Passes our checks

Washington Media Scholars Foundation

EIN 27-1229288 · Alexandria, VA

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

What it says it does

Educational Programs and Scholarships for College Students

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
28 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15
Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
5 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8
Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7
Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5
Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10
Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15
Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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

Programs described in its return (3)

$150,000 spent. Media Fellow Scholarships (Fall) 98 scholarships were awarded for $1,500 each. Scholarships were given upon a review process based on merit and financial need.1 special memorial scholarhip in the amount of $2,500 honoring a longtime Contributor to the WMSF.
$95,204 spent. Media Scholars Week From June 8-13, 2025 the Foundation brought 13 undergraduate students to Washington, DC to meet with leaders in the media industry. Experts lectured to the group, deepening the students understanding of public policy media strategy, research, and placement.
$27,000 spent. Media Case Competition 87 undergraduates participated in the 2025 case competition from schools across the country. 12 finalists were flown to Washington, DC for Media Scholars Week. Two winners of the competition from California State University, Long Beach were awarded $5,000 each and two runners up from Temple University were awarded $3,000 each. In addition, 6 remaining students were awarded $1,000 who did not place in the competition. A special memorial award of $2,500 was given to one student from Brigham Young University and one student from University of Southern California in memory of a deceased former WMSF winner.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 2026.

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