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Non-profit

The Woodson Center

Website:

woodsoncenter.org/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

52-1217891
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $803,901
Expenses: $1,034,092
Assets: $434,754
Founded:

1981 1

References

  1. “Woodson Center.” Pro Publica. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521217891

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Woodson Center is a nonprofit organization founded by civil rights activist Robert L. Woodson in 1981 to help residents of low-income neighborhoods. It was initially known as the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise but re-branded in 2016. 1

The Woodson Center focuses on a market economy and faith-based organizations to address poverty in low-income neighborhoods. 2

The Woodson Center launched 1776 United, an initiative that enlisted black scholars to develop a school curriculum to combat the New York Times’s 1619 Project. 3

Background

The Woodson Center is a charitable organization that says its goal is to transform lives, schools, and troubled neighborhoods. 4

Civil rights activist Robert L. Woodson founded the Woodson Center in 1981 to help residents of low-income neighborhoods deal with problems. It was formerly known as the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise. It was re-branded in 2016 to the Woodson Center. 5

The Woodson Center says it focuses on three key principles: Those suffering the problem must be involved in the creation and implementation of the solution; principles of the market economy should be applied to the solutions of societal problems; and faith-based and value-generating organizations are uniquely qualified to address the problems of poverty. 6

The Woodson Center is involved in publishing handbooks and press statements, producing video content, and determining best practices. 7

Programs

Current center programs include the Violence-Free Zone, which is a youth violence reduction program. It also includes the Training and Technical Assistance for Community/Faith-Based Organizations, which trains other nonprofit groups. 8

Another Woodson Center program is the Neighborhood Leadership Development Institute, which is a virtual training program that helps the community and faith-based leaders improve the outcomes of their organizations. The institute’s online curriculum is divided into three sections: individual development, organizational development, and community development. 9

The Woodson Center launched 1776 United, an initiative that enlisted a group of black scholars, journalists, and social activists “who uphold the true origins of our nation and the principles through which its founding promise can be fulfilled.” It was established to combat the New York Times’s 1619 Project. 10

The center also launched the Voice of Black Mothers United to assist black mothers. 11

Founder

Robert L. Woodson is the founder and president of the Woodson Center. Woodson is a longtime civil rights activist, and previously ran the National Urban League’s department of criminal justice. 12

He is a former resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. Woodson focused attention on Woodson Center’s initiative to establish Violence-Free Zones in troubled schools and neighborhoods in the country. 13

Woodson has been the winner of the MacArthur Foundation “genius” award, the 2008 Bradley Prize, the Presidential Citizens Award, and a 2008 Social Entrepreneurship Award from the Manhattan Institute. 14

In the 1970s, Woodson came to view the NAACP and other civil rights groups that were left-leaning as “racial grievance groups” that were at odds with the needs of lower-income African Americans. 15

Woodson, the author of several books, announced he would retire as president of the center in 2021 at the age of 84, but remained as president emeritus. 16

Leadership

Gregory L. Snyder is the chairman of the board of directors for the Woodson Center. He is a retired senior executive with the HSBC. He was previously the chairman of the board for the DePaul University Institute for Business and Professional Ethics. 17

Moses Boyd is a board member for the Woodson Center. He is former chief Democratic counsel to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. 18

Janice Rogers Brown is a member of the board of directors for the Woodson Center. She was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2005 to 2017. Before that, she was a justice on the California Supreme Court from 1996 to 2005. She is the former legal affairs secretary for California Gov. Pete Wilson (R) from 1991 to 1994. 19

Alvin B. Jackson, Jr. is a member of the board of directors for the Woodson Center. He is a former Republican member of the Utah State Senate. 20

Greg Kunes is a member of the board of directors. He is the founder of Kunes Country Auto Group. 21

Scott L. Mitchell is a member of the board of directors for the Woodson Center. He is the chairman of OCEG, a think tank. 22

John Williams is a member of the board of directors for the Woodson Center. He is a former press secretary for the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight in the 1990s. 23

Martin J. Wong is a member of the board of directors for the Woodson Center. He is the CEO of TF Holdings, Inc. 24

References

  1. “Woodson Center.” Charity Navigator. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/521217891
  2. “40th Anniversary Celebration.” Woodson Center.  Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.woodsoncenter40th.org/
  3. Riley, Jason. “Correcting 1619’s Falsehoods About the American Founding.” The Wall Street Journal. May 25, 2021. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/correcting-1619s-falsehoods-about-the-american-founding-11621981288
  4. “Woodson Center.” Cause IQ. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/woodson-center,521217891/
  5. “Woodson Center.” Charity Navigator. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/521217891
  6. [1] “40th Anniversary Celebration.” Woodson Center.  Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.woodsoncenter40th.org/
  7. “Woodson Center.” Cause IQ. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/woodson-center,521217891/
  8. “Woodson Center.” Cause IQ. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/woodson-center,521217891/
  9. “Woodson Center.” Cause IQ. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/woodson-center,521217891/
  10. Riley, Jason. “Correcting 1619’s Falsehoods About the American Founding.” The Wall Street Journal. May 25, 2021. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/correcting-1619s-falsehoods-about-the-american-founding-11621981288
  11. “40th Anniversary Celebration.” Woodson Center.  Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.woodsoncenter40th.org/
  12.  “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  13. “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  14. “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  15. Riley, Jason. “Correcting 1619’s Falsehoods About the American Founding.” The Wall Street Journal. May 25, 2021. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/correcting-1619s-falsehoods-about-the-american-founding-11621981288
  16. Richardson, Valerie. “Robert Woodson to retire as president of Woodson Center after 40 years.” The Washington Times. July 29, 2021. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/29/robert-woodson-retire-president-woodson-center-aft/
  17. “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  18. “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  19. “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  20.  “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  21. “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  22. “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  23. “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
  24.  “Our Board of Directors and Advisors.” Woodson Center. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://woodsoncenter.org/about-us/our-board-of-directors/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: September 1, 1981

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Dec Form 990 $803,901 $1,034,092 $434,754 $210,930 N $802,838 $0 $1,063 $470,521 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,042,103 $2,584,779 $653,052 $199,038 N $1,037,470 $0 $4,633 $469,963 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $4,600,073 $4,789,525 $2,301,179 $304,489 N $4,593,412 $0 $6,661 $431,104 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $6,344,066 $5,621,177 $2,471,966 $285,824 N $6,339,346 $4,720 $0 $484,215
    2015 Dec Form 990 $4,278,346 $4,178,729 $2,052,193 $588,940 N $4,273,450 $700 $4,196 $495,530 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $3,674,231 $3,765,979 $1,977,270 $1,216,922 N $3,670,017 $0 $4,214 $497,373 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $3,485,212 $3,736,336 $1,685,984 $833,888 N $3,480,823 $0 $4,389 $431,104 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $4,194,014 $4,241,874 $1,917,175 $813,955 N $4,190,732 $0 $3,282 $431,104 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $3,728,361 $4,185,372 $1,432,312 $281,232 N $3,722,950 $0 $5,411 $431,104 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    The Woodson Center

    1625 K Street, NW, Suite 410
    Washington, DC