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World Affairs Council of Western Michigan

EIN 38-1561620 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 19% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF WORLD AFFAIRS AND UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY AND TO LINK WESTERN MICHIGAN TO THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

Income
$256,343
Spending
$328,312
Spent on programs
19%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
4

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    19% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 June 30, 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 (5)
  1. $12,818 spent. GLOBAL EXECUTIVE BRIEFINGS SERIES. 3 LECTURES WITH A TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 170
  2. $4,685 spent. WORLDQUEST IS OUR INTERNATIONAL TRIVIA GAME PLAYED WITH 80 PLAYERS. IT IS ALWAYS HELD DURING WORLD TRADE WEEK (A DESIGNATED WEEK BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE).
  3. $20,742 spent. SPECIAL PROGRAM - ANNUAL EVENT FEATURING AMBASSADOR R. NICHOLAS BURNS (US AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, NATO AND GREECE) WITH 208 ATTENDEES.
  4. $25,313 spent. MISC PROGRAMS: GLOBAL MIXER. KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY FEATURING RADICAL MIDDLE SERIES WITH 184 ATTENDEES.
  5. MISC PROGRAMS: GLOBAL MIXER. KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY FEATURING RADICAL MIDDLE SERIES WITH 184 ATTENDEES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 February 1975.

    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.