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Nonprofit · EIN 47-3528251

THE URBANIST

Tax-exempt · SEATTLE, WA 98103

Financials

$197K$203K2023$241K$221K2024$340K$300K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of THE URBANIST by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$340,382$299,626$40,756$109,903$0$109,903
December 31, 2024990$240,593$220,977$19,616$68,435$439$67,996
December 31, 2023990-EZ$196,637$202,788-$6,151$51,807$3,427$48,380
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$254,512
Program service revenue
$85,785
Investment income
$85
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$72,500
Other salaries and wages
$83,816
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$230,547
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$775
Program services (functional)
$219,493
Management and general (functional)
$43,476
Fundraising (functional)
$36,657

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$68,435
Total assets, end of year
$109,903
Total liabilities, end of year
$0
Net assets, end of year
$109,903
Net assets without donor restrictions
$109,903
Gross unrelated business income
$85,785
Gross receipts
$340,382
Employees
3
Volunteers
20
Year formed
2014
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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Douglas TrummPublisher
Officer
40$72,500
Ruth LipscombPresident and Boardmember
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Ruben CasasVice President
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Shaun KuoCo-Treasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Sarah GustafsonCo-Treasurer
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
Jesse SwingleSecretary
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Crystal FincherBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Efrain HudnellBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Jazmine SmithBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Jesse SimpsonBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Pauly TarriconeBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Rian WattBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Sarah MillsBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Whitney RearickBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0
Zak OttBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 13 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
Doug TrummPublisher
Officer
40$72,500$3,987
Ruth LipscombPresident and Boardmember
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Patrick TaylorV.P. and Boardmember
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Shaun KuoTreasurer and Boardmember
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Jesse SwingleSecretary and Boardmember
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
Ben MaritzBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Crystal FincherBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Efrain HudnellBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Jesse SimpsonBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Ruben CasasBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Sarah MillsBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
Erin FriedBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
David PostmanBoardmember
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2023: 14 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
Doug TrummPublisher40$61,908
Rian WattExecutive Director8$8,400
Patrick TaylorPresident3$0
Ruth LipscombVice President2$0
Kelli ReferSecretary2$0
Sean KuoTreasurer2$0
Charles AdkinsDirector1$0
Briana BrownDirector1$0
Ruben CasasDirector1$0
Crystal FincherDirector1$0
Erin FriedDirector1$0
Jesse SimpsonDirector1$0
Jesse SwingleDirector1$0
Rian WattDirector1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 31196, SEATTLE, WA 98103-1196
In care of
% DOUGLAS TRUMM
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
Douglas Trumm, PO Box 31196, Seattle, WA 98103
Signed the 990
Douglas Trumm, Publisher
Phone
(206) 382-5552
990-N for 2021 filed under this EIN
Most likely by a chapter, club or affiliate (it says receipts are normally $50,000 or less). Officer: Doug Trumm, PO Box 21961, Seattle WA 98111. Mailing address: PO Box 21961, Seattle WA 98111.
Return prepared by
CORNERSTONE CPA

Mission

Seattle-based online publication seeking to examine and influence urban policies.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • Publishing the website theurbanist.org, built on independent journalism, research and advocacy. With a variety of contributors, we report on issues like housing, land use, zoning, economics, social welfare, sustainability and transportation.
    Expenses $219,493 · revenue $85

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990-EZ on file

IRS record

EIN
47-3528251
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(4): Social welfare organization
Donations deductible
No
Exempt since
2015
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$109,903
Income (IRS master file)
$340,382

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$340,382$299,626$109,903IRS
990December 2024$240,593$220,977$68,435XML
990-EZDecember 2023$196,637$202,788$51,807XML
990-EZDecember 2022–––IRS
990-N for 2021
Officer: Doug Trumm
Filed under this EIN, most likely by a chapter or affiliate
December 31, 2021≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-N for 2020
Officer: Doug Trumm
Filed under this EIN, most likely by a chapter or affiliate
December 31, 2020≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-N for 2019
Officer: Owen Pickford
Filed under this EIN, most likely by a chapter or affiliate
December 31, 2019≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard

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 47-3528251).

Questions about THE URBANIST

What is the EIN of THE URBANIST?
The employer identification number (EIN) of THE URBANIST is 47-3528251.
Is THE URBANIST tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) since 2015.
Are donations to THE URBANIST tax-deductible?
No. The IRS master file says contributions to it are not deductible.
Which annual return does THE URBANIST 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 THE URBANIST 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 THE URBANIST 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 THE URBANIST?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Douglas Trumm.
Who are the officers and directors of THE URBANIST?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 15 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $72,500 (Douglas Trumm, Publisher).
How much revenue does THE URBANIST have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $340,382, expenses of $299,626 and total assets of $109,903 at year end.

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