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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: June 2025 Expires: June 2027

Salvation Army World Service Office

Unable to Verify
Unable to Verify
1
615 Slaters Lane, Post Office Box 1428
Alexandria, VA, 22314

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 1

Salvation Army World Service Office meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to support and strengthen the Salvation Army's efforts to work hand in hand with communities to improve the health, economic, and spiritual conditions of the poor throughout the world."

Year, State Incorporated:
1977, DC

Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) reports that it helps individuals, families, and communities around the world address matters of health, economic, and spiritual conditions wherever the Salvation Army is active. SAWSO states that it is engaged in projects throughout the world, with a focus on disaster relief and recovery, anti-human trafficking, education, health, livelihoods, and international business and economic development. In 2023, SAWSO reports that it had 199 active projects in 53 countries.

For the year ended September 30, 2023, Salvation Army World Service Office's program expenses were:

Health programs: $2,330,051

Empowerment and livelihood programs: $2,640,104

Business and economic development: $1,127,018

Anti-human trafficking: $742,720

Education programs: $1,626,974

Disaster relief and recovery: $13,635,894

Total Program Expenses: $22,102,761

Chief Executive
George L. Baker, Executive Director

Compensation*
$44,486

Chair of the Board
Kenneth Hodder

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
National Commander, Salvation Army

Board Size
8

Paid Staff Size
Not disclosed

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note: Bram Bailey, Assistant National Secretary, served as the highest compensated employee, receiving $179,969.

Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet, Radio

Fundraising costs were 2% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $17,228,783, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Salvation Army World Service Office's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
Contributions $3,591,866
Legacies and bequests $411,197
Allocated by Federated Fundraising organizations $124,104
Contributions from The Salvation Army Territories $13,101,616
Dividends and interest $1,072,030
Realized and unrealized gains on sales of investments $8,934,713
Total Income $27,235,526

Programs: 96% Fundraising: 1% Administrative: 3%

Total Income $27,235,526
Total expenses: $23,055,082
  Program expenses $22,102,761
  Fundraising expenses $317,859
  Administrative expenses $634,462
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $4,180,444
Beginning Net Assets $61,340,650
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $65,521,094
Total Liabilities $2,847,553
Total Assets $68,368,647

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance