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World Affairs Council of Oregon Inc

EIN 93-0568356 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of WorldOregon is to engage Oregonians with the world and broaden public awareness and understanding of international affairs.

Income
$948,427
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
13
Volunteers
338
Highest pay
$114,486, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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. $407,366 spent. International Visitors Programs-The Organization coordinates professional visits and training programs to Oregon for approximately 250-500 current and emerging leaders from around the world each year. These visitors are top business, professional, cultural, and youth leaders, and promising emerging leaders. They are connected with their professional counterparts in Oregon for meetings, or come for week to month-long professional trainings. The visitors come through high-profile programs such as the U.S. Department of States International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), as well as other smaller programs. While IVLP participants stay in hotels, the remaining groups often stay with local volunteer host families. The International Visitors Program enables cross-cultural conversations and facilitates professional knowledge exchange between Oregonians and the world.
  2. $133,579 spent. Global Classroom-The Global Classroom includes Culture Boxes and Young Leaders in Action, and some years teacher professional development training and working with international youth exchange programs led by the International Visitor Program. The Global Classroom enables K-12 educators to teach about the world by connecting them with materials, people, and creative learning resources, such as library of over 100 Culture Boxes, supplementary online materials, lesson plans, and classroom curriculum. An Education Advisory Council helps provide teacher input to this work. The Young Leaders in Action program includes approximately 15 students annually from Portland metro area high schools who engage in leadership training, execute action plans and serve as ambassadors to their schools. The Organization also some years hosts approximately 25-50 high school leaders annually from all over the world through U.S. Department of State youth leadership programs. These international youth engage with area youth leaders and stay with local volunteer host families in ofter their first exposure to international travel and U.S. culture.
  3. $105,171 spent. Global Conversations-The Organizaton sponsors public programs featuring experts on international issues who engage in spirited Q&A with the audience. The Organization conducts annually the Great Decisions series on the eight most critical foreign policy issues facing the U.S., high level thought leaders and authors speaking on the issues of the day, and virtual programs in coordination with the World Affairs Councils of America network.
  4. $60,976 spent. Larger Public Programs-As of Global Conversations, the Organization hosts VIP speakers (journalists, authors, policymakers, thought leaders, etc.) is special venues for larger public audiences. A successor to the International Speaker Series, the Organization has pivoted to one-off talks instead of a series.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 October 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.