Home › Community improvement & capacity building
501 Commons
501 Commons reported $21.4 million in revenue and $19.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $85.38 went to program services, $11.19 to management and general costs and $3.43 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 82.1% of the total. Government grants made up 58.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $191,357 (WSOS Executive Director). 6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 434% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $19MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $21MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 85.4% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.2% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.4% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 82.1% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 58.0% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 15.6% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $191,357 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.98% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 0.4 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 11 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expense501 Commons serves as the program administrator for Washington Opportunity Scholarship. WSOS removes barriers to education and helps Washington students forge their path to high-demand STEM, health care, and trade careers in Washington state. Opportunity scholars receive financial assistance, career training, and mentorship services that uniquely position them to meet our states workforce shortages. 70% of participants are scholars of color, 57% are women or nonbinary, and 67% are first generation scholars
Our technology programs include IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data solutions. Data solutions worked on 58 database development and maintenance projects with 32 organizations. IT infrastructure worked on 100 projects or ongoing IT managed services with 90 organizations. Organizations receiving managed services have the benefits of ongoing backup, antivirus, and monitoring the security of their networks. These services allow nonprofits of all types and sizes keep their data safe, work efficiently, communicate effectively, and track relationships and results
Our financial services program worked on 127 accounting, tax, and consulting engagements with organizations. Having professional financial services at affordable rates provides our clients with the financial data they need to make sound management decisions and allows them to focus on their mission. Budgets, financial reports, and tax returns that meet professional standards are a baseline requirement for effective fundraising
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSOS Executive Director Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $172,736 | $0 | $18,621 | $191,357 |
| Executive Director Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $126,484 | $0 | $8,226 | $134,710 |
| Managing Director of Advancement Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $101,788 | $0 | $20,510 | $122,298 |
| Data & Systems Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $100,482 | $0 | $16,120 | $116,602 |
| Finance Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $112,061 | $0 | $1,461 | $113,522 |
| Managing Director of Impact Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $101,657 | $0 | $11,781 | $113,438 |
6 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from 501 Commons (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $299K (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
2024 · 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–1b11 · 11 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bNo
- 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 4Yes
- 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 583
- Volunteers Part I, line 666
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to 501 Commons totaling $36,206 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 501 Commons's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for 501 Commons, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 501 Commons spent in 2024, $85.38 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- AvanceSan Antonio, TX · revenue $21M · programs 76.7% · FY2025
- 4MyCityBaltimore, MD · revenue $21M · programs 98.9% · 2025
- Tallatoona Community Action PartnershipCartersville, GA · revenue $21M · programs 93.3% · FY2025
- The Greater Louisville Workforce Development BoardLouisville, KY · revenue $22M · programs 95.5% · FY2025
- Detroit Belle Isle Grand PrixBloomfield Hills, MI · revenue $21M · programs 91.3% · 2024
All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in Washington
Questions people ask
How much of 501 Commons's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, 501 Commons reported that 85.4% of its $19.5 million in expenses went to program services, 11.2% to management and general and 3.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does 501 Commons pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation 501 Commons reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $191,357, for the role of WSOS Executive Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does 501 Commons get its money?
Of $21.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 82.1% came from contributions and grants (including 58.0% from government grants) and 15.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is 501 Commons a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-3089631 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202543239349300829 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443219349301014 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323199349326587 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349325098 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102639349300715 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202032939349301208 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-3089631: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.