Nonprofit · EIN 52-1833599
SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE
Also known as NORTHWEST ENVIRONMENT WATCH
Tax-exempt · SEATTLE, WA 98121
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $4,469,635 | $3,538,905 | $930,730 | $8,135,675 | $520,424 | $7,615,251 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $2,520,867 | $3,249,823 | -$728,956 | $7,176,336 | $684,353 | $6,491,983 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $4,704,842 | $2,945,365 | $1,759,477 | $7,547,705 | $448,574 | $7,099,131 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $4,125,030
- Program service revenue
- $1,500
- Investment income
- $335,624
- Royalties
- $50
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $177,244
- Other revenue
- $7,481
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $21,790
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $651,652
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,485,854
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,586,914
- Professional fundraising fees
- $40,103
- Accounting fees
- $102,249
- Occupancy
- $6,996
- Travel
- $64,603
- Depreciation
- $2,302
- Program services (functional)
- $2,487,924
- Management and general (functional)
- $491,662
- Fundraising (functional)
- $559,319
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $7,176,336
- Total assets, end of year
- $8,135,675
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $520,424
- Net assets, end of year
- $7,615,251
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $775
- Publicly traded securities
- $4,844,596
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $5,194,974
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $2,420,277
- Gross receipts
- $7,275,375
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 11
- Year formed
- 1993
- State of legal domicile
- WA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Durning | Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $203,644 | $32,478 |
| Meaghan Tracy | Managing Director Key employee | 40 | $164,767 | $46,634 |
| Anna Fahey | Principal Director of Strategy Key employee | 40 | $154,259 | $49,869 |
| Daniel Bertolet | Senior Director, Housing + Cities Highest-paid employee | 40 | $145,944 | $25,388 |
| Serena Larkin | Senior Director of Communications Highest-paid employee | 40 | $123,180 | $26,302 |
| Emily Moore | Senior Director, Climate + Energy Highest-paid employee | 40 | $120,521 | $28,741 |
| Rachel Consolo | Associate Director, Human Resources Highest-paid employee | 40 | $100,708 | $22,976 |
| John McGarry | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Tl'ehskwiisimka Marshall | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brynn Arborico | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Erim Gomez | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sara Moorehead | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Raymond Fung | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Nolan Lienhart | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cynthia Putnam | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neelima Shah | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Henry Honorof | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 17 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Durning | Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $198,548 | $29,398 |
| Meaghan Tracy | Managing Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $134,850 | $38,037 |
| Anna Fahey | Principal Director of Strategy Highest-paid employee | 40 | $125,734 | $41,822 |
| Dan Bertolet | Senior Director of Housing+Cities Highest-paid employee | 40 | $128,165 | $22,318 |
| Serena Larkin | Director of Communications Highest-paid employee | 40 | $111,128 | $20,674 |
| John McGarry | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Tl'ehskwiisimka Marshall | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Shawmut Shaw Canale | Treasurer (Former) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brynn Arborico | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Wayne Lei | Secretary (Former) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jason Pretty Boy | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ray Fung | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Nolan Lienhart | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Neelima Shah | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Erim Gomez | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sara Moorehead | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cynthia Putnam | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Durning | Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $193,673 | $26,816 |
| Meaghan Tracy | Managing Director Highest-paid employee | 40 | $128,469 | $36,730 |
| Anna Fahey | Senior Director of Strategy Highest-paid employee | 40 | $121,278 | $36,682 |
| Dan Bertolet | Director, Housing and Cities Highest-paid employee | 40 | $114,806 | $20,286 |
| Serena Larkin | Director, Communications Highest-paid employee | 40 | $104,949 | $19,933 |
| Emily Moore | Director, Climate and Energy Highest-paid employee | 40 | $100,185 | $19,261 |
| John McGarry | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Shawmut Shaw Canale | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Wayne Lei | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ray Fung | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jeanette Henderson | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Nolan Lienhart | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jason Pretty Boy | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Tl'ehskwiisimkaSimka Marshall | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brynn Arborico | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ruchi Sadhir | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 92 LENORA ST 189, SEATTLE, WA 98121-2108
- In care of
- % NFP PARTNERS
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Alan Durning, 92 Lenora St 189, Seattle, WA 98121
- Signed the 990
- Alan Durning, Executive Director
- Phone
- (206) 447-1880
- Website
- www.sightline.org
- Return prepared by
- WERSEN NONPROFIT CPAS LLC
Mission
Independent, nonpartisan research, analysis, and policy solutions to advance strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment.
Program accomplishments
- Since 1993, Sightline Institute has been the independent, nonpartisan think tank for Cascadia from the Rockies to the Pacific and from Alaska to Oregon. We provide citizens and decision-makers with the research, policy analysis, and practical tools they need to advance strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment. In 2025, our work contributed to the region's transition to clean energy, abundant housing options, and stronger democratic participation across the Northwest. Highlights included supporting a first-of-its-kind agreement to pilot neighborhood-scale electrification in Oregon, playing a key role in passing the nation's strongest statewide parking reform in Washington, and working alongside partners to defend Alaska's ranked choice voting system from repeal. We shared these solutions widely through in-depth research, media commentary, and public events, and worked to assemble the multi-partisan coalitions often needed to turn policy ideas into reality. All of our research is freely available under our open-use policy. Our core program areas are Climate and Energy, Housing and Cities, and Democracy and Elections.Expenses $2,487,924 · grants $21,790 · revenue $1,550
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 52-1833599
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1998
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C28Z)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $8,135,675
- Income (IRS master file)
- $7,275,375
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $4,469,635 | $3,538,905 | $8,135,675 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $2,520,867 | $3,249,823 | $7,176,336 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $4,704,842 | $2,945,365 | $7,547,705 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $2,802,041 | $3,023,017 | $5,360,204 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 52-1833599).
Questions about SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE
- What is the EIN of SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE is 52-1833599.
- Is SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1998.
- Are donations to SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Alan Durning.
- Who are the officers and directors of SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 17 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $203,644 (Alan Durning, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $4,469,635, expenses of $3,538,905 and total assets of $8,135,675 at year end.
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