South End Stories
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
South end Stories is a trauma-conscious arts education organization bringing liberation through storytelling and the arts to youth. We support students to experience healing through creativity, history, and community. Through our programs, arts become an essential tool for creative, collaborative, communicative, critical learning. We create safe, healing spaces for Seattle students who are the furthest from educational justice. Each year, we work with 500+ students in grades K-12. We prioritize working with BIPOC students, students with disabilities, and those experiencing housing instability. Our impact extends beyond the classroom through our work with educators, parents, and families.
- Income
- $253,374
- Spending
- $141,494
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- 9.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 65%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $10,332, executive dir.
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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $78,425 spent. South End Stories transitioned from being fiscally sponsored to operating as an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization. This marks an important milestone in our growth and has allowed us to see where we need to improve to ensure we canalign our internal staffing policies with our values around community, justice, and antiracism. We are committed to ensuring sustainability in the long-term by maintaining the relationships we have with our current partners as well asstrengthening our programmatic offerings to the community.Caregivers at Meany Middle School shared their enthusiasm for South End Stories' programming at their school, highlighting the positive impact it has had on their students' level of engagement. Students were excited about participating in our Stage Club and look forward to it every week! We've received feedback that indicates youth are interested in learning the following skills in our programs: leadership, expressing their ideas through art, and collaborating with their peers. Other feedback we've received is how much support students need with interpersonalconflict. This is data from our pre-assessment which allows us to construct a curriculum that meets the needs of the youth asking for this support.South End Stories Creative Warrior program brought BBIA teaching artists into Rainier Beach HS to collaborate with youth on experiential art projects. Youth received creative, inspiring instruction and engage in the full artistic process, building skills and confidence through a shared creative journey with professional artists.Our teaching artist, Stefan Richmond, won the Constance W. Rice Fellowship, a collaboration with South End Stories and Seattle Art Museum, which allowed Stefan to create their own original artwork alongside their students in our Professional Artist Residency program at Franklin High School. Stefan created a performance and series of meditative audio-guide stops for the Olympic Sculpture Park working with Franklin High School students.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.