Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Washington Poison Center

EIN 94-3214597 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PREVENT AND REDUCE HARM FROM POISONING THROUGH EXPERTISE, COLLABORATION, AND EDUCATION.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 82%
Employees
51
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$391,995, ceo

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $5.2 million spent. POISONINGS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE. WASHINGTON POISON CENTER (WAPC) IS HERE TO HELP. WAPC IS A STATEWIDE, 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PREVENTING AND REDUCING HARM FROM POISONINGS AND OVERDOSES. OUR EXPERT STAFF OF PHARMACISTS, NURSES, AND PHYSICIAN TOXICOLOGISTS ARE A RELIABLE AND CONSISTENT RESOURCE FOR TIMELY, RELEVANT, AND LIFE-SAVING INFORMATION FOR ANYONE FROM PARENTS AND SENIORS TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND EDUCATORS. WE REMAIN UP-TO-DATE ON EMERGING TRENDS AND CLINICAL GUIDELINES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE OFFERING THE BEST SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND GUIDANCE TO ALL WASHINGTONIANS, WHEN THEY NEED IT. AS ONE OF 53 ACCREDITED POISON CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES, WAPC PROVIDES THREE MAIN SERVICES: A 24/7/365 TELEPHONE HELPLINE, POISON PREVENTION AND HARM REDUCTION EDUCATION, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SUPPORT. OUR POISON HELPLINE (1-800-222-1222) HELPS OVER 60,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR NAVIGATE QUESTIONS AND CRISES AFTER ACCIDENTAL INGESTIONS, SUBSTANCE USE, INTENTIONAL OVERDOSE, MEDICATION MISTAKES, AND MORE. CALLERS IMMEDIATELY SPEAK WITH A SPECIALLY TRAINED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, WHO GUIDES THEM THROUGH EVERY STEP UNTIL RESOLUTION. APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER OF WAPC CALLERS ARE FELLOW HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS SEEKING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TREATING PATIENTS. WAPC IS MORE THAN JUST A TELEPHONE HELPLINE. WE ARE A COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEDICATED TO PREVENTING POISONING THROUGH PUBLIC AND CLINICAL EDUCATION. OUR STAFF TRAVEL TO COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO EMPOWER WASHINGTONIANS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO MAKE DECISIONS AND ACT BEFORE HARM HAPPENS. WE OFFER: - SEASONAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ALERTS - COMMUNITY EDUCATION AT HEALTH AND RESOURCE FAIRS - IN-PERSON NALOXONE TRAINING AND DISTRIBUTION - SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION EDUCATION - MEDICATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMING FOR OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS - K-8 CURRICULA FOR SCHOOLS - EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN 20+ LANGUAGES - DATA ON EMERGING TRENDS AND CONCERNS - RESOURCES AND DATA FOR PUBLIC POLICY MAKERS - LECTURES ON BEST PRACTICES IN TREATMENT AND PATIENT CARE - INTERNSHIPS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS - CLINICAL ROTATIONS AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN TRAINING WAPC IS ADDITIONALLY AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SUPPORT. WE OPERATE A YEAR-ROUND AFTER-HOURS ANSWERING SERVICE FOR LOCAL HEALTH JURISDICTIONS, AND WILL ACTIVATE OUR CALL CENTER FOR OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES, AS NEEDED. FOR EXAMPLE, WE TOOK PUBLIC CALLS DURING MULTIPLE DISEASE OUTBREAKS, INCLUDING MEASLES AND COVID-19.

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 1994.

    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.