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World Affairs Councils of America

EIN 52-1514424 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS OF AMERICA SUPPORTS, STRENGTHENS, AND REPRESENTS A NATIONAL NETWORK OF 90 NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO DEEPEN THEIR COMMUNITIES' GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
118.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 54%
Employees
7
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$196,660, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 118.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 June 30, 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. $42,133 spent. SPEAKER PROGRAM - ENGAGE AMERICA SPEAKER SERIES:THE WACA NATIONAL OFFICE PARTNERS WITH THINK TANKS, FOUNDATIONS, NGOS, CORPORATIONS, AND OCCASIONALLY GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO ARRANGE TIMELY "NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS" AT SEVERAL WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON INTERNATIONAL TOPICS.
  2. $420,421 spent. NATIONAL CONFERENCE:FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES, THE WACA NATIONAL CONFERENCE HAS BROUGHT WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL LEADERS AND MEMBERS TO ENGAGE WITH TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, DIPLOMATS, BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, INNOVATORS, JOURNALISTS, THOUGHT LEADERS, EDUCATORS, AND STUDENTS ON THE MOST PRESSING GLOBAL ISSUES AND POLICY CHOICES THAT IMPACT OUR LIVES.THIS ANNUAL EVENT IN WASHINGTON, DC, INSPIRES COUNCILS FROM 90 COMMUNITIES TO SUSTAIN THE CONVERSATION ON GLOBAL ISSUES AND CONTRIBUTE TO A STRONGER NETWORK AND INFORMED AMERICAN PUBLIC.
  3. $521,653 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS:1. ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST (AWQ) INSPIRES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO EMBRACE A CULTURE OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT. NATIONWIDE, MORE THAN 30 LOCAL WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS HOST COMMUNITY ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST COMPETITIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ENGAGING OVER 2,500 STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC LINES AS THEY VIE FOR THE ULTIMATE PRIZE: REPRESENTING THEIR COMMUNITIES AT THE CARLOS AND MALU ALVAREZ ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST NATIONAL COMPETITION IN WASHINGTON, DC.2. THE COUNCIL LEADERSHIP MEETING HOLDS SPACE FOR COUNCIL LEADERS TO NETWORK WITH PEERS, ENGAGE IN INFORMATIVE SESSIONS, AND GAIN VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT IMPACT THE COUNCIL NETWORK.3. AS PART OF STRENGTHENING COUNCILS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WACA VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING (ROUNDTABLES, COUNCIL HUDDLES, WACA 101) GIVES COUNCIL STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS A CHANCE TO CONNECT, EXCHANGE INSIGHTS, AND LEARN ABOUT THE NATIONAL NETWORK. EACH QUARTER, COUNCIL PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED IN SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF COUNCILS' WORK GATHER OVER ZOOM TO MEET OTHERS IN THE WACA NETWORK, SHARE QUESTIONS AND IDEAS, EXPLORE INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES, AND PROBLEM-SOLVE TOGETHER.4. STUDENT SCHOLARS: ESTABLISHED IN 2010, THE WACA STUDENT SCHOLARS PROGRAM OFFERS 25 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM COUNCIL COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE AT NO COST. THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS, WACA ALSO SUPPORTS THE ROOM AND BOARD OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.STUDENT SCHOLARS PARTICIPATE IN STUDENT SCHOLAR DAY, AN EXCURSION INTO DC THAT INCLUDES VISITS TO THINK TANKS, UNIVERSITIES, AND MORE.THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES, STUDENTS ENVISION THEIR OWN GLOBAL FUTURES AND PREPARE TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS IN THEIR EDUCATION AND CAREERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 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 January 1988.

    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.