Lincoln County Economic Development Council

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
204994743
IRS 990 coverage
2017–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2018
Location
Davenport, WA, USA
Phone
5097251170
Rating
51
Verdict
MIXED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Public, Societal Benefit

Reported finances

Revenue
$154,537
Expenses
$141,640
Assets
$513,393
Liabilities
$31,454

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

8 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • SANDRA MATHIS (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)
  • DALE SWANT (President)
  • BRETT EMMERT (Vice President)

Highest reported compensation

  • SANDRA MATHIS (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $64,043 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

To operate exclusively for social welfare purposes, specifically related to economic development for lincoln county.

What it reported doing in 2024

Statement of accomplishments for our three largest program services for 2024.2024 Key Program 1: The Lincoln County Economic Development Council dedicated two years to ensuring affordable and reliable broadband access for every community and outlying area in Lincoln County. Despite challenges such as low population density, difficult terrain, and costly power connection fees, the EDC successfully secured approximately $22 million in grant funding to advance this initiative. Broadband is no longer a luxuryit is an economic necessity for education, healthcare, civic engagement, and participation in the digital economy. Completed phases include Almira, Wilbur, Creston, Harrington, and Davenport, with construction underway in Reardan, Odessa, and Sprague. The final phase, beginning June 2025, will extend service to two unincorporated communities. When complete, this project will deliver urban-level speeds and pricing, improving digital equity and inclusion for marginalized, BIPOC, and tribal communities across Lincoln County.2024 Key Program 2: The Lincoln County EDC reinstated regular meetings with the mayors of Lincoln County to identify priority town projects and secure funding through grants. In partnership with Greater Spokane Incorporated and ADOs in Adams and Whitman counties, the EDC obtained a grant writer grant, selecting Partners for Rural Washington to lead the effort. The grant writer finalized project lists and applications, positioning Lincoln County communities for improved infrastructure and economic development through targeted funding opportunities.2024 Key Program 3: The EDC continues its long-standing role as Lincoln Countys Visitors Bureau, developing advertising campaigns to promote tourism and support local businesses. Recognizing the economic impact of tourism, the EDC is negotiating an agreement to administer lodging tax funds once the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is established and a budget approved by the Commissioners. This joint effort includes assisting the County with documentation and procedures for lodging tax distribution. While direct financial gain has not been realized, these initiatives strengthen Lincoln Countys tourism sector and benefit small businesses throughout the region.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

MIXED - The filed numbers largely add up and program spending has grown recently. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 19
  • Transparency & Controls: 80
  • Accountability: 58
  • Sustainability: 52
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 19.8%; rating input score 20
  • Program expense ratio: 22.9%; rating input score 23
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 84.6%; rating input score 85; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 0 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 0
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: Fail
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Fail
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 8.3%; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.62; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 45.2%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 4.3% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 7.4% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 16.8% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 19.8% of revenue deployed · 22.9% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 7 board members independent · 0 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $32K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $64K · 8 people listed
  • Consistency: 19 of 20 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 7 filing years from 2017 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 20/100.
  • High — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 23/100.
  • High — Accountability: Governance controls: 7 of 7 not reported.
  • Moderate — Transparency & Controls: Schedule A contributions reconciliation did not reconcile in the filed values.
  • Review — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 57/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 5/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 30/100.