National Womens Studies Association University of Maryland
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Established in 1977, NWSA has, as one of its primary objectives, promoting and supporting the production and circulation of knowledge about women, gender and Sexuality through teaching, learning, research and service in academia and beyond.
- Income
- $711,390
- Spending
- $831,369
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 11.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 47
- Highest pay
- $120,605, executive director
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 96 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
10 of 10Gave 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
6 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 (2)
- $564,481 spent. NATIONAL CONFERENCE: The annual convening of the NWSA is the signature program of the Association. Our annual conference brings together approximately 1,800 activists, administrators, artists, educators, dreamers, practitioners, and feminist trouble makers with a vested interest in and commitment to promoting and supporting the production and dissemination of knowledge about gender and sexuality through teaching, learning, research and service in academic and other settings. Emerging scholars, such as undergraduate and graduate students, present their original research and engage in feedback from experts in the field. On average, over 900 scholarly papers and 400 panel sessions define the conference program as they explore facets of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality studies in and outside of academia. The conference melds professional development, community, and coalition building for our membership in addition to showcasing the latest contributions in our discipline.Pre-Conferences: Our Annual Pre-Conferences are an initiative that provide tailored and structured professional development for three branches of our membership: Program and Administration (PAD) for our program chairs and directors, Women's Centers Committee (WCC) for our educators anchored in Women's and Gender Equity centers, and our Women of Color Leadership program which is focused on providing support and resources to women of color navigating different areas of the field (administration, faculty, organizations, etc). The PAD Pre-Conference provides administrators with ideas, strategies, and approaches to both strengthen and grow WGSS programs in hard times. These include: supporting diverse leadership, building coalitions across campus and across town, fundraising, battling backlash, making external reviews successful, incorporating service learning requirements, and more. The WCC provides an opportunity for women's center directors, staff and others to gather and share information, ideas, challenges, successes and support. This space serves as one of the coalition building, professional development and alchemy as Women's Centers staff work to address sociopolitical issues that impact their sites of learning, the field as a whole, and our interpersonal lives. The WoCLP is designed to increase the number of women of color students, staff and faculty members within the field of women's studies and women's centers and, consequently, to have impact on the levels of participation and power by women of color in the field of women's studies and women's centers, in NWSA, and in PAD and WCC. On average our attendance for each pre-conference is as follows: PAD (60-80) attendees, WCC (50-60 attendees), and WoCLP (40 attendees).
- $45,417 spent. Association Memberships: We are a membership organization. Our 2,000 members pursue a just world - one free from systems or privilege or structures that oppress or exploit some for the advantages of others. Our vision is a world which all persons can develop to their fullest potential. Our main activities are: issuing publications to promote a culture of learning about WGSS; organizing events for WGSS programs and departments nationwide; and leading the planning and execution of our annual academic conference - attended by nearly 2,000 people each year.
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 July 1980.
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.
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.