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Philanthropy Southwest

EIN 51-0163529 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOSTER MEANINGFUL PHILANTHROPY AND TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS THAT IMPACT THE SOUTHWEST REGION'S PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND MOST PRESSING ISSUES.PHILANTHROPY SOUTHWEST (PSW) MEMBERSHIP IS ABOUT VALUABLE CONNECTIONS AND LEADING-EDGE LEARNING THAT RESULT IN STRONGER PHILANTHROPY, BOTH WITHIN YOUR FOUNDATION AND ACROSS OUR REGION. THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION FACE ARE MANY AND UNIQUE, AND AT PSW WE BELIEVE THAT PHILANTHROPY, WHEN DONE WELL, CAN BE A HUGE PART OF THE SOLUTION. THAT'S WHY WE BRING TOGETHER MANY OF THE MOST TALENTED, PASSIONATE, AND DIVERSE PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS IN THE REGION, TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND HELP EACH OTHER GROW. OUR MEMBERS TELL US THAT WHAT THEY VALUE MOST ABOUT PSW IS RELATIONSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, FOCUS ON THE SOUTHWEST, ADVOCACY, INNOVATION, AND DIVERSITY.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
6
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$260,960, president/ceo

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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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, 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 (3)
  1. $920,756 spent. IN-PERSON ANNUAL CONFERENCE: 562 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED THE 76TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN SANTA FE, NM, INCLUDING MEMBERS, NON-MEMBERS, SPOUSE/GUEST REGISTRANTS, AND SPEAKERS. THE CONFERENCE INCLUDED FOUR PLENARY SESSIONS AND 40 BREAKOUT SESSIONS, NETWORKING EVENTS, SITE VISITS, PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS, THE CELEBRATION OF PHILANTHROPY DINNER, AND CEO/ED BREAKFAST. NEW TO THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR WERE MASTER CLASS SESSIONS BOTH PRE-CONFERENCE AND DURING THE CONFERENCE. CEU CREDITS WERE OFFERED FOR SOME SESSIONS. OTHER THAN MEMBER DUES, THIS IS THE PRIMARY PROGRAM EVENT FOR PSW.
  2. $367,386 spent. ONGOING MEMBER SERVICES:PSW IS COMMITTED TO CONNECTED, IMPACTFUL PHILANTHROPY BY PROVIDING RESPONSIVE AND TIMELY SERVICES, RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO ITS MEMBERS. TO THAT END PSW PROVIDED: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ONLINE EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE COMMITTED TO MEMBER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DYNAMIC AND TAILORED LEARNING EXPERIENCES, CONNECTION OPPORTUNITIES, ONE SOUTHWESTERN VOICE TO PROMOTE & DEFEND PHILANTHROPY EFFECTIVELY, SECTOR RESOURCES AND DISCOUNTS, NEWSLETTERS, LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, RESEARCH STUDIES - DEMOGRAPHIC, RURAL, URBAN.
  3. $283,864 spent. EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS: PSW OFFERS A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS DESIGNED TO ASSIST ITS MEMBERS WITH ALL ASPECTS OF OPERATING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS EFFICIENTLY, EFFECTIVELY, AND WITHIN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AS WELL AS THE STATUTES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE STATES. OFFERINGS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LAW SCHOOL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS INSTITUTE: OVER 250 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS PROGRAM LED BY NATIONAL EXPERTS FROM PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, LAW, FINANCE AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. TOPICS INCLUDED DISCUSSIONS ON TAX, LEGISLATIVE, AND GOVERNANCE ISSUES AFFECTING PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. OTHER SESSION TOPICS INCLUDED DATA PROTECTION, CRISIS MANAGEMENT, RISK MANAGEMENT, GRANTMAKING, INVESTMENTS, COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING.PSW ON THE ROAD EVENTS: HELD IN 3 LOCATIONS, WITH MORE THAN 75 ATTENDEES - LAS VEGAS, NV, PHOENIX, AZ, AND TULSA, OK.THE WAYFARER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: OFFERED AGAIN THIS YEAR; AN INTENSIVE YEAR-LONG LEADERSHIP TRAINING INVOLVING ONE-ON-ONE COACHING, SELF-DEVELOPMENT, AND THREE- OR FOUR-DAY REFLECTION RETREATS HELD AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

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 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 January 1976.

    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 October 21, 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.