Passes our checks

Center for World Indigenous Studies

EIN 91-1247029 · Olympia, WA

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

What it says it does

Activist scholars advancing the right of indigenous peoples worldwide

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 26.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 195% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

Independent board
25 of 25
8 of 8 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.
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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$121,953 spent. Planning and organizing the Congress of Nation and States as a new international mechanism with six task forces, a secretariat, a governing body of representatives from indigenous nations located in West Asia, Mexico, West Africa, New Sealand, Melanesia, Great Britain, South East Asia, USA, Canada for a total aggregate of 70 representatives and professionals. Production of documentaries for broadcast; conducting research on traditional medicine and policy Further the study of medicinal/pharmacological use of wildlife products. Particularly in relation to local communities. digitization of a global library on Indigenous peoples. Production of an open access academic journal twice yearly.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1985.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.