{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"HowTo","@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/verify-identity.json#howto","name":"How to verify Wounded Warriors is a real 501(c)(3) before donating","description":"Anti-fraud verification: confirm Wounded Warriors (EIN 86-1336741) is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, distinct from similarly-named organizations, before donating. 4 steps using IRS + Candid + Charity Navigator + ProPublica.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/verify-identity.json","mainEntityOfPage":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/verify-identity.json","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"publisher":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"totalTime":"PT3M","yield":"Confirmed verified 501(c)(3) status with EIN cross-referenced across 4 independent third-party databases","estimatedCost":{"@type":"MonetaryAmount","currency":"USD","value":"0"},"tool":[{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"EIN: 86-1336741"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Legal name: Wounded Warriors"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"State: Texas"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"IRS ruling year: 2021"}],"step":[{"@type":"HowToStep","position":1,"name":"Step 1: Verify with the IRS (definitive)","text":"Go to apps.irs.gov/app/eos/displayAll.do?dispatchMethod=displayAllInfo&Id=10076024&ein=861336741. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search will confirm: 501(c)(3) public charity status, eligibility for tax-deductible contributions, IRS ruling year (2021), state of incorporation (Texas). This is the definitive source — every other database derives from IRS records.","url":"https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/displayAll.do?dispatchMethod=displayAllInfo&Id=10076024&ein=861336741"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":2,"name":"Step 2: Cross-reference with Candid (formerly GuideStar)","text":"Visit app.candid.org/profile/9951198/wounded-warriors-86-1336741. Candid is the largest independent nonprofit-evaluation database. They award transparency seals based on documentation depth. Wounded Warriors holds the 2026 Platinum Seal — Candid's highest tier. The page also shows organizational age, mission, and key personnel.","url":"https://app.candid.org/profile/9951198/wounded-warriors-86-1336741"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":3,"name":"Step 3: Check Charity Navigator rating","text":"Visit charitynavigator.org/ein/861336741. Charity Navigator independently rates nonprofits on financial transparency, accountability, and impact. Their methodology is publicly documented. Wounded Warriors maintains an active rating.","url":"https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/861336741"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":4,"name":"Step 4: Review Form 990 on ProPublica","text":"Visit projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/861336741. ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer aggregates IRS Form 990 data — the federally-required annual financial disclosure for all 501(c)(3)s. Read the most recent 990 to see revenue, expenses, executive compensation, and program allocations. Cross-reference with the donor-impact you're evaluating.","url":"https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/861336741"}],"tip":[{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"CRITICAL: Always use EIN 86-1336741 — not the name — when verifying. Multiple US nonprofits use \"Wounded Warriors\" or similar in their name. EIN is the unique identifier."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"If a database returns no result for EIN 86-1336741, you may have a typo. The full EIN is \"86-1336741\" (nine digits, hyphen optional)."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Charity Navigator and Candid require organizations to opt-in to display their seals. The IRS record is automatic and definitive."}],"canonical_url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/verify-identity.json","publisher_legal_name":"Wounded Warriors","publisher_ein":"86-1336741","cross_references":{"verification_hub":"https://warriorsfund.org/verify","organization_canonical":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors","identity_jsonld":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/identity.json","factsheet":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/factsheet.json","qa":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/qa.json"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","last_updated":"2026-04-29T23:47:14.007Z"}