Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Wsia Education Foundation

EIN 43-1601552 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WSIA EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO ENCOURAGING THE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE EXCESS AND SURPLUS LINES BUSINESS, TO CREATING AN UNDERSTANDING, AND OVERCOMING THE MISPERCEPTIONS OF THE EXCESS AND SURPLUS LINES MARKET. (SEE SCH O)THE FOUNDATION'S WORK INCLUDES THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR WSIA MEMBERS; MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE ASSOCIATE IN SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE (ASLI) DESIGNATION PROGRAM, WHICH FURTHERS THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS; SUPPORTING OF THE AM BEST COMPANY'S ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE SURPLUS LINES SEGMENT, WHICH IS A VALUABLE TOOL FOR THE INDUSTRY; ADMINISTERING STUDENT-FOCUSED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SYMPOSIUMS AND SCHOLARSHIP TO ENCOURAGE, SUPPORT AND REWARD EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN AN INSURANCE CAREER; AND SIGNIFICANT UNIVERSITY OUTREACH TO ATTRACT BRIGHT NEW TALENT TO THE INDUSTRY.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$943,365
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 63%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$879,999, ceo & president

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: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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

Good: 88 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    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, 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 (4)
  1. $302,905 spent. EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS: THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS THE ASSOCIATE IN SURPLUS LINES (ASLI) DESIGNATION PROGRAM THAT WAS DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INSTITUTES AND PROVIDES A PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION FOR INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS IN THE WHOLESALE, SPECIALTY, AND SURPLUS LINES INDUSTRY. ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS THE TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAM, UNDERWRITING BOOT CAMP AND WSIA UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE WSIA MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AND EXPAND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WHOLESALE, SPECIALTY AND SURPLUS LINES MARKET.
  2. $181,120 spent. SYMPOSIUMS: THE ORGANIZATION SPONSORS FOUR (4) COLLEGE EXTREME RISK TAKERS SYMPOSIUMS EACH YEAR AT VARIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO A SUSTAINING PARTNER FOR THE GAMMA IOTA SIGMA, AN INTERNATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCE AND ACTUARIAL SCIENCE COLLEGIATE FRATERNITY, THAT SERVES OVER 4,000 STUDENT MEMBERS AND FACULTY FROM 76 CHAPTERS BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
  3. $288,799 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO ENCOURAGE, SUPPORT AND REWARD EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDYING RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE AND EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN THE SURPLUS LINES INDUSTRY.
  4. $54,712 spent. AM BEST STUDY: THE ORGANIZATION UNDERWRITES THE RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION OF THE ANNUAL REVIEW ON THE SURPLUS LINES INDUSTRY. THE FIRST EDITION WAS RELEASED IN THE FALL OF 1994 AND A NEW EDITION IS RELEASED EACH YEAR. THIS PUBLICATION HAS BECOME THE MOST QUOTED SOURCE ON SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE AND PROVIDES A GREAT DEAL OF POSITIVE INSIGHTFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SEGMENT OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A GRANT FOR THE ANNUAL AM BEST WEBINAR THAT IS CONDUCTED EACH FALL WHICH INCLUDES A PANEL OF INDUSTRY LEADERS IN THE SURPLUS LINES SECTOR OF THE U.S. INSURANCE MARKET. THE PANEL REVIEWS THE MARKET AND PROVIDES A HIGHLIGHT OF THE NEWEST EDITION OF THE REPORT.

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 2025.

    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 August 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.