Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

World Affairs Council of Greater Houston

EIN 76-0308253 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD, ITS PEOPLE, POLITICS, ECONOMIES AND CULTURES, IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ITS ROLE AND PARTICIPATE MORE EFFECTIVELY IN A GLOBAL WORLD.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
14
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$220,858, ceo

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 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 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 (3)
  1. $597,989 spent. THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL DELIVERS BALANCED, INFORMATIVE, BI-PARTISAN PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, BRINGING INTERNATIONAL LEADERS AND GEOPOLITICAL EXPERTS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE LECTURES, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, LUNCHEONS, FILM SCREENINGS, AND NETWORKING EVENTS. IN 2024, THE COUNCIL DELIVERED OVER 60 PROGRAMS. THESE EVENTS INCLUDED OVER 8000 REGISTRANTS. MEMBERSHIP IN THE COUNCIL REACHED OVER 1,500 MEMBERSHIPS.
  2. $332,293 spent. THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL CONNECTS STUDENTS TO THE GLOBAL LEADERS AND PROVIDES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, GLOBALLY COMPETENT CITIZENS. WE ALSO OFFER EDUCATORS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2024, THE COUNCIL'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING REACHED OVER 100 STUDENTS AND SPANNED ACROSS 30 SCHOOLS. THE ACADEMIC WORLD QUEST COMPETITION HOSTED OVE 50 STUDENT TEAMS AND OVER 200 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS. THE GLOBAL SCHOLARS ACADEMY HOSTED OVER 100 STUDENT PARTICIPANTS.
  3. $178,861 spent. THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL TOURS TO REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF GEOPOLITICAL INTEREST AND ACTIVITY. THESE TRIPS INVOLVE MEETING AND VISITING LEADERS IN THE COUNTRY OF STUDY THEY INFLUENCE IN SUBJECTS OF GEOGRAPHY, ECONOMICS, DEMOGRAPHY, POLITICS AND ESPECIALLY THE FOREIGN POLICY OF A STATE. THE COUNCIL SERVED OVER 35 TRAVELERS IN 2024.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.