Building Changes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Seattle, Washington (1200 12th Avenue South, Suite 830). Established in 1988 as AIDS Housing of Washington, the organization adopted its current name in 2007. Building Changes advances equitable responses to homelessness across Washington State by developing community-driven strategies, advocating for systems change, and partnering across sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.6M
-14.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.2M
+3.7% YoY
Grant Count
29
+93.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$179K
-46.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Building Changes advances equitable responses to homelessness in Washington State, with a focus on children, youth, and families and the systems that serve them.
Vision: Communities thrive when people have safe and stable housing and can equitably access and use services.
Primary Focus Areas:
Housing Crisis: Creating stable foundations for individuals experiencing homelessness through policy change, advocacy for sustainable resources, and accountability measures within housing systems. The organization supports community organizations and tribes through initiatives like the Washington Youth & Families Fund (WYFF), providing direct financial aid to households experiencing housing crises.
Education: Strengthening the integration of housing and school systems to better support students experiencing homelessness, grounded in research on student homelessness.
Racial Equity: Building Changes explicitly centers racial equity in its work, recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and people of color disproportionately experience homelessness due to historical and systemic racism. The organization pursues universal goals to end homelessness while implementing targeted solutions to achieve equitable outcomes.
Strategic Goals (2021-2025):
- Improve equitable access and experiences for children, youth, and families impacted by housing crises
- Secure adequate and sustainable resources for housing, education, and health systems
- Hold systems accountable to advance racially equitable and culturally responsive policies, practices, and community partnerships
- Facilitate leadership buy-in and cross-system collaboration
Grantmaking
Building Changes operates the **Washington Youth & Families Fund (WYFF)**, a significant grantmaking initiative:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Building Changes funds throughout Washington State, with WYFF grantees operating across 26 counties.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Revenues: $7,741,301
- Total Expenses: $8,687,132
- Total Assets: $7,587,049
- Staff: 32 employees
Organization Details:
- Federal Tax ID: 91-1410450
- IRS Ruling Year: 1993
- 501(c)(3) Status: Confirmed
Financial Transparency: Building Changes maintains a commitment to strong fiscal management and transparency, publishing audited financial statements and Form 990 filings annually. The organization holds a four-star rating reflecting a 100% score in accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,587,049 | $8,878,191 | $13,088,342 |
| Revenue | $7,741,301 | $8,507,241 | $10,191,780 |
| Expenses | $8,687,132 | $11,573,134 | $12,213,624 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $175,862 | $196,530 | $142,719 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
159 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Building Changes
Centralized Diversion Fund (CDF)
BUILDING CHANGES
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Homeless Student Stability Program (HSSP)
BUILDING CHANGES
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Homelessness Prevention & Diversion Fund (HPDF)
BUILDING CHANGES
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Leadership:
- Mehret Tekle-Awarun: Stepped into the role of Executive Director in October 2025 (previously serving as Interim Executive Director as of August 2025)
- Daniel Narváez Zavala: Previous Executive Director (served for seven years, including four-and-a-half years in the executive director role; transitioned in June 2025)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL ZAVALA | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $159,033 |
| MEHRET TEKLE-AWARUN | MANAGING DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND PAR | 40 | $122,241 |
| NATASHA WEST-BAKER | DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & CULTURE | 40 | $115,686 |
| JACLYN PUEYO | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $118,111 |
| TERRA CHEN | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $100,442 |
| DAVID WERTHEIMER | SECRETARY, CO-CHAIR | 0.75 | — |
| ROGERS WEED | INTERIM TREASURER | 0.75 | — |
| JUDGE WESLEY SAINT CLAIR | PRESIDENT, CO-CHAIR | 0.75 | — |
| SENATOR T'WINA NOBLES | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| ERICA WILEY | VOTING MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| MICHAEL BROWN | VOTING MEMBER | 0.4 | — |
| DIANE LEE | VOTING MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| RHONDA HAUFF | VOTING MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| TRACY HILLIARD | VOTING MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| CHAD SWANEY | VOTING MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| LUPE MARES | VOTING MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| TRAVIS WALTER | VOTING MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| MALENA FAIRLIGHT PINKHAM | VOTING MEMBER | 0.15 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**October 2025:** Mehret Tekle-Awarun officially stepped into the role of Executive Director
**August 2025:** Mehret Tekle-Awarun announced as Interim Executive Director
**July 2025:** Building Changes issued a statement opposing executive orders that criminalize homelessness, advocating against policies that prioritize criminalization over housing solutions
[PDF] Washington Youth and Families Fund - Building Changes**July 2025:** Organization welcomed new staff members Devin Noel-Endres, Fabian Vasquez, and Bétyna Berice
**June 2025:** Leadership transition announcement as Daniel Narváez Zavala concluded his tenure as Executive Director
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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