The World Affairs Council of San Antonio

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
742230419
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025
Location
San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone
2103089494
Rating
68
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Research Institutes and Public Policy Analysis

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$355,470
Expenses
$353,454
Assets
$207,829
Liabilities
$24,116

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

42 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • ARMEN BABAJANIAN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Highest reported compensation

  • ARMEN BABAJANIAN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $115,650 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

To promote public understanding of world affairs and united states foreign policy, and to enhance the ability of its citizens and future leaders to participate in a global community. We accomplish our mission by presenting a lecture series, holding receptions, organizing discussion groups, sponsoring educational outreach programs, and hosting deliberative sessions for young professionals.

What it reported doing in 2025

Founded in 1982, the World Affairs Council of San Antonio mission is to promote public understanding of world affairs and United States foreign policy, and toenhance the ability of the community and future leaders to participate as global citizens. The World Affairs Council of San Antonio is part of the World Affairs Councils of America, with more than 90 member organizations in 40 states."Come for the program, stay for the conversation," IS AN OFTEN-MENTIONED BENEFIT OF PARTICIPATION IN WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL PROGRAMS. THE COUNCIL'S PROGRAMS PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT AND EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL TOPICS OF CURRENT INTEREST.Programs include: DISTINQUISHED SPEAKER SERIES: A series of evening events featuring prestigious experts in foreign affairs.GLOBAL ISSUES SERIES: Events typically held at lunchtime providing perspectives from global subject matter experts.DIPLOMAT SALONS: Small, intimate gatherings that engage members with high-level current and former diplomats.FULBRIGHT ROUNDTABLES: Interactive gatherings that connect members with unique speakers who talk about their experiences in international RELATIONS. PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN ANTONIO FULBRIGHT ASSOCIATION.FOREIGN DIPLOMAT RECEPTION: Annual event that honors regional diplomats and consulates.YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: A Council group designed to help participants gain greater awareness of international issues through events, networking, and conversation.INTERNATIONAL CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD DINNER: Annual benefit dinner honoring San Antonio citizens who have served to bring the world to San Antonio, and San Antonio to the world featuring a prestigious keynote speaker.FIELD TRIPS AND TRAVEL: Annual benefit dinner honoring San Antonio citizens who HAVE SERVED TO "BRING THE WORLD TO SAN ANTONIO, AND SAN ANTONIO TO THE WORLD" FEATURING A PRESTIGIOUS KEYNOTE SPEAKER.ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST: THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO ANNUALLY SPONSORS AN ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST CONTEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE WINNING TEAM QUALIFIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON D.C.

Operating model

Revenue model
Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 48
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 90
  • Sustainability: 29
  • Growth: 40

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 53.1%; rating input score 53
  • Program expense ratio: 53.4%; rating input score 53
  • Fundraising efficiency: $1.33 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 0.6%; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.59; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.12; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 32.7%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -0.9% per year; rating input score 0; 25th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 0.8% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -4.3% per year; rating input score 0; 11th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 53.1% of revenue deployed · 53.4% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 41 of 41 board members independent · 6 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $189K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $116K · 42 people listed
  • Consistency: 30 of 30 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 15 filing years from 2010 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 53/100.
  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 53/100.
  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 7/100.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 37/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Independent financial-statement audit not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 28/100.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 9/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 21/100.