National Wic Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NATIONAL WIC ASSOCIATION PROVIDES ITS MEMBERS WITH TOOLS AND LEADERSHIP TO EXPAND AND SUSTAIN EFFECTIVE NUTRITION SERVICES FOR MOTHERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
- Income
- $7.4 million
- Spending
- $7.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 7.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $294,440, president & ceo (from 6/24)
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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- $1.9 million spent. MEMBER SERVICES: NWA CONFERENCES OFFER AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR WIC AGENCY LEADERS AND STAFF, NWA PARTNERS AND OTHER WIC STAKEHOLDERS TO ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS AND TO NETWORK WITH AN ESTIMATED 1,000 PEERS, AND COLLEAGUES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN ADDITION, EXHIBITORS WILL SHARE EXAMPLES AND INFORMATION ON THE NEWEST WIC-RELATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR WIC STAFF AND PARTICIPANTS. NWA OFFERS BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL CONFERENCES. NWA CONFERENCES ALSO OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ATTENDEES TO HEAR FROM USDA OFFICIALS AND TO DIALOGUE ON RELEVANT UPDATES AND CHALLENGES THAT THE PROGRAM FACES. CONTENT FOR CONFERENCES IS SOLICITED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE ABSTRACT PROCESS AND CURATED BY A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND NWA STAFF. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)MOREOVER, NWA'S CONFERENCES SUPPORT ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY OFFERING CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR REGISTERED DIETITIANS AND INTERNATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED LACTATION CONSULTANTS. THE CORE FUNCTION OF MEMBER SERVICES REVENUE IS TO ENSURE A POSITIVE NWA MEMBER EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF NWA. THIS INCLUDES STAFFING EXPENSES ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. THE NWA STAFF ARE ORGANIZED INTO FIVE TEAMS: MEMBER SERVICES, COMMUNICATIONS, THE CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE PRACTICES IN WIC, PUBLIC POLICY, AND OPERATIONS. THE NWA STAFF ARE CORE TO DELIVERING CRUCIAL WIC ADVOCACY, MEMBER ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND DRIVING WIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION. COLLECTIVELY THEY SUPPORT THE NWA MEMBERSHIP TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE WIC AND EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY PROVIDE WIC SERVICES TO OVER 6-MILLION MOTHERS, BABIES, AND YOUNG CHILDREN.
- $1.8 million spent. CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE PRACTICES IN WIC: NWA RECEIVES GRANTS FROM CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS THAT SUPPORT PROGRESS TOWARDS NWA'S MISSION. GRANT-FUNDED WORK AT NWA BUILDS CAPACITY FOR NWA MEMBERS TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO WIC PARTICIPATION, DRIVES WIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, AND ELEVATES WIC TO A RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES. SPECIFICALLY, THE GRANT-FUNDED PORTFOLIO ENABLES NWA TO PROVIDE SUBGRANTS TO PILOT INNOVATIVE PRACTICES IN WIC STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES; BUILD GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY CAPACITY THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY PROGRAMMING, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, REPORTS, AND WEBINARS; STORY COLLECTION CAMPAIGNS AND MORE RECENTLY, ELEVATING WIC PARTICIPANT VOICES THROUGH INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE PARTICIPANT ADVISORY COUNCIL AND A MULTISTATE PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION SURVEY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ADDITIONALLY, GRANT FUNDING HAS ENABLED NWA TO LEAD GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH ON EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION IN WIC AND BUILD A HEALTH EQUITY CHAMPION PROGRAM. ULTIMATELY, GRANT-FUNDED WORK AT NWA SUPPORTS THE ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO MEMBERS AND BUILD INTERNAL CAPACITY TO ENHANCE CORE SERVICES. NWA ALSO DIRECTLY ADVOCATES FOR POLICY ENHANCEMENTS IN THE WIC PROGRAM, INCLUDING SCIENCE-BASED UPDATES TO THE WIC FOOD PACKAGE.
- $1.7 million spent. NWA COMMUNICATIONS: NWA COMMUNICATIONS CREATES RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO SUPPORT NWA MEMBERS IN THEIR OUTREACH EFFORTS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN WIC PARTICIPANTS. THIS INCLUDES A RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CAMPAIGN THAT WAS PROVIDED TO MEMBERS AT NO COST. THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES CREATIVE ASSETS THAT NWA MEMBERS CAN LEVERAGE TO PROMOTE WIC PARTICIPATION. IN ADDITION, THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM CREATES AND MARKETS A WIC RECIPE BOOK. THE RECIPE BOOK IS AN OUTREACH TOOL AND NUTRITION EDUCATION TOOL FOR WIC PROVIDERS. THIS COLLECTION OF RECIPES USES INGREDIENTS THAT CAN BE PURCHASED USING WIC AVAILABLE FOODS, IS PURCHASED BY STATE AND LOCAL WIC AGENCIES AND PROVIDED TO WIC PARTICIPANTS IN WIC CLINICS AND AT OUTREACH EVENTS, EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO PREPARE NUTRITIOUS MEALS WHILE MAXIMIZING THEIR WIC BENEFITS.
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
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 2024.
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 March 1987.
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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