Nonprofit · EIN 91-1961032
NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES
Tax-exempt · SEATTLE, WA 98101
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $625,033 | $1,085,004 | -$459,971 | $2,587,517 | $115,799 | $2,471,718 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $2,416,898 | $1,029,628 | $1,387,270 | $3,008,666 | $76,977 | $2,931,689 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $761,365 | $795,943 | -$34,578 | $1,626,316 | $81,897 | $1,544,419 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $581,213
- Program service revenue
- $1,400
- Investment income
- $42,420
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $9,765
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $280,677
- Other salaries and wages
- $398,516
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $774,916
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $3,013
- Occupancy
- $19,222
- Travel
- $19,127
- Program services (functional)
- $690,937
- Management and general (functional)
- $275,306
- Fundraising (functional)
- $118,761
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $3,008,666
- Total assets, end of year
- $2,587,517
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $115,799
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,471,718
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,213,718
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,258,000
- Gross receipts
- $625,033
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 22
- Year formed
- 1999
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne Smith | Co-Executive Director Officer | 35 | $118,216 | $26,663 |
| Emily Brice | Co-Executive Director Officer | 35 | $122,485 | $5,918 |
| Vanessa Saavedra | Senior Attorney Highest-paid employee | 35 | $105,449 | $20,846 |
| Janet Varon | Executive Director Officer | 31.5 | $6,933 | $462 |
| Lori Buchsbaum | President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Omid Bagheri Garakani | Secretary and Vice President, then President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Laura MacPherson | Secretary and Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Audrey Sheffield | Treasurer to Fall 2025 Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ellen Miller | Treasurer from Fall 2025 Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Cezanne Garcia | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brian Myers | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Tony Gonzalez | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Charina Carothers | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emily Brice | Co-Executive Director Officer | 35 | $119,808 | $5,990 |
| Janet Varon | Executive Director Officer | 31.5 | $116,850 | $5,843 |
| Daphne Smith | Co-Executive Director Officer | 35 | $43,092 | $1,915 |
| Lori Buchsbaum | President Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Audrey Sheffield | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| Omid Bagheri Garakani | Vice-President/Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cezanne Garcia | Director Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Ray Yeung | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Abby Goldy | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Michelle Francis | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Laura MacPherson | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Tony Gonzalez | Director from Nov 2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Ellen Miller | Director from Nov 2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brian Myers | Director from Dec 2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Charina Carothers | Director from Dec 2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janet Varon | Executive Director Officer | 31.5 | $110,309 | $5,297 |
| Lori Buchsbaum | President Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Audrey Sheffield | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| Sujatha Branch | Vice-President/Secretary to April '23 Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Omid Bagheri Garakani | Director then Vice-President/Secretary in Dec '23 Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cezanne Garcia | Director Trustee or director | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Christina Peters | Director to April '23 Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Ray Yeung | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Abby Goldy | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Michelle Francis | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Shirley Prasad | Director from August '23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Laura MacPherson | Director from Dec '23 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1301 5TH AVE STE 1200, SEATTLE, WA 98101-2677
- In care of
- % JANET VARON
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Daphne Smith, 1301 5th Avenue Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98101
- Signed the 990
- Daphne Smith, Co-Executive Director
- Phone
- (206) 325-6464
- Website
- nohla.org
- Return prepared by
- Rising Sun Accounting
Mission
NoHLA works toward achieving a health care system in which all individuals receive quality, affordable health care, provided on an equitable and timely basis, and are assured of basic rights and protections. NoHLA conducts outreach, education and training, legal and policy analysis to propose policy solutions, and legal representation of low-income individuals on health care access issues of public significance.
Program accomplishments
- Analyzed legal and policy issues impacting Washington patients & consumers and provided related input to state & federal government policymakers on proposed rules, procedures, and programs related to health care access and affordability issues . Areas of focus in 2025 included: leveraging state subsidies and insurance plan design to improve affordability of individual health coverage; implementing health coverage programs for immigrants; addressing medical debt and health care billing problems stemming from insurer denials or hospital charity care issues; mitigating language access barriers in health programs; resolving Medicaid, Medicare, and long-term care eligibility and coverage issues; and implementing recent changes in federal health laws on a state level. Led stakeholder groups and worked with agencies to address the impact of federal and state laws on low-income populations. Mentored other advocates in drafting comments on regulations and policies. Developed and analyzed a survey of WA residents on the impact of health care affordability challenges to inform input.Expenses $207,281
- Advocated with state and federal government policymakers, focusing on improving health care access and affordability for Washington patients & consumers through legislative, budget, or legal changes. Areas of focus in 2025 included: expanding state health coverage programs for immigrants, expanding state affordability assistance for individual health coverage, and addressing underlying drivers of affordability challenges, including high provider prices and health entity consolidation.Expenses $276,375 · grants $250
- Provided over 50 trainings & presentations, & numerous publications, electronic newsletters & social media postings providing educational information on health care and coverage rights, health access for immigrants, administrative advocacy, changes to public programs and health care and coverage, reproductive health rights, Medicaid, Washington Health Benefit Exchange, charity care & immigrant health, reaching thousands of advocates, lawyers, health providers, & individuals. Held free community webinars on health care policy changes arising from the Washington legislative session and reproductive health issues arising from litigation. Presented in public meetings of government bodies, such as the Washington Health Benefit Exchange and the Washington Health Care Cost Transparency Board. Revised & drafted educational publications on consumer/patient health rights for Washington LawHelp, NoHLA website, and general distribution. Provided regular legislative updates on Washington health care access legislation & budget to the community. Provided over 130 consultations for legal services & private attorneys, providers, community advocates & law students on health programs & access to care.Expenses $207,281 · grants $9,515 · revenue $1,400
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
- 91-1961032
- 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
- 1999
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Health care (E017)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $2,587,517
- Income (IRS master file)
- $625,033
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $625,033 | $1,085,004 | $2,587,517 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $2,416,898 | $1,029,628 | $3,008,666 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $761,365 | $795,943 | $1,626,316 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,350,843 | $651,140 | $1,650,629 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | 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 91-1961032).
Questions about NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES
- What is the EIN of NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES is 91-1961032.
- Is NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1999.
- Are donations to NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES 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 NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES 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 NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES 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 NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Daphne Smith.
- Who are the officers and directors of NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 13 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $118,216 (Daphne Smith, Co-Executive Director).
- How much revenue does NORTHWEST HEALTH LAW ADVOCATES have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $625,033, expenses of $1,085,004 and total assets of $2,587,517 at year end.
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