Western Association for College Admission Counseling
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION COUNSELING SUPPORTS AND ADVANCES THE WORK OF COUNSELING AND ENROLLMENT PROFESSIONALS FROM CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA AS THEY HELP ALL STUDENTS REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, WITH EMPHASIS ON FRESHMAN AND TRANSFER TRANSITIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND ATTENTION TO ACCESS AND EQUITY FOR ALL STUDENTS.
- Income
- $910,579
- Spending
- $802,004
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 22.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $80,340, managing director
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 30 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $304,166 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE:THE LARGEST EVENT WACAC HOSTS FOR OUR MEMBERS IS OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, HELD EACH SPRING. THE CONFERENCE HELPS OUR MEMBERS UNWIND, REJUVENATE AND RECONNECT AND MAKES THE MOST OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE THREE-DAY EVENT. WE HAVE EXTENSIVE PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS.
- $94,894 spent. COLLEGE FAIRS:A FREE PROGRAM TO THE PUBLIC SINCE 1972, THE COLLEGE FAIRS ALLOW STUDENTS TO INTERACT WITH ADMISSION REPRESENTATIVES FROM A WIDE RANGE OF POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS TO DISCUSS COURSE OFFERINGS, ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID REQUIREMENTS, COLLEGE LIFE, AND OTHER INFORMATION PERTINENT TO THE COLLEGE SELECTION PROCESS. COLLEGE FAIRS TAKE PLACE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA.
- $241,838 spent. MEMBERSHIP:THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE SEEKS COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM MANY YEARS OF WACAC MEMBERSHIP AND ARE ABLE TO SHARE WITH COLLEAGUES AS WACAC AMBASSADORS. COMMITTEE MEMBERS HELP BY NETWORKING AND PROMOTING WACAC TO EXPAND MEMBERSHIP. COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS HELP WITH WACAC TABLES AT VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENTS LIKE OUR SHARE, LEARN AND CONNECT SERIES, OUR CAFECITO PROGRAM FOR SPANISH LANGUAGE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR ADMISSION SUMMER INSTITUTE. WE ESPECIALLY SEEK TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MEMBERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSFER COUNSELORS. A SAMPLING OF COMMITTEE PROJECTS INCLUDES: - CALLING AND EMAILING TARGETED POTENTIAL MEMBERS - HELPING TO ORGANIZE MEMBERSHIP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS - STAFFING SUMMER INSTITUTE AND OTHER CONFERENCES
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
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 June 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 July 1986.
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.