Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

World Affairs Council of Dallas Fort Worth

EIN 75-0855628 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1951, THE MISSION OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF DALLAS/FORT WORTH HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE RELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT GLOBAL ISSUES, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES WHILE ESTABLISHING NORTH TEXAS AS A CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS AND BUSINESS.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
20
Volunteers
132
Highest pay
$277,742, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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

    52 of 53 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $485,983 spent. PUBLIC SPEAKER PROGRAMSTHE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL PRESENTS PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN NATIONAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS. IN FY 2025, THE COUNCIL PRESENTED 62 PROGRAMS WITH AROUND 5,992 ATTENDEES AT OUR PROGRAMS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS FEATURED: DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN, SUSAN GLASSER, AMB. JOHN J. SULLIVAN, JEROME POWELL, UKPM LIZ TRUSS, SEC. REX TILLERSON, FIONA HILL, SEC. ROSS, HAROLD FORD JR, MARK MCKINNON, KARL ROVE, AND LAWRENCE WRIGHT. SOME PROGRAM PARTNERS INCLUDED: THE CENTER FOR PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY AT SMU, DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE OF DALLAS, THE SUMNERS FOUNDATION, DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART, AND THE DALLAS REGIONAL CHAMBER. WE HELD OUR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD PRESENTATION AGAIN IN PERSON THIS YEAR, WITH GUEST SPEAKER DAVID ROHDE. THE COUNCIL RECOGNIZED CLARK HUNT WITH THE 41ST ANNUAL H. NEIL MALLON AWARD IN OCTOBER 2024.
  2. $292,782 spent. GLOBAL YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAMOUR ROBUST GLOBAL YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM ("GYL") PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTARY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM ON TOPICS SUCH AS CIVICS, PUBLIC POLICY, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, CULTURE, AND HISTORY. ADDITIONALLY, GYL PROVIDES RESOURCES AND WORKSHOPS TO TEACHERS TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN CURRICULA. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 60 JUNIOR WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL (JWAC) CLUBS ACTIVE IN LOCAL SCHOOLS (PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND CHARTER) AND OUR JWAC STUDENTS HEARD FROM NUMEROUS EXPERTS AND LEADERS DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. IN ADDITION TO SPEAKERS, WE HOST THE ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS, SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL CAREER DAYS, SIX STUDENT LEADERSHIP TRAININGS, SOCIALS, NINE TOPICAL DISCUSSIONS, SERVICE PROJECTS, DISCUSSION GROUPS AND AWARD PROGRAMS LIKE 20 UNDER 20 AND EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR. THE GYL PROGRAM IMPACTED OVER 6K STUDENTS DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR.
  3. $204,919 spent. INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAM AND PROTOCOL & DIPLOMATIC SERVICESTHE COUNCIL'S INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM COORDINATES THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S PREMIER PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM, THE INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (IVLP), AS WELL AS VARIOUS FEE FOR SERVICE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS. WORKING WITH AN EXTENSIVE TEAM OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE PROGRAM PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN SUPPORTING PUBLIC DIPLOMACY BY FOSTERING INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS FOR THE REGION. IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, THE COUNCIL HOSTED INTERNATIONAL VISITOR GROUPS BY ARRANGING MEETINGS WITH U.S. PROFESSIONAL COUNTERPARTS TO SHARE AND EXCHANGE IDEAS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS. DURING FY 2025, WE HOSTED 24 PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE GROUPS WITH 186 PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING 77 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THESE GROUPS HAD AN ECONOMIC IMPACT (BASED ON HOTEL STAYS AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION) ON OUR REGION OF $284,000.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 June 1953.

    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.