Q and A's
What has the Board accomplished in 2025?
The Board is committed to ensuring best practices in governance and financial management.
We are actively working to strengthen our financial oversight, therefore regular audits will be conducted.
Throughout 2025, we have diligently worked to create numerous policies and procedures to prevent repeating past missteps. Previous Boards, in collaboration with the Executive Director(s), should have established these procedures, and the existing ones were long overdue for review and revision.
We revitalized the Program Committee by offering outstanding presentations, which are accessible to all our members in real time and then available on our YouTube channel.
The Communications and Engagement Committee has produced regular newsletters throughout the year, as well as maintaining SWG’s Facebook and Instagram pages. It was responsible for publishing the 2025 Membership Bulletin, which will be distributed to all members. With input from Board members and an outside consultant, the Committee revitalized and updated the SWG website.
The Fellowship Committee oversaw the application and review process and disbursement of fellowships to thirteen 2025 recipients.
The Flag Carriers Committee was reconstituted and is actively reviewing applications to carry the SWG flag.
The Membership Committee reviewed applications and made recommendations for membership of our fifteen new members.
The Bylaws Task Force reviewed our 2015 Bylaws and recommended changes to improve and clarify them. These are the first updates in ten years. The proposed changes were reviewed by SWG’s attorney, who brought the draft into compliance with DC law. The revised Bylaws were approved by the Board and sent to the full membership for adoption.
The Nominations Committee has been established and is working to attract potential new Board members for the 2026 Board.
We organized our Centennial Celebration in Washington, DC, which was a highlight of the year. This was the first opportunity for all members to meet together in person since our 2017 Triennial. We are grateful to all the volunteers who planned and organized the event and to the members who attended and supported it.
Why have there been Board resignations this year?
Of the fourteen Board members for 2025, three resigned at different times and for different reasons: Judy Dollard due to health issues; Amy Greeson due to family matters; and Carmen Masó’s resignation stated: “…I have spent time reflecting on where I am in my life and I’ve decided that being on the SWG Board is not where I want to be.”
The Board remains at a robust size and has been able to work effectively throughout the year. As a volunteer board, we recognize that life, be it personal or professional, may get in the way and prevent directors from fulfilling their commitment.
Why were members removed?
The 2025 Board was charged with enhancing SWG’s governance accountability, and pledged to uphold that responsibility. To that end the primary governing document, the Bylaws, requires adherence, and unfortunately, we had to address years of unpaid dues, including some members not having paid dues for more than ten years.
We reached out several times and in different ways to members whose dues had not been paid, giving them the chance to update their payments, request forbearance for financial hardship, or end their membership. We have held meaningful conversations throughout this process, taking feedback into account to ensure the approach is fair. If members had concerns with any part of this process, they were provided with instructions on how to proceed.
After months of deliberation, the Board removed some fifty members for failure to pay dues for more than two years, pursuant to Article III Section 5 of the SWG Bylaws.
Further, it has taken a lot of effort on the part of the Membership Committee to clear the membership records of the names of members who have passed away and student members who received a one-year complimentary membership but were not removed once that expired. These records had not been reviewed or updated in at least a decade, but will now be annually reviewed, tallying only members in good standing.
The current membership of SWG stands at 280, with nine full members and six student members joining in 2025 so far.
What about the Washington, DC Office of Human Rights (OHR) complaint against SWG?
A former employee recently filed a complaint against the Society of Woman Geographers alleging discrimination against her on the basis of her age and race.
We deny the claims and we have engaged our attorneys to respond to them and to protect the Society’s interests.
The Society of Woman Geographers did not and does not discriminate. We value and respect the dignity of all people—including our employees, our members, and our stakeholders.
The Executive Committee provides updates as the case progresses from our attorneys so that the Board remains informed of developments. As an employer, we have ethical and legal obligations to keep employee issues confidential.
Is the IRS investigating SWG?
The Board has not received any notice from the Internal Revenue Service regarding purported tax exemption violations.
How are SWG’s financial records reviewed to ensure accuracy?
The financial records are reviewed quarterly by the Board, after preparation by the bookkeeper, and reviewed by the Finance Committee. Each Board member has an opportunity to review the financial documents and ask questions before and during the quarterly meeting.
Annually, year-end reports are submitted to the CPA for review and the compilation of the IRS 990 tax return.
The financial documents are updated on the SWG website quarterly once approved by the Board.
Will the Board be conducting a financial audit?
The Board is planning an audit of 2025 income and expenses, to be conducted in mid-2026.
SWG has not conducted audits on an annual basis. The most recent audit was in 2017 and that was most likely a review (less than an audit). According to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines, SWG’s annual operating budget does not require a yearly audit, so we are not legally obligated to conduct audits annually. Nevertheless, the Board is committed to carrying out audits on a regular basis in the future, regardless of the significant cost and person hours required.
We strongly believe in financial accountability and are establishing firm financial policies for staff, financial consultants, and volunteers to follow.
We are in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service, annually filing Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, and keeping accurate financial records of all donations and bequests received. Our tax return for the year ending December 31, 2024 is in preparation and will be filed by the November 15, 2025 deadline. Filed tax returns are public documents and available for your review at IRS.gov and from other sources such as https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520936133.