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Council on Social Work Education Inc

EIN 54-1856529 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CSWE'S MISSION IS "TO ADVANCE EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION, BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP, TO ENSURE QUALITY IN TEACHING AND LEARNING, SUPPORTING CRITICAL THINKING, EMPATHY, AND ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP". (SEE SCH. O)

Income
$10.1 million
Spending
$10.8 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
49
Volunteers
226
Highest pay
$355,190, 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

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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 (8)
  1. $1.9 million spent. CSWE'S MINORITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (MFP) OVERSEES FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MASTERS AND DOCTORAL SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS. THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA), PART OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS RECEIVE MONETARY STIPENDS, MENTORING AND OTHER NON-MONETARY SUPPORT.SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS EXPANSION OF PRACTITIONER EDUCATION IN SOCIAL WORK (PRAC-ED) ALLOWS CSWE TO WORK WITH SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO STRENGTHEN CURRICULA IN THE AREA OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD). STANDARDIZED SUD CURRICULUM STRENGTHENS THE PREPARATION OF FUTURE SOCIAL WORK PRACTITIONERS TO DELIVER EFFECTIVE EVIDENCE-BASED SUD PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
  2. $1.6 million spent. ACCREDITATION: CSWE DEVELOPS ACCREDITATION STANDARDS THAT DEFINE COMPETENT PREPARATION FOR SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE LEVELS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF CSWE'S RECOGNITION BODY, THE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION, CSWE ADMINISTERS A MULTISTEP ACCREDITATION PROCESS THAT INVOLVES PROGRAM SELF-STUDIES, SITE VISITS, AND REVIEWS. AS OF OCTOBER 2025, THERE ARE:- 4 ACCREDITED PRACTICE DOCTORATE PROGRAMS AND 5 ACCREDITED POST MASTER'S FELLOWSHIPS- 548 ACCREDITED BACCALAUREATE SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMS- 349 ACCREDITED MASTER'S SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMS- 12 BACCALAUREATE SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMS IN CANDIDACY- 37 MASTER'S SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMS IN CANDIDACY
  3. $1.5 million spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE: CSWE CONFERENCES HELP TO PROMOTE AND TEACH BEST PRACTICES IN RESEARCH AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DYNAMIC EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS, PLENARIES, PEER NETWORKING FORUMS, AND JOB SEARCH OPPORTUNITIES. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS THE PRE-EMINENT ANNUAL MEETING FOR SOCIAL WORK EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, DEANS, AND DIRECTORS WORLDWIDE. EACH YEAR THE AC BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 2,500 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS AS WELL AS MORE THAN 400 GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION.
  4. $1.4 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: CSWE HOUSES TWO INSTITUTES, TWO CENTERS, AND OTHER INITIATIVES THAT STRIVE TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE SPECIFIC AREAS OF SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION THROUGH FACULTY AND STUDENT TRAINING, POLICY, ADVOCACY, AND DATA COLLECTION. SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE:- THE KATHERINE A. KENDALL INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION WORKS TO PREPARE EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, AND PRACTITIONERS FOR AN INCREASINGLY GLOBAL COMMUNITY.- THE CSWE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE FUTURE LEADERS IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION.- THE CSWE CENTER FOR DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE ADVANCES INDIVIDUAL GROWTH, COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.- THE RECOVERY TO PRACTICE INITIATIVE DEVELOPS, IMPLEMENTS, AND EVALUATES MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY-ORIENTED TRAINING MATERIALS FOR SOCIAL WORK EDUCATORS AND PRACTITIONERS.
  5. $552,689 spent. SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION RESEARCH: THE CSWE ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION INCLUDES THE CHARGE TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. CSWE WORKS TOWARD THAT MISSION THROUGH ITS RESEARCH AGENDA, WHICH OUTLINES THE NEED FOR RESEARCH TO INFORM POLICY AND PRACTICE FOR CSWE MEMBER PROGRAMS - THEIR DEANS, DIRECTORS, FACULTY MEMBERS, AND STUDENTS. CSWE CONDUCTS RESEARCH THROUGH ITS ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND PROGRAMMING EVALUATIONS, THE ANNUAL SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION PROGRAM SURVEYS, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE MEASURES FOR THE BOARD OF ACCREDITATION.
  6. $132,541 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: CSWE CONDUCTS VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES TO BENEFIT ITS MEMBERS AND MEET THEIR NEEDS. IT ALSO PROVIDES CURRENT INFORMATION TO ITS MEMBERS THROUGH ITS NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, AND SPARK COMMUNITY.
  7. $248,395 spent. PUBLICATIONS: CSWE'S PUBLICATIONS PROGRAM DEVELOPS NEW TOOLS TO HELP SOCIAL WORKERS AND SOCIAL WORK EDUCATORS SERVE THEIR CLIENTS AND ADVANCE THEIR PROFESSION. CSWE PRESS IS A NICHE PUBLISHER THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF SOCIAL WORK EDUCATORS. AREAS OF EXPERTISE INCLUDE THE PHILOSOPHY, THEORY, AND PRACTICE OF TEACHING; THE PROCESS AND EVALUATION OF LEARNING; AND THE ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE OF SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION.CSWE'S FLAGSHIP PUBLICATION IS THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION (JSWE), A PEER REVIEWED PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL CIRCULATED TO MORE THAN 3,900 MEMBERS AND INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIBERS.
  8. $396,078 spent. COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

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 October 13, 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 August 1996.

    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.

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