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Congressional Award Foundation

EIN 83-0264665 · Cheyenne, WY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENCOURAGE A LIFETIME OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BY RECOGNIZING INITIATIVE, ACHIEVEMENT, AND SERVICE IN YOUNG PEOPLE OF WYOMING. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY EDUCATING THE RESIDENTS OF WYOMING ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE TO EARN THE CONGRESSIONAL AWARD. ONCE THEY HAVE DECIDED TO PARTICIPATE, THE STAFF AND BOARD OF THE COUNCIL SUPPORT THEM AS THEY WORK ON THE PROGRAM AND AS THEY GROW TO BECOME AWESOME HUMANS.

Income
$311,093
Spending
$298,931
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
50.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
2
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$102,771, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 50.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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 (1)
  1. $160,581 spent. THE CONGRESSIONAL AWARD PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AGES 13 TO 23, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY, CIRCUMSTANCE, OR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. THERE IS NO MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE, AND THE PROGRAM EASILY ACCOMMODATES THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR DISABILITIES.WHAT IS SPECIAL AND UNIQUE ABOUT PURSUING THE AWARD IN WYOMING, IS THAT OUR PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR ADVISORS HAVE A TEAM TO SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE THEM AS THEY WORK TOWARD EARNING A BRONZE, SILVER, OR GOLD MEDAL IN THE AWARD PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, THE WYOMING CONGRESSIONAL AWARD COUNCIL (WCAC):1. HOSTS A STATE MEDALIST CEREMONY TO HONOR OUR MEDALISTS EVERY SPRING2. AWARDS EACH WYOMING GOLD MEDALIST A $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP TO ANY PLACE OF FURTHER EDUCATION OR TRADE3. HOSTS GROUP ACTIVITIES FOR WYOMING GOLD MEDALISTS AND THEIR GUESTS WHILE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR THE GOLD MEDAL SUMMIT. THE WCAC ALSO OFFSETS NEARLY 100% OF THE COSTS ONCE THE MEDALIST IS IN D.C. AFTER PAYING THE ONE-TIME AND ONLY REGISTRATION FEE, GOALS WILL BE SET IN FOUR PROGRAM AREAS: VOLUNTARY PUBLIC SERVICE, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND EXPEDITION. THE PARTICIPANT THEN BEGINS TO RECORD THEIR HOURS BEFORE TURNING IN THEIR RECORD BOOKS. 1. EARNING THE AWARD IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY, INVEST TIME IN THE ACTIVITIES THEY ALREADY ENJOY, AND EXPLORE NEW THINGS THEY HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY. 2. EACH MEDAL JOURNEY IS UNIQUE, AND THAT IS WHAT WE LOVE MOST ABOUT THE PROGRAM. 3. THEIR GOALS, THEIR PACE, THEIR CHOICE TO WORK TOWARD THE AWARD ON THEIR OWN OR WITH FRIENDS EACH PIECE OF THE AWARD STORY IS THEIRS TO CREATE!

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    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 July 1986.

    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.

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