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Women in International Security Wiis

EIN 46-3135838 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY (WIIS) IS A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION THAT CHAMPIONS GENDER EQUALITY BY HELPING WOMEN ADVANCE AS LEADERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY SECTOR. FOUNDED IN 1987, WIIS PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, CONDUCTS GENDER RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS, HOLDS PRESTIGIOUS EVENTS, AND NURTURES A COMMUNITY OF POWERFUL MENTORS, SCHOLARS, AND LEADERS COMMITTED TO CLOSING THE GENDER EQUALITY GAP WORLDWIDE.

Income
$379,030
Spending
$585,186
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
6
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$58,695, president and 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 54% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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 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. $213,176 spent. THE WOMEN PEACE AND SECURITY PROGRAM ADVANCES THE UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF GENDER IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND HOW REDRESSING GENDER INEQUALITIES CAN RESOLVE AND MITIGATE 21ST-CENTURY SECURITY CHALLENGES. THE PROGRAM WORKS TO ACHIEVE THE WOMEN PEACE AND SECURITY AGENDA BY CONDUCTING GENDER RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, HOLDING EXPERT POLICY ROUNDTABLES, AND PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR A DIVERSE GROUP OF SECURITY EXPERTS, INCLUDING CONVENING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GENDER SCHOLARS AND PRACTITIONERS- AND NURTURING A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF MENTORS, ADVOCATES, EXPERTS, AND LEADERS.
  2. $94,745 spent. THROUGH ITS TRAINING MODULES, AUDITS, AND GENDER ASSESSMENT TOOL, THE WIIS WOMEN IN DEFENSE & SECURITY PROGRAM SUPPORTS SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS AND U.S. PARTNER NATIONS IN ASSESSING PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY AGENDA TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP IN THE SECURITY SECTOR. SINCE 2013, THE PROGRAM'S COMBAT INTEGRATION INITIATIVE HAS MONITORED, EVALUATED, AND PUBLISHED DATA ON WOMEN'S FULL INTEGRATION INTO U.S. MILITARY COMBAT OPERATIONS.
  3. $94,745 spent. THE MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM SERVES THE NEEDS OF WIIS' GROWING GLOBAL CONSTITUENCY OF INSTITUTIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS, ENHANCING THEIR ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE GLOBAL GENDER GAP AND THRIVE IN THEIR CAREERS IN THE PEACE AND SECURITY SECTOR.
  4. $71,059 spent. WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR: LOCAL AND NATIONAL CONFLICTS ESCAPE BORDERS, THREATENING REGIONAL STABILITY. WIIS' LONG-STANDING ENGAGEMENT WITH REGIONAL AND MULTILATERAL SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS ON ISSUES OF GENDER EQUALITY AND SECURITY SHOW HOW GENDER INTEGRATION INTO SECURITY INSTITUTIONS AND PRACTICES CAN PRODUCE MORE EFFECTIVE RESPONSES TO COLLECTIVE SECURITY CHALLENGES.

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 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 April 2014.

    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.