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Western Stock Show Association

EIN 84-0517361 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ASSOCIATION IS AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSES INCLUDE (1) LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION EDUCATION (2) EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH, AND (3) EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SEE "SCHEDULE O" FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.

Income
$49.8 million
Spending
$30.4 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-17.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
660
Volunteers
978
Highest pay
$544,848, president & ceo - term ended jan 2025

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $20.5 million spent. PRESENTATION OF THE NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW, HORSE SHOW ANDRODEO: WSSA ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS AND APPLICATION FOR TAXEXEMPT STATUS REQUIRE IT TO PRODUCE THE SHOW EACH YEAR. THE SHOWTAKES PLACE AT THE NATIONAL WESTERN COMPLEX IN DENVER, CO EVERYJANUARY, AND FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN ATTENDED BY OVER600,000 PEOPLE. DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE VARIOUS EDUCATIONALACTIVITIES AND BENEFITS OF THIS ANNUAL EVENT IS FAR TOO EXTENSIVETO BE PRESENTED ON A SUMMARY SCHEDULE IN FORM 990.
  2. $2.2 million spent. OFF-SEASON EDUCATIONAL SHOWS AND RELATED PROGRAMS: OUTSIDE OF THEMONTH OF JANUARY, THE ASSOCIATION PROMOTES USAGE OF ITS FACILITIESBY A VARIETY OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF WHICH AREAGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK OR HORSE ORIENTED ORGANIZATIONS. THESEORGANIZATIONS PRODUCE THEIR OWN SHOWS IN THE NATIONAL WESTERNCOMPLEX BASED ON CONTRACTS WITH THE ASSOCIATION. SUPPORTED BYASSOCIATION PERSONNEL AND OTHER RESOURCES, MANY OF THESE SHOWSPROVIDE EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE GENERALPUBLIC ATTENDING SIMILAR TO THOSE DERIVED FROM THE NATIONALWESTERN STOCK SHOW, HORSE SHOW AND RODEO IN JANUARY.
  3. $363,372 spent. NATIONAL WESTERN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS: WSSA ESTABLISHED THENATIONAL WESTERN SCHOLARSHIP FUND DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDEDMARCH 31, 1985 TO PROVIDE FOR SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO STUDENTSINTERESTED IN LIVESTOCK OR AGRICULTURE. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMHAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY WITH NUMEROUS STUDENTS AND PROSPECTIVESTUDENTS RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS ANNUALLY BOTH THROUGH WSSAAND THROUGH A SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FROM WSSA MATCHED BY ANDADMINISTERED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING.
  4. $222,231 spent. JUNIOR LIVESTOCK AUCTION SUPPORT AND OTHER PROGRAMS: IN ADDITION TO ITS SUPPORT OF JUNIOR EXHIBITORS THROUGH THE PREMIER EXHIBITOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DISCUSSED ABOVE, THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT DIRECTLY AND IN THE FORM OF AWARDS FOR THE JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW AND AUCTION VIA A CARCASS CONTEST AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO PROMOTES YOUTH EDUCATION RELATIVE TO AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND WHAT CAN BE SEEN AT THE NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW IN VARIOUS WAYS.

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 April 1964.

    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.