Women for Afghan Women Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a grassroots civil society organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of disenfranchised Afghan Women and girls in Afghanistan and the USA. ln particular, WAW works to help Afghan women and girls (see Schedule O for details).
- Income
- $8.2 million
- Spending
- $9.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 54
- Volunteers
- 84
- Highest pay
- $177,036, us country director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $5.4 million spent. Support Centers and Shelters - Humanitarian Assistance to Vulnerable Population and Programs for Refugee Returnees and Internally Displaced Individuals- Women for Afghan Women (WAW) provides humanitarian assistance to thousands of vulnerable and in-need families across Afghanistan through its humanitarian assistance program. It also offers assistance with shelters and services for thousands of refugee returnees and internally displaced individuals. WAW also houses hundreds of kids who would have otherwise been living with their mothers in prisons without any access to appropriate nutrition, health services, or education opportunities. WAW also provided support to UNHCR operations in Afghanistan through warehouse management and logistic and technical services across Afghanistan.
- $2.3 million spent. Community Center and Advocacy - Two Community Centers located in the heart of the Afghan community in Queens, New York, and in Alexandria, Virginia, provide several pro bono programs and crisis services to Immigrants and refugee women, families, and children, including immigration and employment support, domestic violence counseling, mental health services, citizenship and language programs, and programs for senior citizens, and leadership training.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.