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Los Angeles World Affairs Council

EIN 95-1783788 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION IS A NON-PARTISAN, MEMBERSHIP BASED SPEAKERS' FORUM THAT CONNECTS BUSINESS LEADERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ENGAGED INDIVIDUALS WITH SHARED INTEREST IN LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS. IT PROVIDES AN OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE PLATFORM FOR PUBLIC DIALOGUE, FOSTERING INFORMED DISCUSSION AND DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF CRITICAL ISSUES SHAPING THE WORLD. THROUGH EVENTS, PROGRAMS AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND LIFELONG LEARNING IN A WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
28.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
8
Volunteers
57
Highest pay
$212,103, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    35 of 35 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 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 (3)
  1. $645,337 spent. EDUCATIONAL EVENTS: THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED A SERIES OF PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING WEBINARS AND IN-PERSON EVENTS, FEATURING DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS FROM GOVERNMENT, DIPLOMACY, NATIONAL SECURITY, BUSINESS, MEDIA, AND ACADEMIA. SPEAKERS INCLUDED A FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, A FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER, A FORMER CIA AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SENIOR OFFICIAL, FOREIGN CONSULS GENERAL REPRESENTING FRANCE, BELGIUM, QATAR, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, INDIA, AND THE PHILIPPINES, THE CEO OF A MAJOR U.S. ENERGY COMPANY, THE FORMER SPEAKER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF LOS ANGELES. ADDITIONAL PRESENTERS INCLUDED SENIOR POLICY EXPERTS, JOURNALISTS, AND SCHOLARS FROM LEADING THINK TANKS, TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, AND UNIVERSITIES. PROGRAMS ADDRESSED CURRENT DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, INCLUDING FOREIGN POLICY, DEMOCRACY, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, CYBERSECURITY, ENERGY TRANSITIONS, URBAN POLICY, AND GLOBAL CONFLICTS. ALL PROGRAMS WERE PRESENTED IN A NONPARTISAN, NON- ADVOCACY FORMAT AND WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WITH WEBINARS OFFERED AT NO COST. TOTAL ATTENDANCE EXCEEDED 3,400 EDUCATIONAL EVENTS: THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED A SERIES OF PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING WEBINARS AND IN-PERSON EVENTS, FEATURING DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS FROM GOVERNMENT, DIPLOMACY, NATIONAL SECURITY, BUSINESS, MEDIA, AND ACADEMIA. SPEAKERS INCLUDED A FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, A FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER, A FORMER CIA AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SENIOR OFFICIAL, FOREIGN CONSULS GENERAL REPRESENTING FRANCE, BELGIUM, QATAR, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, INDIA, AND THE PHILIPPINES, THE CEO OF A MAJOR U.S. ENERGY COMPANY, THE FORMER SPEAKER OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF LOS ANGELES. ADDITIONAL PRESENTERS INCLUDED SENIOR POLICY EXPERTS, JOURNALISTS, AND SCHOLARS FROM LEADING THINK TANKS, TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, AND UNIVERSITIES. PROGRAMS ADDRESSED CURRENT DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, INCLUDING FOREIGN POLICY, DEMOCRACY, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, CYBERSECURITY, ENERGY TRANSITIONS, URBAN POLICY, AND GLOBAL CONFLICTS. ALL PROGRAMS WERE PRESENTED IN A NONPARTISAN, NON- ADVOCACY FORMAT AND WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WITH WEBINARS OFFERED AT NO COST. TOTAL ATTENDANCE EXCEEDED 3,400
  2. $91,768 spent. ONLINE MEDIA: ONLINE MEDIA ENCOMPASSES THE ORGANIZATIONS DIGITAL EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH THROUGH ITS WEBSITE AND INTERNET PLATFORMS. AN ONLINE ARCHIVE OF RECORDED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE. WEBINARS ARE RECORDED AND DISTRIBUTED VIA YOUTUBE, WHERE TOTAL VIEWERSHIP EXCEEDED 67,000 DURING THE YEAR.
  3. $108,160 spent. STUDENT PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED THREE IN-PERSON LUNCHEONS EXCLUSIVELY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE LOS ANGELES AREA, FOCUSING ON THE RELIABILITY OF THE U.S. ELECTION PROCESS, CRITICAL THINKING, AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. TOTAL ATTENDANCE EXCEEDED 400 STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN WEBINARS, IN-PERSON EVENTS, AND LUNCHEONS THAT INCLUDED SMALL-GROUP BRIEFINGS WITH FEATURED SPEAKERS.

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 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 October 13, 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 June 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 November 1971.

    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 October 21, 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.