West African Community Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 52 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The West African Community Council WACC is dedicated to advocating for and supporting West African immigrants by preserving their cultural, social, and religious traditions. Its mission promotes a community where diverse backgrounds are respected, families have equal opportunities, and individuals are valued regardless of their origin, ethnicity, or gender.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 62%
- Employees
- 32
- Highest pay
- $138,000, executive dir.
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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 52 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $712,075 spent. Community Services: WACC provides a range of culturally tailored services to support West African immigrants and underserved communities in Seattle. These include early childhood education through a multilingual preschool, immigration legal assistance, and labor rights education to protect vulnerable workers. The organization also offers family support programs, emergency food and rental aid, and civic engagement initiatives that empower individuals to participate in local governance and advocacy. Each service is designed to preserve cultural identity while promoting stability, opportunity, and inclusion.
- $471,216 spent. Family Support: WACC supports families through parenting workshops, home visits, and access to early learning resources, aiming to strengthen family bonds and improve child development outcomes.
- $410,505 spent. Immigration Legal Services: They provide legal assistance for immigration-related issues, including help with asylum applications, work permits, and family reunification, ensuring community members can navigate complex legal systems.
- $230,718 spent. Other Programs
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.