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National Wood Carvers Association

EIN 31-0829675 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

GUIDING, EDUCATING, & PROMOTING THE ART OF WOODCARVING: SCULPTING, BURNING, TURNING, FRETWORK, CHAIN SAW, CHIP, BARK, CARICATURES IN USA & INTERNATIONALLY VIA CHIP CHATS MAG & ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP AT MIAMI UNIV IN OXFORD OH

Income
$120,690
Spending
$110,377
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$44,352, editor

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 102% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 12 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $102,724 spent. MONIES RECEIVED FROM MEMBERSHIP DUES, DONATIONS, NWCA PATCHES, DECALS, & SALE OF BACK ISSUES ENABLE US TO PUBLISH CHIP CHATS MAGAZINE QUARTERLY(4 ISSUES A YEAR) WHICH PROMOTES THE ART OF WOODCARVING TO OVER 4000 MEMBERS WORLDWIDE. MEMBERS CAN SEE WHAT'S NEW IN THE CARVING WORLD. FIND PATTERNS, SOURCES OF SUPPLIES SUCH AS BOOKS, TOOLS, PATTERNS, ROUGHOUTS, WOODS & SEMINARS TO ATTEND. MEMBERS CAN TRAVEL TO AREA CLUBS & SHOWS WORLDWIDE TO DISPLAY, SELL, SHOW, & BUY WORKS OF ART. THEY CAN OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE IN CARVING DEMONSTRATIONS, TAKE CLASSES & LEARN/MENTOR NEW CARVERS: HELPING BOY SCOUTS TO COMPLETE CARVING MERTI BADGE; AID THOSE IN THE RESTORATION FIELD TO REPAIR/REPLACE BROKEN PIECES AND/OR PARTS; CARVE CANES FOR OUR WOUNDED VETERANS OF WAR; CARVE PLAQUES OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. MEMBERS WITH DIAABILITIES AND SIGHT IMPAIRMENTS HAVE FOUND WAYS TO ADAPT USING TOOLS AND SERVICES OTHER MEMBERS HAVE MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM. CARVING & WHITTLING CAN BE THERAPEUTIC FOR OUR RETURNING COMBAT VETERANS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. KEN C OF IDAHO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL REACHING OUT & INTRODUCING SOME VETS TO THE CARVING WORLD AND CHIP CHATS MAGAZINE. MONIES RECEIVED FROM MEMBERSHIP DUES, DONATIONS, NWCA PATCHES, DECALS, & SALE OF BACK ISSUES ENABLE US TO PUBLISH CHIP CHATS MAGAZINE QUARTERLY(4 ISSUES A YEAR) WHICH PROMOTES THE ART OF WOODCARVING TO OVER 4000 MEMBERS WORLDWIDE. MEMBERS CAN SEE WHAT'S NEW IN THE CARVING WORLD. FIND PATTERNS, SOURCES OF SUPPLIES SUCH AS BOOKS, TOOLS, PATTERNS, ROUGHOUTS, WOODS & SEMINARS TO ATTEND. MEMBERS CAN TRAVEL TO AREA CLUBS & SHOWS WORLDWIDE TO DISPLAY, SELL, SHOW, & BUY WORKS OF ART. THEY CAN OBSERVE AND PARTICIPATE IN CARVING DEMONSTRATIONS, TAKE CLASSES & LEARN/MENTOR NEW CARVERS: HELPING BOY SCOUTS TO COMPLETE CARVING MERTI BADGE; AID THOSE IN THE RESTORATION FIELD TO REPAIR/REPLACE BROKEN PIECES AND/OR PARTS; CARVE CANES FOR OUR WOUNDED VETERANS OF WAR; CARVE PLAQUES OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. MEMBERS WITH DIAABILITIES AND SIGHT IMPAIRMENTS HAVE FOUND WAYS TO ADAPT USING TOOLS AND SERVICES OTHER MEMBERS HAVE MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM. CARVING & WHITTLING CAN BE THERAPEUTIC FOR OUR RETURNING COMBAT VETERANS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. KEN C OF IDAHO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL REACHING OUT & INTRODUCING SOME VETS TO THE CARVING WORLD AND CHIP CHATS MAGAZINE.

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 April 1992.

    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.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.