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White House Correspondents Association

EIN 52-0799067 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE FIELD OF JOURNALISM AND THE PROCESS OF REPORTING ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE. OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD OF JOURNALISM IS ACKNOWLEDGED THROUGH ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND WRITING AWARDS PROGRAMS. FURTHER, THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES A FORUM FOR COVERAGE-RELATED ISSUES AFFECTING REGULAR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS.

Income
$606,380
Spending
$447,120
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
35.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$149,337, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 35.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 (3)
  1. $140,500 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE FIELD OF JOURNALISM. THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDED OR SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIPS TO A DIVERSE GROUP OF STUDENTS TO HELP THEM STUDY JOURNALISM AND PREPARE FOR A CAREER AS JOURNALISTS. IT ALSO ARRANGED FOR MEMBERS OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS TO SERVE AS ONE-ON-ONE MENTORS FOR THE YEAR. THE WHCA PROVIDES OR SPONSORS SCHOLARSHIPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, HAMPTON UNIVERISTY, HOWARD UNIVERSITY, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, OHIO UNIVERSITY, UC-BERKELEY, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE. IT ALSO CO-SPONSORED SCHOLARSHIPS WITH THE ASIAN AMERICAN JOUNALISTS ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS AND THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.
  2. $20,000 spent. THE ASSOCIATION PRESENTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS TO REWARD AND ENCOURAGE EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM. THE AWARDS RECOGNIZE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN PRESIDENTIAL NEWS COVERAGE OVER A YEAR, PRESIDENTIAL NEWS COVERAGE UNDER DEADLINE PRESSURE, VISUAL JOURNALISM, AND WORK OF SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL OR REGIONAL IMPORTANCE.THE 2024 AWARDS LAUDED COVERAGE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN, THE OCT 7 TERRORIST ATTACK ON ISRAEL AND THE IMPACTS OF THE AR-15. THEY ALSO HONORED THE JOURNALISTS RODNEY BATTEN AND EDWARD LEWIS.
  3. $143,395 spent. THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES A FORUM FOR COVERAGE-RELATED ISSUES AFFECTING REGULAR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS, INCLUDING ACCESS TO THE PRESIDENT, THE ABILITY TO QUESTION THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF ON A DAILY BASIS AT THE WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING ROOM, AND WORK TO HELP THE PRESS COVER THE PRESIDENT ON TRIPS OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE, AS WELL AS OUTSIDE THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY.THE ASSOCIATION ALSO SPONSORED A PANEL OF JOURNALISTS WITH SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS, AND A NEWS BRIEFING FOR STUDENTS WITH THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 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 October 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 March 2004.

    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.