Rainier Scholars
Rainier Scholars reported $17.5 million in revenue and $9.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $70.24 went to program services, $19.98 to management and general costs and $9.78 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 95.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $233,937 (ASSOCIATE ED, SEATTLE/INTERIM ED). 15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 245% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $9.9MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $18MOther revenue was negative: −$236K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 70.2% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 20.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.8% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 95.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $233,937 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.36% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 15 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 20.3 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 22 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseAcademic counseling - the organization supports scholars and families on their chosen pathway to college graduation. Academic counselors visit each scholar at their schools and college campuses. The organization offers social activities, weekly tutoring, skill building workshops and annual retreats, all designed to build increased skills for academic success. Families are supported through parent empowerment workshops and individual meetings, as well as regular contact with academic counselors
Academic enrichment phase - an intensive 14-month experience centered in seattle, wa in a supportive cohort environment, designed to prepare students for placement on college preparatory pathways in public and private schools. Students build and strengthen foundation academic skills, cultural identity and resiliency over the course of two summer sessions and on wednesday afternoons and saturdays during the school year. Overall, students complete the equivalent of one additional school year (1,000 hours) of academic enrichment, designed to prepare them to be successful in college prep pathways…
Tacoma program - the organization expanded into tacoma, wa with a strong partner relationship with tacoma public schools and several local colleges and universities. This model is different from seattle as the majority of scholars are anticipated to follow a college prep pathway in the public schools. The organization's approach to the academic enrichment on ramp differs significantly from seattle with an extended aep model spanning two years and three summers that accommodates and encourage scholars to excel academically and pursue extra curricular interests
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSOCIATE ED, SEATTLE/INTERIM ED Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $214,205 | $0 | $19,732 | $233,937 |
| ASSOCIATE ED, TACOMA Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $178,000 | $0 | $17,897 | $195,897 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,684 | $0 | $14,222 | $174,906 |
| DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC GROWTH Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,579 | $0 | $16,720 | $172,299 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $144,865 | $0 | $12,849 | $157,714 |
| DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $140,734 | $0 | $16,825 | $157,559 |
| FORMER EXEC. DIR. (TERM. 4/2024) Former, 40.00 hrs/week | $133,407 | $0 | $12,421 | $145,828 |
| DIRECTOR OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $127,978 | $0 | $15,113 | $143,091 |
15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Rainier Scholars (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $928K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b22 · 22 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5129
- Volunteers Part I, line 6375
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses onlyIndividuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
74 private foundations reported grants to Rainier Scholars totaling $1.7M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Rainier Scholars's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Rainier Scholars, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Rainier Scholars spent in FY2025, $70.24 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Heritage K-8 Charter SchoolEscondido, CA · revenue $18M · programs 56.5% · FY2025
- Higher Learning CommissionChicago, IL · revenue $18M · programs 77.8% · FY2025
- Vermont Student Development FundWinooski, VT · revenue $17M · programs 99.9% · FY2025
- The Girls' Middle SchoolPalo Alto, CA · revenue $18M · programs 80.1% · FY2025
- Autistic Treatment CenterDallas, TX · revenue $17M · programs 84.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Rainier Scholars's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Rainier Scholars reported that 70.2% of its $9.9 million in expenses went to program services, 20.0% to management and general and 9.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Rainier Scholars pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Rainier Scholars reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $233,937, for the role of ASSOCIATE ED, SEATTLE/INTERIM ED (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Rainier Scholars get its money?
Of $17.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 95.6% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Rainier Scholars a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 91-2045918 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202601359349311910 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501129349301240 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202420869349300017 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341359349308464 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202133569349301018 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202100269349301520 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 91-2045918: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.