Washington Office on Latin America Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE AMERICAS.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $199,512, president
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
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 53% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (7)
- $415,243 spent. HUMAN RIGHTS - WOLA IS A LEADING RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION ADVANCING HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE AMERICAS. WE WORK TO SHAPE PUBLIC POLICIES THAT UPHOLD HUMAN DIGNITY, PROTECT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, AND ENSURE THAT JUSTICE PREVAILS OVER VIOLENCE. OUR EFFORTS ADDRESS CROSS-BORDER CHALLENGES THAT DEMAND BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS. IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, ACADEMICS, AND POLICYMAKERS, WOLA ADVOCATES FOR MORE JUST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES. THREE CORE PRIORITIES TO GUIDE OUR WORK: INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY SUPPORTED BY A VIBRANT CIVIL SOCIETY; SECURITY AND PEACE ROOTED IN JUSTICE; AND EQUITY AMIDST THE CLIMATE CRISIS, GENDER INEQUALITY, AND MIGRATION. THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, AND SUSTAINED POLICY ENGAGEMENT, WE WORK TO INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKERS, SUPPORT FRONTLINE MOVEMENTS, AND DRIVE LASTING CHANGE ACROSS THE REGION. IN 2025, WOLA LED ASSESSMENTS OF THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES TOWARD LATIN AMERICA, WORKED TO PRESERVE U.S. FUNDING FOR DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE AMERICAS, AND SUPPORTED CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OVER EXECUTIVE ACTIONS. IN JUNE 2025, WOLA PUBLISHED A REPORT ON THE CURTAILING OF CIVIC SPACE, CITING THE RISE OF ANTI-NGO LAWS IN THE REGION AND OFFERING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTORS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
- $295,097 spent. COLOMBIA - IN 2025, WOLA DEEPENED ITS EFFORTS TO ADVANCE PEACE, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND RACIAL JUSTICE IN COLOMBIA. WOLA COLLABORATED WITH THE U.S. CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS TO PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF AFRODESCENDANTS IN THE AMERICAS AND THE UN'S SECOND DECADE OF AFRODESCENDANTS. THIS INCLUDED PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENTS IN THE CONGRESS AND PUBLISHING AN ANALYTICAL ARTICLE ON THE LESSONS OF THE FIRST AFRODESCENDANT DECADE. IN MAY, WOLA STAFF ORGANIZED THE DELEGATION OF THE 2024 COLOMBIA NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE WINNERS TO WASHINGTON, DC, AND NEW YORK. WE ORGANIZED MEETINGS WITH THE WINNERS AND U.S. POLICYMAKERS, CONGRESSIONAL STAFF, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, AND UN AGENCIES AND MISSIONS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL PUBLIC EVENTS. WOLA WROTE SEVERAL ANALYTICAL PIECES REGARDING U.S.-COLOMBIA RELATIONS. WOLA ALSO TRAVELED TO COLOMBIA TO SUPPORT WORK FOCUSED ON YOUTH PROGRAMS, HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING, AND SERVICES FOR INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. DURING THE YEAR, WOLA TOOK ACTION CONCERNING TRANS RIGHTS IN THE AMERICAS, SUCH AS THE HIGHLY PUBLICIZED BRUTAL KILLING OF SARA MILLEREY IN COLOMBIA. AS THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE COALITION FOR GLOBAL EQUALITY FOCUSED ON LATIN AMERICA, WOLA HAS CONTRIBUTED TO ADVOCACY WORK WITH U.S. POLICYMAKERS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GUARANTEE THE PROTECTION OF LGBTQ+ PERSONS GLOBALLY, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THIS COMMUNITY IN LATIN AMERICA AS WELL AS BY LGBTQ+ ASYLUM SEEKERS, REFUGEES, AND MIGRANTS.THESE EFFORTS UNDERSCORED WOLA'S LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING INCLUSIVE PEACE AND ELEVATING THE VOICES OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS IN COLOMBIA.
- $244,368 spent. VENEZUELA - WOLA'S VENEZUELA PROGRAM IN 2025 CONTINUED TO DOCUMENT AND RESPOND TO VENEZUELA'S DEEPENING DEMOCRATIC AND HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS FOLLOWING THE 2024 ELECTIONS. THIS WORK EMPHASIZED SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VENEZUELA, PRESERVING CIVIC SPACE, AND ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF U.S. POLICIES. AS A PART OF THIS WORK, WE PREPARED A REPORT ON VENEZUELA'S CRISIS ONE YEAR AFTER THE ELECTIONS. IN COORDINATION WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL PARTNERS, WOLA PARTICIPATED IN A HEARING BEFORE THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT ATTACKS ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAWS THAT RESTRICT NGOS. WOLA SUPPORTED WORK IN THE U.S. CONGRESS REGARDING THE PRESERVING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR NATIONAL ASSETS (PANA) ACT WHICH WOULD CREATE A MECHANISM FOR THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE RECOVERY OF ASSETS SEIZED IN THE U.S. FROM CORRUPT ACTORS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.
- $243,736 spent. CENTRAL AMERICA - IN 2025, WOLA'S CENTRAL AMERICA REMAINED A KEY VOICE IN WASHINGTON ON HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY, PRESERVATION OF CIVIC SPACE, AND THE RULE OF LAW AMID CONTINUED AUTHORITARIANISM ACROSS THE REGION. WOLA DIRECTOR FOR CENTRAL AMERICA TESTIFIED IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON LAWS REGULATING NGOS IN EL SALVADOR AND NICARAGUA, AS WELL AS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS OF LEGAL HARASSMENT AGAINST CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE PROLONGED STATE OF EXCEPTION IN EL SALVADOR. IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE NOVEMBER 2025 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN HONDURAS, WOLA ADVOCATED FOR A FREE AND TRANSPARENT ELECTORAL PROCESS. OUR TEAM MONITORED PRE-ELECTORAL CONDITIONS AND THE MARCH PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND SUPPORTED BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO MONITOR AND OVERSEE THE ELECTION. IN EL SALVADOR, WOLA SUPPORTED A SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING A REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT'S COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS AND RAISED CONCERNS OVER TORTURE AND INHUMANE PRISON CONDITIONS. ACROSS THE REGION, WOLA CONTINUED TO ELEVATE REGIONAL VOICES, DOCUMENT VIOLATIONS, AND PRESS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL ACTORS TO UPHOLD DEMOCRATIC NORMS AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
- $230,351 spent. DRUG POLICY - WOLA ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES IN THE U.S. AND GLOBALLY THAT MITIGATE THE HARMS CAUSED BY THE ILLICIT DRUG TRADE AND BY PUNITIVE DRUG POLICIES, PRIORITIZING PUBLIC HEALTH AND RESPONSIBLE DRUG REGULATION. IN 2025, WOLA PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL SESSION OF THE UN COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS, MODERATING AND CO-SPONSORING SIDE EVENTS FOCUSED ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACTS OF SYNTHETIC DRUGS, COCA LEAF POLICY, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS LINKED TO DRUG TRAFFICKING AND EXTRACTIVE ACTIVITIES. A KEY OUTCOME OF THE SESSION WAS THE ADOPTION OF A COLOMBIA-LED RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AN EXPERT PANEL TO REVIEW THE UN DRUG CONTROL SYSTEM. WOLA CARRIED OUT ADVOCACY ON THE BOAT STRIKES BY U.S. MILITARY FORCES AGAINST ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKERS IN THE CARIBBEAN AND EASTERN PACIFIC, INCLUDING CONGRESSIONAL OUTREACH, A REAL-TIME TRACKER OF THE BOAT STRIKES, AND MULTIPLE JOINT EVENTS.
- $221,590 spent. MEXICO - IN 2025, WOLA'S MEXICO PROGRAM CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE, RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT MEXICO'S JUNE JUDICIAL ELECTIONS BY POPULAR VOTE. WOLA PARTICIPATED IN A MAJOR DELEGATION URGING CONGRESS TO ADOPT A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO DRUG CONSUMPTION, HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR A NEW FRAMEWORK IN U.S.-MEXICO COOPERATION, AND RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT PROPOSALS TO USE MILITARY FORCE TO COMBAT FENTANYL TRAFFICKING. WOLA PUBLISHED A Q&A PIECE IN FEBRUARY AND RECORDED PODCAST IN MARCH IN RESPONSE TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S DESIGNATION OF SIX MEXICAN CRIMINAL GROUPS AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS (FTOS), HIGHLIGHTING EFFECTIVE AND RIGHTS-RESPECTING ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS TO ADDRESS THE FENTANYL OVERDOSE CRISIS. WOLA STAFF TRAVELED TO OAXACA, MEXICO CITY, AND TIJUANA TO PARTICIPATE IN SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES ON ORGANIZED CRIME, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND MIGRATION, AS WELL AS MEETING WITH NGO PARTNERS, EXPERTS, U.S. EMBASSY STAFF, MEDIA CORRESPONDENTS, AND OTHERS. WOLA PUBLISHED "THE ERA OF WOMEN": CHALLENGES AND PRIORITIES IN THE WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS AGENDA IN MEXICO,TO ASSESS CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM'S ELECTION AS MEXICO'S FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT, HER PLEDGES TO ADVANCE WOMEN'S RIGHTS, AND SOME OF THE PRIORITY AREAS IN WHICH WOMEN CONTINUE TO FACE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION IN MEXICO.
- $213,124 spent. BORDER SECURITY AND MIGRATION - IN 2025, WOLA'S BORDER SECURITY AND MIGRATION PROGRAM INFORMED U.S. POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND SHAPED THE CONVERSATION THROUGH RAPID ANALYSIS, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY. OUR WEEKLY BORDER UPDATES CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A TRUSTED SOURCE FOR JOURNALISTS, CONGRESSIONAL STAFF, AND CIVIL SOCIETY ON DYNAMICS AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER, ABUSES AGAINST MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE U.S. AND BEYOND, AND REGIONAL TRENDS IN MIGRATION, ENFORCEMENT, THE DANGERS OF USING MILITARY PERSONNEL FOR BORDER AND MIGRATION MISSIONS, AND BORDER SECURITY. A MID-YEAR, THREE-COUNTRY RESEARCH TRIP FOCUSED ON WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM PEOPLE BEING DEPORTED, SHED EARLY LIGHT ON THE SEVERITY OF ABUSES THAT MIGRANTS ARE SUFFERING WHILE IN DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CUSTODY. WOLA TESTIFIED IN CONGRESS IN OPPOSITION OF THE U.S. "REMAIN IN MEXICO" POLICY.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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