Public Defender Association

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Developing and advocating for alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 91-0852323) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 14 volunteers and 124 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $316K a year · 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
90% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.7M
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
2.0 mo
of spending, in cash
2.0 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $1.7M
5 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$11.4M
51% of total assets
Liabilities are 51% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
13 of 13 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$37.0M
+19% vs prior year
Spent
$33.6M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$10.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$37.0M
FY2024▲ +19%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$16.4M
FY2021$31.7M
FY2022$30.0M
FY2023$31.1M
FY2024$37.0M
Expenses
$33.6M
FY2024▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$19.1M
FY2021$32.9M
FY2022$31.4M
FY2023$30.9M
FY2024$33.6M
Net assets
$10.9M
FY2024▲ +45%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$12.3M
FY2021$11.2M
FY2022$8.0M
FY2023$7.5M
FY2024$10.9M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 1970.

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

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $30.4M Management & general 9% · $3.2M Fundraising 0% · $113K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

29 people listed on the 990; $2.7M paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Co-Executive Director
$239,571Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Executive Director
$205,247Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Executive Director
$197,216Pt VII · Sec A
$192,016Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Participant Support Specialist
$171,716Pt VII · Sec A
Mobilization Director
$168,573Pt VII · Sec A
Dir. of Education and Resiliency
$166,573Pt VII · Sec A
Dir. Spec. Initiatives & Outreach
$165,835Pt VII · Sec A

Lisa Daugaard’s $240K as Co-Executive Director is at the 64th percentile of top reported officer pay among 247 $10–100M crime & legal 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Sokunthea Ok$171,716$292,342———
Lisa Daugaard$239,571$227,515$209,897$198,179$192,682
Tara Moss$205,247$200,149$180,509$126,752—
Fe Lopezgaetke$197,216$178,148———
Barbara Donohue$192,016$188,748———
Cynthia Kotarski$144,129$181,343$162,303——
Kendra Tate—$179,828———
Bessie Scott——$177,140$172,725—

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.

See Public Defender Association executive salaries →

2 open jobs right now. See them →

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

Advocating for and developing alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system.

Questions for Public Defender Association

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Your first name shows with your question. Public Defender Association answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $29.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Lead/Seattle King County

Pda staff are project managers for, and oversee subcontracts to case management agencies for, a community-based diversion program for people who violate laws related to their behavioral health issues AND/OR extreme poverty.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 91-0852323) · Dispute this line
$15.0Mprogram expense
02

Colead/Justcare

Adapted lead during the covid crisis to provide intensive case management teams for individuals who were living unsheltered after shelter closures and de-intensification, jail and court closures, closure of publicly accessible sanitation facilities, and closure of in-person behavioral health programs.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 91-0852323) · Dispute this line
$12.2Mprogram expense
03

Lead National Support Bureau

Provides technical support to jurisdictions nationally seeking to replicate seattle's lead diversion program for people who commit law violations related to behavioral health issues or income instability. National and washington state teams.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 91-0852323) · Dispute this line
$2.7Mprogram 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 · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$1.7M
See all 5 funders →
Grants paid · 10 grants · $27.4M · 2020–2023
Unitemized GrantFY2023$1,824,914
Unitemized GrantFY2022$6,576,465
Unitemized GrantFY2022$6,576,465
Unitemized GrantFY2021$8,843,172
Unitemized GrantFY2020$3,546,033
Washington Recovery AllianceWA · FY2020$10,000
Statewide Poverty Action NetworkWA · FY2020$10,000
Northwest Credible MessengersWA · FY2020$10,000
You Grow GirlWA · FY2020$7,500

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Dec 2024 · $4.4M federal money spent
Congressional DirectivesDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.493 · Direct$4.4M

The auditor reported 6 findings: a material weakness in money controls, questioned costs.

Year ending Dec 2023 · $1.5M federal money spent
Congressional DirectivesDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.493 · Direct$1.5M

The auditor reported 1 finding: a material weakness in money controls, questioned costs.

Year ending Dec 2022 · $6.2M federal money spent
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through King County$6.2M

The auditor reported 2 findings: a material weakness in money controls, questioned costs.

Year ending Dec 2021 · $9.6M federal money spent
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through King County$8.4M
Coronavirus Relief FundDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.019 · Through King County$1.1M

The auditor reported 5 findings: a material weakness in money controls, questioned costs.

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$37.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$35.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$52K
Money outPt IX
$33.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$30.4M
Managementcol C$3.2M
Fundraisingcol D$113K
Owns and owesPt X
$10.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.5M
Total assetsLn 16$22.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$11.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A16
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$35.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$29.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$52K
Other incomeLn 4–11$3K
Total revenueLn 12$37.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$5.5M
SavingsLn 2$449
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$5.5M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$1.3M
Accounts receivableLn 4$5.6M
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$506K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$429K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$429K
Other assetsLn 15$8.5M
Total assetsLn 16$22.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$11.4M
Net assetsLn 32$10.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5124
VolunteersI 614
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.2M$5.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$407K$429K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$693K$429K
Total assetsLn 16$11.3M$22.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.8M$11.4M
Net assetsLn 32$7.5M$10.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$2.2M$2.2M
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$2.3M$1.5M$856K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$7.3M$6.8M$534K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$312K$241K$71K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.9M$1.6M$266K
Payroll taxesLn 10$785K$642K$142K
Legal feesLn 11b$121K$113K$8K
Accounting feesLn 11c$312K$3K$310K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$113K$113K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$13.7M$13.7M
Office expensesLn 13$313K$194K$119K
Information technologyLn 14$145K$20K$124K
OccupancyLn 16$1.9M$1.5M$363K
TravelLn 17$200K$185K$15K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$45K$45K$150
InterestLn 20$104$104
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$376K$289K$86K
InsuranceLn 23$279K$249K$30K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.2M$993K$245K
All other expensesLn 24e$75K$75K
Total functional expensesLn 25$33.6M$30.4M$3.2M$113K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 17, 2025 $37.0M$33.6M$3.4M$10.9M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2024 $31.1M$30.9M$223K$7.5M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2023 $30.0M$31.4M−$1.4M$8.0M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2022 $31.7M$32.9M−$1.2M$11.2M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 11, 2021 $16.4M$19.1M−$2.6M$12.3M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990
Part I · Summary $37,031,862 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $29,306,875$35,405,109
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,778,522$1,571,297
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $29,764$52,456
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,486$3,000
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $31,116,647$37,031,862
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,824,914$2,233,399
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $11,218,354$12,657,400
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$112,800
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $17,849,954$18,630,203
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $30,893,222$33,633,802
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $223,425$3,398,060
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $37,031,862 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$29,608,336
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,796,773
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$35,405,109
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,571,297$1,571,297
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $52,456$52,456
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $3,000$3,000
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,571,297 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $55,456$37,031,862
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $33,633,802 across 20 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $2,233,399$2,233,399
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $1,484,965 · Management $856,102$2,341,067
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $6,810,806 · Management $533,982$7,344,788
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $241,295 · Management $70,722$312,017
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,609,293 · Management $265,603$1,874,896
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $642,281 · Management $142,351$784,632
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $113,024 · Management $7,553$120,577
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $2,651 · Management $309,574$312,225
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $112,800$112,800
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $13,650,324$13,650,324
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $193,651 · Management $119,163$312,814
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $20,350 · Management $124,441$144,791
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,513,292 · Management $362,799$1,876,091
IX-17 TravelPrograms $185,357 · Management $14,544$199,901
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $45,188 · Management $150$45,338
IX-20 InterestManagement $104$104
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $289,239 · Management $86,372$375,611
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $249,097 · Management $30,134$279,231
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $993,379 · Management $245,217$1,238,596
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $74,600$74,600
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $30,352,191 · Management $3,168,811 · Fundraising $112,800$33,633,802
Part X · Balance sheet $22,296,573 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,179,727$5,533,650
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $448$449
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$1,300,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,920,905$5,646,094
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $357,173$505,993
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $693,227$429,302
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $407,023$428,649
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $747,308$8,452,436
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $11,305,811$22,296,573
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,003,486$2,838,282
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$557,798
X-21 Escrow or custodial accountsStart of year $151$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $806,019$8,006,278
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,809,656$11,402,358
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,112,120$6,566,144
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,384,035$4,328,071
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $7,496,155$10,894,215
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $11,305,811$22,296,573
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $10,894,215 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$37,031,862
XI-2 Total expenses$33,633,802
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,398,060
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$7,496,155
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$10,894,215

Form 990 e-file FY2024 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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