WINGS recognizes and supports women leaders making important discoveries in science and exploration.We award unrestricted grants to WINGS Fellows to support their quests to find solutions to global problems through bold research and exploration projects. Grants and honoraria are awarded to Women of Discovery Awardees, Flag Carriers and speakers.We serve a growing global community of Fellows and Flag Carriers by providing a platform through which they can network, share achievements and garner support for their work.Our various events, such as our Women of Discovery Annual Gala, Explorer Talks, and Global Explorers Forum, celebrate and showcase the groundbreaking expeditions of these women scientists and explorers, whose discoveries advance scientific inquiry, stimulate conservation, and lead to better understanding of our world.By showcasing the work of our intrepid scientists and explorers we are inspiring young girls to follow a career path that they may never have thought possible.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 6 volunteers.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $22K a year · 5% of revenue · last 3 filings
Fine: a surplus in 2 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$156K
to officers and key staff · 22% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 22% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $207K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$102K
36% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 36% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$639K
+20% vs prior year
Spent
$697K
To programs
72%
Net assets
$180K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$639K
FY2024▲ +20%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$155K
FY2021$79K
FY2022$246K
FY2023$534K
FY2024$639K
Expenses
$697K
FY2024▲ +58%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020Not on file
FY2021Not on file
FY2022$215K
FY2023$442K
FY2024$697K
Net assets
$180K
FY2024▼ -24%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$154K
FY2021$119K
FY2022$150K
FY2023$238K
FY2024$180K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 2004.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $501K Management & general 16% · $110K Fundraising 12% · $86K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

16 people listed on the 990; $156K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$156,000Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Meredith Ayan’s $156K as CEO is at the 99th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2216 $100K–1M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

See Wings World Quest INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Supports women scientists and explorers with grants and a network to advance global problem-solving discoveries.

Questions for Wings World Quest INC

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $491K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The wings women of discovery fellows program recognizes extraordinary women who are making discoveries and finding solutions to global problems through bold research, conservation and exploration projects.

$369Kprogram expense
02

In Her Nature

Wildlife docuseries airing on PBS Nature featuring leading women in conservation.

$91Kprogram expense
03

The wings flag is recognized as a symbol of excellence in discovery andknowledge and certifies the significance of its carrier's endeavor. More than 150SCIENTISTS and explorers have flown the numbered wings flags across more than 80 countries and at both poles, establishing a unique bond of high achievers, creative thinkers, and bold…

$30Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 9 funders →
Grants paid · 7 grants · $221K · 2022–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$100,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$30,500
Unitemized GrantFY2024$4,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$50,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$15,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$11,498
Unitemized GrantFY2022$10,000

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$639K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$373K
Other incomeLn 4–11$241K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$25K
Money outPt IX
$697K
Ln 25
Programscol B$501K
Managementcol C$110K
Fundraisingcol D$86K
Owns and owesPt X
$180K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$183K
Total assetsLn 16$282K
LiabilitiesLn 26$102K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$373K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$43K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$25K
Investment incomeLn 3$23
Other incomeLn 4–11$241K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$639K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$176K
SavingsLn 2$7K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$183K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$799
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$282K
LiabilitiesLn 26$102K
Net assetsLn 32$180K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 66
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$308K$183K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$799
Total assetsLn 16$309K$282K
LiabilitiesLn 26$71K$102K
Net assetsLn 32$238K$180K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$134K$134K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$156K$78K$39K$39K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$0
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$8K$8K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$180K$90K$45K$45K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$7K$804$4K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$14K$7K$7K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$0
TravelLn 17$33K$31K$2K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$68K$68K
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$399$399
InsuranceLn 23$519$519
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$95K$91K$4K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$697K$501K$110K$86K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $639K$697K−$58K$180K 990 PDF
FY2023 $534K$442K$92K$238K 990 PDF
FY2022 $246K$215K$31K$150K 990 PDF
FY2021 $79K$119K 990 PDF
FY2020 $155K$154K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $639,411 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $534,121$373,389
I-9 Program service revenue$25,269
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $18$23
I-11 Other revenue$240,730
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $534,139$639,411
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $76,498$134,500
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $282,595$156,000
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $83,092$406,706
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $442,185$697,206
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $91,954−$57,795
Part VI · Governance 14 of 16 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members14
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $639,411 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$373,389
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$43,450
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$373,389
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Excluded from tax $25,269$25,269
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $23$23
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$240,730
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax $25,292$639,411
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $697,206 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $134,500$134,500
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $78,000 · Management $39,000 · Fundraising $39,000$156,000
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wages$0
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxes$0
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $8,500$8,500
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $89,855 · Management $44,928 · Fundraising $44,927$179,710
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $804 · Management $3,618 · Fundraising $2,278$6,700
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $6,963 · Management $6,963$13,926
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 Occupancy$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $31,345 · Management $1,950$33,295
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $68,279$68,279
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $399$399
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $519$519
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $91,000 · Management $4,378$95,378
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $500,746 · Management $110,255 · Fundraising $86,205$697,206
Part X · Balance sheet $281,959 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $300,637$175,876
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $7,290$7,290
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $971$94,500
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$3,494
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$799
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $308,898$281,959
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $14,500$88,929
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $27,511$5,582
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $7,290$7,290
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $70,945$101,801
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $237,953$85,658
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$94,500
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $237,953$180,158
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $308,898$281,959
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $180,158 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$639,411
XI-2 Total expenses$697,206
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$57,795
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$237,953
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$180,158

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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