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Roots Young Adult Shelter

EIN 91-2110379 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ROOTS PARTNERS WITH YOUNG ADULTS ON THEIR JOURNEY TO STABILITY.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-23.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
43
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$90,815, exec. dir. start may; dir. end april

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $1.2 million spent. THE ROOTS YOUNG ADULT SHELTER OPENED IN 1999 BECAUSE THERE WAS AN UNMET NEED FOR SHELTER SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN 18 AND 25, AS THIS POPULATION IS TOO OLD FOR YOUTH SHELTERS BUT IS UNCOMFORTABLE IN PROGRAMS THAT SERVE OLDER ADULTS. THIS 45-BED SHELTER PROVIDES A SAFE, DRY PLACE TO SLEEP, HOT MEALS, HYGIENE FACILITIES, AND ACCESS TO CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR OUR GUESTS 7 NIGHTS A WEEK. ROOTS PROVIDED 12,892 BED NIGHTS TO 497 UNDUPLICATED GUESTS IN 2024 AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 29,760 MEALS DURING THAT PERIOD. VOLUNTEERS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 14,807 HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO HELP PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.
  2. $176,458 spent. ROOTS INITIALLY BEGAN DIRECTLY PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AS AN AGENCY IN 2017. IN ADDITION, WE OFFER A WEEKLY ART GROUP GUESTS CAN ATTEND AFTER OUR SHELTER PROGRAM CLOSES. WE ALSO REINTRODUCED OUR MONTHLY BOOK CLUB DROP-IN PROGRAM IN LATE 2024. OUR CASE MANAGEMENT STAFF ASSISTED 111 UNDUPLICATED GUESTS IN 2024 AND HELPED WITH NUMEROUS GOALS LARGE AND SMALLTHAT RANGED FROM REPLACING LOST ID CARDS AND PHONES TO FINDING PERMANENT HOUSING.
  3. $132,809 spent. FRIDAY FEAST IS OUR WEEKLY MEAL PROGRAM AND IS THE ONLY ALLAGES DINNER IN THE AREA. THIS PROGRAM SERVES AN AVERAGE OF 140-180 MEALS EACH WEEK AND CELEBRATED ITS 28TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNINTERRUPTED WEEKLY OPERATIONS IN APRIL 2024. FRIDAY FEAST SERVED APPROXIMATELY 8150 MEALS TO APPROXIMATELY 350 UNDUPLICATED GUESTS IN 2024, AND VOLUNTEERS DONATED OVER 3000 HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO HELP PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.
  4. $95,775 spent. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING CRITICAL DIRECT SERVICES, ROOTS' FOUNDING VISION INCLUDES A DEDICATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STABLE AND COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT SERVICES AS WELL AS THE NEED FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE, BOTH IN THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE BROADER REGION AND SOCIETY AT LARGE. TO THIS END, ROOTS WORKS TO BRING TOGETHER DIVERSE GROUPS AND TO BUILD THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY IN A LONG-TERM MANNER, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN SEVERAL ISSUES OF REGIONWIDE ADVOCACY EFFORTS (INCLUDING THE SEATTLE-KING COUNTY COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS, THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT SERVICE PROVIDERS ALLIANCE, AND THE NATIONAL NETWORK FOR YOUTH).

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 July 2001.

    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.