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World Tang Soo Do Association

EIN 22-2429979 · Burlington, NC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WORLD TANG SOO DO ASSOCIATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE QUALITY INSTRUCTION IN THE ANCIENT ART OF TANG SOO DO AND TO HELP STUDENTS IMPROVE THEIR APPRECIATION OF LIFE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE SKILLS, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND TO PROMOTE OVERALL WELL-BEING FOR THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH IT SERVES, THROUGH A CURRICULUM OF DISCIPLINE AND EXERCISE, FOCUSED ON THE CORE VALUES OF AN ANCIENT FORM OF MARTIAL ART.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
14
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$79,148, coo/chief of staff

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 33 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $914,534 spent. THE ASSOCIATION HAS 24 REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD, 20 OF WHICH ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE. EACH REGION HAS AT LEAST ONE CHAMPIONSHIP EACH YEAR. FURTHER, THE ASSOCIATION HOLDS A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON A BIANNUAL BASIS, DURING WHICH ASSOCIATION MEMBERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD GATHER TO RENEW FRIENDSHIPS, ENGAGE IN HEALTHY COMPETITION, AND LEARN THE LATEST TECHNIQUES OFFERED BY THE ASSOCIATION. EACH REGION ALSO HOLDS NUMEROUS SEMINARS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, DURING WHICH STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM A VAST ARRAY OF MASTER INSTRUCTORS. CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SEMINARS PROVIDE A FORUM FOR MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING THE TRADITION OF TANG SOO DO. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)EACH REGION ALSO HOLDS AN ANNUAL BLACK BELT CAMP FOR ITS BLACK BELT AND CHO DAN BO (ONE LEVEL BELOW BLACK BELT) MEMBERS. THESE CAMPS TRAIN OVER 1,000 STUDENTS IN THE ART OF TEACHING TANG SOO DO, AND PROVIDE ATTENDEES A CHANCE TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND ENHANCE EXISTING ONES. IN ADDITION, THE ASSOCIATION HOLDS THREE CLINICS PER YEAR FOR ITS MASTER INSTRUCTORS - ONE IN THE US, ONE IN EUROPE, AND ONE IN SOUTH AMERICA. DURING THE CLINIC, MASTER INSTRUCTORS HAVE A CHANCE TO REFRESH THEMSELVES ON BEST PRACTICES TO TEACH TANG SOO DO, AS WELL AS ENHANCE THEIR OWN SKILLS. TYPICALLY, THE COMBINED ATTENDANCE AT THESE MASTERS' CLINICS EXCEEDS 300 MASTER INSTRUCTORS.
  2. $120,525 spent. TESTING OF INDIVIDUALS IS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THEIR LEVEL OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. INDIVIDUAL STUDIOS TEST THEIR STUDENTS AND SEND THE RESULTS OF THE TESTING TO THE ASSOCIATION FOR REVIEW AND PROCESSING OF STUDENT CERTIFICATIONS. BLACK BELT TESTING IS DONE BY REGION, AND MASTERS TESTING IS DONE INTERNATIONALLY. THERE IS A EUROPEAN MASTERS CLINIC, A NORTH AMERICAN MASTERS CLINIC, AND A SOUTH AMERICAN MASTERS CLINIC. MASTERS MUST ATTEND ONE OF THESE THREE IN ORDER TO TEST.IN 2024, THE ASSOCIATION ADMINISTERED GUP (NON-BLACK BELT) TESTS TO 19,210 INDIVIDUALS, NON-MASTER BLACK BELT TESTS TO 852 INDIVIDUALS, MASTER TESTS TO 34 INDIVIDUALS AND SPECIAL RANK TESTS TO 6 INDIVIDUALS.
  3. $120,525 spent. EACH NEW MEMBER IS PROVIDED WITH A MANUAL, ID CARD, AND STICKER. MANUALS PROVIDE A BASIC DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSOCIATION'S REQUIREMENTS REGARDING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL TECHNIQUES THAT MUST BE LEARNED TO ADVANCE IN RANK. ID CARDS PROVIDE A RECORD OF EACH MEMBER'S ADVANCEMENT IN RANK. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, THERE WERE 16,437 ACTIVE MEMBERS; OF THESE, 4,570 WERE EITHER AT THE BLACK BELT OR CHO DAN BO LEVEL.
  4. $120,521 spent. NEWSLETTERS ARE TYPICALLY PUBLISHED SEMI-ANNUALLY. THE NEWSLETTERS ARE SENT TO 10,000 MEMBERS PROVIDING THEM WITH DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF UPCOMING EVENTS, CHANGES IN PROGRAMS, AND NEW PROGRAMS. IT ALSO PROVIDES A FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS BETWEEN MEMBERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING PROGRAMS.ASSOCIATION STAFF PACK AND SHIP MERCHANDISE AND PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES TO MEMBERS.
  5. NEWSLETTERS ARE TYPICALLY PUBLISHED SEMI-ANNUALLY. THE NEWSLETTERS ARE SENT TO 10,000 MEMBERS PROVIDING THEM WITH DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF UPCOMING EVENTS, CHANGES IN PROGRAMS, AND NEW PROGRAMS. IT ALSO PROVIDES A FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS BETWEEN MEMBERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPANDING PROGRAMS.ASSOCIATION STAFF PACK AND SHIP MERCHANDISE AND PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES TO MEMBERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

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