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Washington School of Chinese Language & Culture

EIN 52-1448231 · Rockville, MD

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WSCLC PROVIDES CHINESE LANGUAGE & CULTURE CLASSES ON SUNDAYS DURING SCHOOL YEAR. CLASSES LAST FOR 2.5 HOURS FROM 2:00 PM TO 4:30 PM, INCLUDING BOTH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE FOCUS.

Income
$171,994
Spending
$164,371
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
58.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$1,000, vice dir of academic affairs

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 58.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (1)
  1. $164,371 spent. THE CLASSES ARE DIVIDED INTO 3 PERIODS WITH 2 PERIODS FOR LANAGUAGE AND 1 PERIOD FOR CULTURE. ABOUT THREE HUNDRED STUDENTS AGE 3 TO 18 ATTEND 22 LANGUAGE CLASSES FROM K-1 TO G-12 FOR 32 WEEKS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN THE THIRD PERIOD THE STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO CHINESE CULTURE SUCH AS GO CHESS (WEKQI), MAH-JONG, CALLIGRAPHY, HAND PUPPY SHOW, FOLD DANCE, YO-YO, KARATE, ACUPRESSURE, PAPER FOLDING, ART AND CRAFTS, PLAY DOUGH, POTTERY, MUSIC, MOVIE, HISTORY AND FOLKLORE. THE STUDENTS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN INTRA-SCHOOL AND INTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CHINESE NIGHT-MARKET PARTY, TRACK AND FIELD MEETS (FIELD DAY), DRAGON BOAT RACE, SPEECH CONTEST, YO-YO CHAMPIONSHIP, CHINESE TYPING CONTEST, CALLIGRAPHY CONTEST, FOLK DANCE, CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS, TENNIS MEETS, AND SWIM MEETS. THE STUDENTS OF WSCLC ARE QUALIFIED TO OBTAIN CHINESE LANGUAGE CREDITS FROM THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. MOST OF THE SENIOR LEVEL STUDENTS SCORE HIGH IN SAT-CHINESE TESTS. SINCE 2014, THE SCHOOL ALSO HAS AN ADULT CLASS TO TEACH ADULT STUDENTS COMMONLY USED AND PRACTICAL MANDARIN CHESE. DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC PERIOD, THE SCHOOL FOLLOWED GOVERNMENT INSTRUCTIONS ADOPTING REMOTE ON LINE TEACHING METHOD TO AVOID POTENTIAL COVID TRANSMISSIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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? Caution.

    Not 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 August 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 June 1986.

    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.