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Women in Aviation International

EIN 37-1279395 · Germantown, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WOMEN IN AVIATION INTERNATIONAL (WAI) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN ALL AVIATION AND AEROSPACE CAREER FIELDS AND INTERESTS. OUR DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES ASTRONAUTS, PILOTS, MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS, ENGINEERS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, EDUCATORS, JOURNALISTS, FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, AIR SHOW PERFORMERS, AIRPORT MANAGERS, AND MANY OTHERS.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
14
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$246,909, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% 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 497% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 2025, 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE: A PLATFORM FOR NETWORKING, EDUCATION, AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, BRINGING TOGETHER AVIATION PROFESSIONALS AND ENTHUSIASTS.
  2. $345,657 spent. AVIATION FOR WOMEN MAGAZINE: A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION FEATURING STORIES, RESOURCES, AND UPDATES RELEVANT TO WOMEN IN AVIATION.AVIATION FOR GIRLS MAGAZINE: AN ANNUAL PUBLICATION FOR READERS AGES 8-18, OFFERING PAGES OF HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FEATURING PROJECT IDEAS, AVIATION BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS, AND UNIQUE AVIATION STORIES SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS AND EDUCATIONAL GROUPS
  3. $324,993 spent. MEMBERSHIP- RECRUITS NEW MEMBERS TO INCREASE THE MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT BASE.
  4. $754,731 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: WAI PROVIDES NUMEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FLIGHT TRAINING, ENGINEERING, MAINTENANCE, AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT.HARVARD EMERGING LEADERS: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARVARD UNIVERSITY, A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TAILORED FOR RISING WOMEN LEADERS IN THE AVIATION AND AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES. INCLUDES ON-CAMPUS SESSIONS AT HARVARD. PARTICIPANTS EARN A CERTIFICATE FROM HARVARD'S DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION, ENHANCING THEIR LEADERSHIP CREDENTIALS.GIRLS IN AVIATION DAY: A GLOBAL EVENT AIMED AT INSPIRING YOUNG GIRLS TO EXPLORE AVIATION CAREERS THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND MENTORSHIP.MENTOR CONNECT PROGRAM: A MENTORSHIP INITIATIVE THAT PAIRS EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS WITH MENTEES TO GUIDE THEIR CAREER DEVELOPMENT.CHAPTERS AND LOCAL EVENTS: WAI HAS CHAPTERS WORLDWIDE THAT HOST LOCAL EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.WAI ON AIR PODCAST: IT IS THE OFFICIAL PODCAST PRODUCED BY WOMEN IN AVIATION INTERNATIONAL (WAI), FEATURING INDEPTH CONVERSATIONS WITH WOMEN AND MEN ACROSS THE AVIATION AND AEROSPACE INDUSTRY. IT HIGHLIGHTS PERSONAL STORIES, CAREER JOURNEYS, CHALLENGES, AND ACHIEVEMENTS-ALL WITH THE GOAL OF INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATION PROFESSIONALS. AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY, YOUTUBE, APPLE MUSIC, AND AMAZON MUSIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.