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Washington Area Community Investment Fund Inc

EIN 54-1442466 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE WASHINGTON AREA COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND (WACIF) IS A NONPROFIT COMMUNITY LOAN FUND FOCUSED ON INCREASING EQUITY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA'S UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WACIF'S MISSION IS DRIVEN BY THREE STRATEGIC PILLARS: INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING, AND EQUITABLE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND IS FULFILLED BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, AND CAPACITY BUILDING ADVISORY SERVICES TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME ENTREPRENEURS.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
35
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$289,209, chief executive officer

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: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% 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 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
  1. $3.0 million spent. SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES - WACIF PROVIDES A VARIETY OF ADVISORY OPPORTUNITIES IN UNDERSERVED D.C. AREA COMMUNITIES INCLUDING GROUP CLASSES, ONE-ON-ONE ADVISEMENT ON SPECIFIC CAPACITY BUILDING ISSUES TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF GROWTH, AND INTENSIVE, COHORT-BASED PROGRAMS LIKE OUR ASCEND CAPITAL ACCELERATOR. WACIF'S SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY EXPERTISE AND OFFERINGS COVER TOPICS INCLUDING BUSINESS PLANNING, MARKETING, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, LAW, REAL ESTATE, AND GETTING TRANSACTION-READY.IN 2025, WACIF MADE A POWERFUL DIFFERENCE, DELIVERING A TRANSFORMATIVE YEAR OF IMPACT. WACIF HOSTED 109 EVENTS WITH A COMBINED 1057 ATTENDEES AND PROVIDED OVER 591 HOURS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.THROUGH STRATEGIC COLLABORATION WITH MORE THAN 36 GROWTH PARTNERS, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, INSTRUCTORS, ARTISTS, AND CREATIVES, WACIF DELIVERED TOP-TIER SUPPORT THAT STRENGTHENED OUR CLIENTS' PATHWAYS TO GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY. ADDITIONALLY, OUR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS EXTENDED TO OVER 16 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA, WHERE WE LED PANEL DISCUSSIONS, DELIVERED CAPITAL READINESS TRAINING, AND BUILT STRONGER ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEMS.
  2. $1.4 million spent. LENDING - WACIF'S ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND LENDING ACTIVITIES PROVIDE FLEXIBLE FINANCING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED BY, OPERATING IN OR SERVING LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES IN THE DC AREA. IN 2025, WACIF DEPLOYED OVER $1.4M IN LOANS TO SMALL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING TERM LOANS AND LINES OF CREDIT, AND GROSS PORTFOLIO OUTSTANDING YEAR-END WAS $4.9M. WACIF HAS SEVERAL LOAN FUNDS TO SUPPORT A CONTINUUM OF ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS TRADITIONAL FINANCING FROM BANKS, INCLUDING ESTABLISHED BUSINESS OWNERS. WACIF'S VARIOUS LENDING PROGRAMS BRIDGE THE FINANCING GAP FOR UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS GRADUATING TO TRADITIONAL LENDERS, CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES. WACIF'S ACCESS TO CAPITAL (ATC) FUND IS THE ORGANIZATION'S HISTORICAL AND MOST FLEXIBLE SOURCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING. THE ATC FUND REMAINS A COMMUNITY ASSET WHICH BEGAN WITH AND HAS BEEN SUSTAINED FOR OVER 30 YEARS BY INDIVIDUAL AND INSTITUTIONAL, SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTORS SEEKING POSITIVE FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL RETURNS FROM THEIR INVESTMENT.

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

  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 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 August 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.