GOLD2022

National Speech & Debate Association

aka National Forensic League   |   West Des Moines, IA   |  www.speechanddebate.org

Mission

The National Speech & Debate Association connects, supports, and inspires a diverse community committed to empowering students through competitive speech and debate. We envision a world in which every student has access to membership in the National Speech & Debate Association, providing the educational resources, competitive opportunities, and expertise necessary to foster their communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative skills.

Ruling year info

1956

Executive Director

Mr. J. Scott Wunn

Main address

6600 Westown Parkway, Suite 270

West Des Moines, IA 50266 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

39-0840589

NTEE code info

Humanities Organizations (A70)

Secondary/High School (B25)

Citizenship Programs, Youth Development (O54)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2021.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Speech and debate, as an activity, empowers youth personally, professionally, and civically through skill development, knowledge and confidence building, and an emphasis on civic awareness and relevant societal issues. Not enough students have access to this life-changing activity. By connecting, supporting, and inspiring our diverse membership, more students each year have the opportunity to participate in speech and debate.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Honor Society

The National Speech & Debate Association’s Honor Society recognizes middle school and high school students for participation in speech and debate activities. Students earn distinction through speech and debate competition, as well as community service, public speaking, and leadership activities. Members are eligible to join the Honor Society once they have earned the required number of points.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Each NSDA district holds a qualifying tournament for student’s to advance to the National Tournament, the largest academic competition in the world.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Communicators in the Classroom was created in 2012 to provide tools, resources and support to school districts with little or no access to speech and debate programs, helping to create and define a culture of academic success through competition. The program encourages speech and debate activities inside and outside of the classroom to teach students the academic skills they need to excel in school, college, and the workforce. Communicators in the Classroom provides free resources such as textbooks, coursework, free membership and resource packages with learning tools, materials, classes, webinars, and more for all students, teachers and coaches involved.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Where we work

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

We aim to bring competitive speech and debate to more schools and more students from diverse backgrounds.

We support, connect, and inspire the coaches and teachers who devote time, energy, and often their own resources to ensure students have the opportunity to learn and compete in speech and debate events.

Influence middle and high school administrators to support and invest in speech and debate, during the school day and as an extracurricular activity.

Invest in research to demonstrate the impact of speech and debate participation on academic performance, school culture, college and career readiness, attendance and graduation rates, 21st century skill development (including the 4Cs), and civic engagement, including voting, service, and feelings of empowerment and efficacy.

Provide resources, support, competitive opportunities, and recognition to speech and debate teachers and coaches to help stabilize their programs, inspire their students, and maintain positive feelings about their role in youth empowerment.

-National reputation and prestige through our honor society and national tournament, one of the world’s largest academic competitions.
-Over 3,000 member schools creating a local infrastructure to expand speech and debate.
-Access to speech and debate alumni whose professional expertise and loyalty to the activity assist in our research, marketing, and educational advocacy efforts.
-A Board of Directors with elected and appointed board members providing expertise stemming from their experience in other organizations to support our goals
-A committed staff, with a high level of mission and purpose in the Gallup Q12 employee engagement survey (98th percentile)
-A long history of stability and growth, starting with our founding in 1925 and continued demand for the support and opportunities we provide.

-Part of the CiviX Now partnership to emphasize civics as part of US education
-Consistent growth in school and student members
-Well-developed recognition program and nationwide infrastructure to support current activity
-More outreach to administrators at middle and high schools to advocate for speech and debate
-Expand participation in districts and nationals across the country, especially among traditionally marginalized and disenfranchised communities

Financials

National Speech & Debate Association
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

National Speech & Debate Association

Board of directors
as of 07/29/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. Pam Cady Wycoff

Apple Valley HS

David Houston

Colleyville Heritage HS

Dr. Tommie Lindsey, Jr.

James Logan HS

Jennifer Jerome

Millard West High School

Thomas Rollins

Robert Runcie

Broward County Public Schools

Byron Arthur

Holy Cross School

Adam Jacobi

Wisconsin High School Forensic Association

Renee Motter

Air Academy High School, CO

Pam Cady Wycoff

Apple Valley High School, MN

Jay Rye III

The Montgomery Academy, AL

Alan Coverstone

Dr. Mike Edmonds

Sara Gibson

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 1/20/2021
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx
Gender identity
Male
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 01/14/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.