Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Unity Care Northwest

EIN 91-2168190 · Bellingham, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE YEARS OF HEALTHY LIFE IN THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. UNITY CARE NORTHWEST IS A LOCAL, NON-PROFIT HEALTH CARE PROVIDER THAT IS PART OF A NATIONAL NETWORK OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. ALSO KNOWN AS A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, WE WORK TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE STATUS OR ABILITY TO PAY. CREATED BY A COALITION OF COMMUNITY LEADERS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, VOLUNTEERS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND CONCERNED CITIZENS, UNITY CARE NW HAS BEEN PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

Income
$51.0 million
Spending
$48.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
391
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$338,849, medical 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (1)
  1. $38.2 million spent. UNITY CARE NORTHWEST PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY, PATIENT-CENTERED SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE OF WHATCOM COUNTY REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. INTEGRATED CARE TEAMS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION OF PRIMARY MEDICAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS, AS WELL AS DENTAL, PHARMACY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. DURING 2024, UNITY CARE NORTHWEST PROVIDED SERVICES TO 24,697 UNDUPLICATED PATIENTS AND A TOTAL OF 114,070 VISITS AT THREE CLINIC SITES, WITH 4,023 VISITS PROVIDED VIA TELEHEALTH. OVER 48% OF PATIENTS SERVED LIVE AT OR BELOW 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE AND 80% ARE AT OR UNDER 200% OF THIS SCALE.

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 August 2002.

    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.