Transit Riders Union FY2021 filing

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In 2021, TRU's most significant activities included coalition-building and renter organizing to win programs and policies to prevent evictions and strengthen tenant protections in King County; advocating in the City of Seattle budget process to fund public transit, multimodal infrastructure and affordable housing; and a volunteer-run project providing direct aid to people living unsheltered.

501(c)(4) social-welfare organization; gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$39K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(4)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
Worth a look: the IRS does not list gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 2
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $12K a year · 5% of revenue · last 2 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 1 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$39K
to officers and key staff · 29% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 29% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
17 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 17.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$4K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$204K
Spent
$134K
To programs
88%
Net assets
$190K
By yearFY2021–FY2024
Revenue
$204K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$204K
FY2022$247K
FY2023$197K
FY2024$198K
Expenses
$134K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$134K
FY2022$294K
FY2023Not on file
FY2024Not on file
Net assets
$190K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$190K
FY2022$143K
FY2023$104K
FY2024$83K

From the FY2021 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Exemption reinstated (2014-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2015.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $117K Management & general 11% · $15K Fundraising 1% · $1K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

5 people listed on the 990; $39K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Campaign Coordinator
$39,153Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President / Assisting Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Recording Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Disability & Access Officer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Katie Wilson’s $71K as Campaign Coordinator is at the 65th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1217 $100K–1M employment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2022FY2021
Katie Wilson$70,552$39,153

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Organizes renters, builds coalitions, and advocates for housing, transit, and aid for the unsheltered.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $103K · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Camp Outreach Project

TRU members continued a 100% volunteer-run project providing direct assistance to people living unsheltered during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a severe shortage of shelter and affordable housing has left many people without a stable home.

$45Kprogram expense
02

Stay Housed Stay Healthy Coalition

TRU helped to build and convene a coalition of over 50 organizations to inform and organize renters and champion renter interests during the COVID-19 pandemic. We pushed for eviction moratoriums and other emergency protections and also for stronger permanent renter protections.

$45Kprogram expense
03

Solidarity Budget & Move All Seattle Sustainably Coalitions

TRU participated in several coalitions focused on the City of Seattle's budget process, activating about 200 members and residents to speak at budget hearings and email or call councilmembers to push for their priorities.

$14Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $29K · 2022–2022
Rvc SeattleWA · FY2022$29,000

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$204K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$204K
Money outPt IX
$134K
Ln 25
Programscol B$117K
Managementcol C$15K
Fundraisingcol D$1K
Owns and owesPt X
$190K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$194K
Total assetsLn 16$194K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$204K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$204K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$194K
SavingsLn 2$5
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$194K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$194K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K
Net assetsLn 32$190K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
VolunteersI 655
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$113K$194K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$125K$194K
LiabilitiesLn 26$5K$4K
Net assetsLn 32$120K$190K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$0$0$0$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$39K$33K$5K$1K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1K$998$141$35
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0$0$0$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$3K$3K$419$105
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$1K$1K$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$5K$0$5K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0$0$0$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$26K$26K$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$500$500$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$0$0$0$0
Information technologyLn 14$4K$0$4K$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$0$0$0$0
TravelLn 17$418$418$0$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0$0$0$0
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0$0$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$0$0$0$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$50K$50K$0$0
All other expensesLn 24e$4K$2K$2K$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$134K$117K$15K$1K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $198K$83K 990 PDF
FY2023 $197K$104K 990 PDF
FY2022 $247K$294K−$47K$143K 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $204K$134K$70K$190K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $204,320 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grants$204,320
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $0$204,320
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefits$43,820
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expenses$90,168
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $0$133,988
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $0$70,332
Part VI · Governance 4 of 5 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $204,320 across 14 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$42,719
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$161,601
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$204,320
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$204,320
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $133,988 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $0$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $33,280 · Management $4,698 · Fundraising $1,175$39,153
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $998 · Management $141 · Fundraising $35$1,174
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,969 · Management $419 · Fundraising $105$3,493
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,000 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,000
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $4,893 · Fundraising $0$4,893
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $25,975 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$25,975
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $500 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$500
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $0 · Management $3,619 · Fundraising $0$3,619
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $418 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$418
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $50,154 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$50,154
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,980 · Management $1,629 · Fundraising $0$3,609
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $117,274 · Management $15,399 · Fundraising $1,315$133,988
Part X · Balance sheet $194,480 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $113,124$194,475
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $5$5
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,909$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $9,890$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $124,928$194,480
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $5,262$4,479
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,262$4,479
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $119,666$190,001
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $124,928$194,480
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $190,001 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$204,320
XI-2 Total expenses$133,988
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$70,332
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$119,666
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$3
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$190,001

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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