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World Affairs Council

EIN 91-0586924 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING AND CULTIVATE ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND WITH THE WORLD, ONE CONVERSATION AT A TIME.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
14
Volunteers
830
Highest pay
$168,465, president/ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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

    21 of 21 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, 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. $461,553 spent. GLOBAL LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE - ADVANCES INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING BY CONNECTING GREATER SEATTLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH GLOBAL LEADERS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL AND YOUTH EXCHANGES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND OTHER RECOGNIZED EXCHANGE PROGRAMS.
  2. $337,937 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS - CREATES FREQUENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCUSSION, DIALOGUE, AND DEBATE ON GLOBAL ISSUES. THE COUNCIL'S EVENTS OFFER A NON-PARTISAN AND CIVIL FORUM FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND THEIR LOCAL RELEVANCE, TO BECOME INSPIRED TO LEARN MORE, AND TO BECOME MORE CONNECTED TO OTHERS WHO SHARE AN INTEREST IN GLOBAL ISSUES.
  3. $143,427 spent. GLOBAL CLASSROOM - ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR GREATER INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT AND CONTENT IN THE K-12 CURRICULUM BY PROVIDING CURRICULAR RESOURCES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS, AND ENGAGING K-12 STUDENTS DIRECTLY ON GLOBAL ISSUES.
  4. $61,192 spent. JAPANESE CONNECTIONS - ORGANIZES AND LEADS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON TWO WEEK TRIPS TO JAPAN.

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

    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.