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Woodson Center

EIN 52-1217891 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER COMMUNITY-BASED LEADERS TO PROMOTE SOLUTIONS THAT REDUCE CRIME AND VIOLENCE, RESTORE FAMILIES, REVITALIZE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND ASSIST IN THE CREATION OF ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
19.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
7
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$538,820, 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 13 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. $3.5 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION - WOODSON CENTER'S PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM INCLUDES PUBLICATIONS, HANDBOOKS, VIDEOTAPES, MEDIA RELEASES, AND OTHER DISSEMENATION OF INFORMATION, BEST PRACTICES, AND SUCCESSFUL PRINCIPLES GENERATED IN THE PROGRAMS OF THE CENTER SO THAT OTHERS CAN BENEFIT FROM WHAT IS LEARNED AND ADAPT AND IMPLEMENT THE INFORMATION TO THEIR PROGRAMS.
  2. $2.1 million spent. 1776 UNITES - LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY OF 2020, 1776 UNITES IS A MOVEMENT TO LIBERATE TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS BY HELPING THEM BECOME AGENTS OF THEIR OWN UPLIFT AND TRANSFORMATION. IT REPRESENTS A NONPARTISAN AND INTELLECTUALLY DIVERSE ALLIANCE OF WRITERS, THINKERS, AND ACTIVISTS FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS TO OUR COUNTRY'S GREATEST CHALLENGES IN EDUCATION, CULTURE, AND UPWARD MOBILITY. OUR SCHOLARS AND ACTIVISTS FREQUENTLY APPEAR ON NATIONAL AND LOCAL MEDIA, MAKING THE CASE FOR LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND THE APPLICATION OF FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS. OUR ON-THE-GROUND ACTIVISTS REGULARLY PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR THE EFFICACY OF THIS APPROACH. 1776 UNITES MAINTAINS A SPECIAL FOCUS ON VOICES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATE BLACK EXCELLENCE, REJECT VICTIMHOOD CULTURE, AND SHOWCASE THE MILLIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS WHO PROSPER BY EMBRACING AMERICA'S FOUNDING IDEALS. BECAUSE SUFFERING IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS FREQUENTLY WEAPONIZED AGAINST OUR COUNTRY, WE BELIEVE IT IS CRUCIAL BLACK PATRIOTS BE AMONG ITS MOST VOCAL DEFENDERS. 1776 UNITES OFFERINGS INCLUDE ESSAYS AND WHITE PAPERS BY OUR SCHOLARS, A SERIES OF PUBLIC EVENTS FEATURING BOTH SCHOLARS AND ACTIVISTS, AND A FREE CURRICULUM WITH NEW LESSONS RELEASED MONTHLY.
  3. COMMUNITY AFFILIATE NETWORK - IS A NATIONWIDE ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED LEADERS WHO ARE SOLVING AMERICA'S MOST CHALLENGING SOCIAL PROBLEMS FROM THE GROUND UP. WE CURRENTLY HAVE HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE NETWORK SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THROUGH CAN, THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS CAN NETWORK, FIND POTENTIAL COLLABORATORS, AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES. CAN ALSO ASSISTS ITS MEMBERS THROUGH THE CAN MINI-GRANT PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP A PROJECT, OBTAIN MODEST FUNDING, AND PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE PROJECT WITHOUT HAVING TO NAVIGATE THE CUMBERSOME PAPERWORK AND BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS THAT OFTEN PREVENT SMALLER, MORE NIMBLE ORGANIZATIONS FROM BEING FUNDED.

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 November 6, 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 September 1981.

    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 November 4, 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.