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Sustainable Northwest

EIN 93-1152222 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUSTAINABLE NORTHWEST FORGES COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR NATURE, PEOPLE, AND JOBS.

Income
$10.8 million
Spending
$8.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 52%
Employees
39
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$197,201, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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, 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 (4)
  1. $3.9 million spent. FOREST - WE BELIEVE HEALTHY, RESILIENT FORESTS SUPPORT THRIVING COMMUNITIES. WE PARTNER WITH RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP LOCALLY-LED SOLUTIONS THAT REDUCE MEGAFIRE, PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM MEGAFIRE, HELP COMMUNITIES RECOVER FROM MEGAFIRE, SUPPORT GOOD FIRE, IMPROVE PLANT AND ANIMAL DIVERSITY AND HABITAT, PRODUCE RESPONSIBLE WOOD PRODUCTS, AND RETURN FORESTS TOWARD HISTORIC CONDITIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE HELPING COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON BECOME MORE RESILIENT TO THE MORE FREQUENT MEGAFIRES HAPPENING IN THEIR REGION, AND LEADING THE EFFORT TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES MANAGE AND STEWARD LOCAL, FORESTED WATERSHEDS FOR DRINKING WATER.
  2. $1.4 million spent. WOOD MARKETS - WE BELIEVE WE CAN IMPROVE FOREST AND COMMUNITY HEALTH BY CONSTRUCTING NEW HOMES AND BUILDINGS WITH SUSTAINABLE, LOCAL MATERIALS. OUR WOOD MARKETS TEAM PARTNERS WITH RURAL, TRIBAL, AND URBAN COMMUNITIES TO SOURCE THE WOOD NEEDED FOR NEW HOMES AND BUILDINGS FROM FORESTRY PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE FOREST AND CLIMATE HEALTH WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIES. OUR MOST RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT IS SOURCING WOOD FOR A NEW TECH HUB IN VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON LARGELY FROM TRIBAL WOOD SOURCES, HELPING TRIBES ADVANCE ECONOMIC SOVEREIGNTY AND MAINTAIN FOREST HEALTH ON THEIR LANDS.
  3. $663,797 spent. REGENERATIVE RANCHING - WE BELIEVE HEALTHY FOOD CAN AND SHOULD BE PRODUCED IN HARMONY WITH NATURE. OUR REGENERATIVE RANCHING PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH APPROXIMATELY 100 RANCHERS ON 6 MILLION ACRES ACROSS 11 WESTERN STATES. WE ALSO RECENTLY PILOTED THE LARGEST VIRTUAL FENCING PROGRAM IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, HELPING RANCHERS IN GILLIAM COUNTY, OREGON REBUILD AND RECOVER QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY FROM A WILDFIRE THAT DESTROYED MILES OF FENCELINE.
  4. $987,741 spent. ENERGY, WATER - WE BELIEVE EVERYONE DESERVES AFFORDABLE, CLEAN ENERGY PRODUCED LOCALLY -- AND AFFORDABLE, CLEAN WATER. OUR CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TRANSITIONING TO CLEAN ENERGY AND ADVANCES SOLUTIONS THAT HELP COMMUNITIES BE MORE ENERGY INDEPENDENT AND RESILIENT TO DISASTERS . FOR EXAMPLE, WE PASSED THE NATION'S MOST AMBITIOUS COMMUNITY MICROGRID FRAMEWORK IN THE OREGON LEGISLATURE IN 2025. OUR WATER PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BALANCING WATER USE AMONG NATURE, PEOPLE, AND LOCAL ECONOMIES. OUR MOST RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENT IS WORKING WITH RANCHERS AND TRIBES IN THE UPPER KLAMATH BASIN TO RESTORE WETLANDS, FORESTS, AND MEADOWS TO IMPROVE WATER QUANTITY AND QUALITY IN THE AREA, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL IN LIGHT OF SALMON RETURNING TO THE UPPER BASIN AFTER THE REMOVAL OF FOUR OUTDATED HYDROPOWER DAMS ON THE KLAMATH RIVER IN 2023 AND 2024.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 January 1995.

    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 October 21, 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.