Clinic has continued to offer telephonic or remote assistance. CENTS helps recruit and train the volunteer attorneys for the King County Bar Associations Debt Clinic, which provides people the opportunity to speak to an experienced bankruptcy attorney free-of-charge for 30 minutes. In a typical year, the Debt Clinic helps approximately 500 people obtain pro bono legal advice.
  4. Program Service Expenses 5,585, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 CANCER AND FINANCES RESEARCH CENTS partnered with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center the Hutch on several human-subjects research projects to study the impact a cancer diagnosis has on the physical, mental, and financial health of patients. The research projects provide the patients and their families with classes, counseling, educational videos and resources to mitigate negative outcomes from a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
  5. Program Service Expenses 1,719, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 MONEY STEPS CENTS partnered with the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services to create a financial education reentry program for people who have experienced incarceration. The program consists of classes, educational videos, resources, and a website. Since May of 2023, CENTS has completed 12 in-person class series for people who have experienced incarceration. www.moneystepsproject.org.
  6. Program Service Expenses 12,138, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 VETERAN FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND LEGAL CLINIC In 2025 CENTS will be launching a program to provide free financial education and legal clinics to U.S.military veterans. The program will consist of classes, digital media, and legal materials and resources.

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 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 December 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.