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Northwest Kidney Centers

EIN 91-6057438 · Seatac, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 59 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

NORTHWEST KIDNEY CENTERS' (NKC) MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE OPTIMAL HEALTH, QUALITY OF LIFE AND INDEPENDENCE OF PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY DISEASE THROUGH PATIENT CARE, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. NORTHWEST KIDNEY CENTERS IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, LOCALLY MANAGED PROVIDER OF KIDNEY DIALYSIS, PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES AND TREATMENTS OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE. FOUNDED IN SEATTLE IN 1962, IT WAS THE WORLD'S FIRST DIALYSIS ORGANIZATION. AMONG THE EIGHTH LARGEST DIALYSIS PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTRY, IT IS AN INFLUENTIAL MODEL BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES, DEEP COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND GENEROUS DONOR SUPPORT.

Income
$149.1 million
Spending
$143.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
1,038
Volunteers
531
Highest pay
$880,083, ceo & president

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 59 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 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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 (3)
  1. $117.2 million spent. IN THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, NORTHWEST KIDNEY CENTERS PROVIDED 285,069 DIALYSIS TREATMENTS, ESSENTIAL TO SUSTAIN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY FAILURE. NKC SERVED A TOTAL OF 2,676 PATIENTS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED PATIENT CARE IN TWENTY (20) FREE-STANDING CLINICS AND IN EIGHT (8) LOCAL HOSPITALS AND SUPERVISED SELF DIALYSIS TREATMENTS IN THE HOMES OF PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. NKC SPENT OVER $25.8 MILLION MORE ON THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH MEDICARE AND MEDICAID INSURANCE THAN THE PROGRAMS REIMBURSED US FOR. IN ADDITION, NKC PROVIDED MORE THAN $4.4 MILLION IN CHARITY CARE. NORTHWEST KIDNEY CENTERS' RENAL SPECIALTY PHARMACY, A RARITY IN THE NATION, SERVED MORE THAN 2,174 DIALYSIS PATIENTS AND KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS DURING THE YEAR.
  2. $897,543 spent. NKC OFFERS FREE CLASSES THAT HELP PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD) PRESERVE KIDNEY FUNCTION, CHOOSE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT, TAKE CARE OF A TRANSPLANTED KIDNEY AND IN GENERAL BE AN EMPOWERED PARTNER IN THEIR KIDNEY HEALTH CARE. THE CLASS PROGRAM PROVIDES OUTREACH TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT DIALYSIS PATIENTS AND MAY HELP THEM KEEP THEIR KIDNEYS HEALTHY ENOUGH SO THAT THEY NEVER NEED TO GO ON DIALYSIS OR CAN DELAY ITS ONSET. THE PATIENT-FOCUSED, EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM WAS DEVELOPED BY NORTHWEST KIDNEY CENTERS. THERE WERE 884 CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE EDUCATION PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION TO ITS FREE CLASSES, NORTHWEST KIDNEY CENTERS CONNECTED WITH 102 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, PARTICIPATED IN 45 COMMUNITY EVENTS RESULTING IN 15,725 TOUCHPOINTS WITH PEOPLE THROUGH OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS.
  3. $56,591 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY PATIENTS FOR FOOD, HOUSING AND OTHER EXPENSES. IN FY25, NKC PROVIDED A TOTAL OF $32,609 TO 383 PATIENTS. IN FY25 NKC ALSO PROVIDED 10 EMPLOYEE SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $23,982.

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 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 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 November 1964.

    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.