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Womens Empowerment

EIN 03-0520643 · Sacramento, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER WOMEN WHO ARE HOMELESS WITH THE SKILLS AND THE CONFIDENCE NECESSARY TO GET A JOB, CREATE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, AND REGAIN A HOME FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
25
Volunteers
334
Highest pay
$124,335, executive 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. IN 2024, WE PROVIDED WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO 488 WOMEN AND 149 CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR RECENTLY HOMELESS. EACH WOMAN BEGINS WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE NINE-WEEK EMPLOYMENT READINESS AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM. SHE RECEIVES TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE AND CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 5 IN OUR ONSITE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER. SHE WORKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH HER SOCIAL WORKER, EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST, HOUSING SPECIALIST, AND VOLUNTEER CAREER MENTOR WHILE ATTENDING CLASSES ON JOB-READINESS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS, MANY TAUGHT BY SKILLED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. SHE ALSO MAY ATTEND AFTERNOON GROUPS ON COOKING AND NUTRITION, PARENT, WELLNESS AND RECOVERY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND WORKOUT AT THE GYM ACROSS THE STREET.
  2. IN 2024, 136 GRADUATES REPORTED JOBS THEY SECURED. FORTY GRADUATES PARTICIPATED IN PAID JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FIELDS OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, SOLAR ENERGY, MANUFACTURING, HEALTHCARE, CULINARY ARTS, AND SECURITY. THESE INDUSTRIES OFFER MORE THAN A JOB. THEY PROVIDE A CAREER PATHWAY WITH UPWARD MOBILITY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF EARNING A WAGE THAT WILL ALLOW GRADUATES AND THEIR CHILDREN TO SECURE A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.
  3. IN 2024, 159 GRADUATES SECURED STABLE HOUSING WITH THE SUPPORT OF WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT. TO ENSURE WOMEN IN OUR PROGRAM ARE COMPETITIVE HOUSING APPLICANTS, OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE TRAINING IN THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HOUSING READINESS PROGRAM "READY TO RENT." THE TRAINING INCLUDES LEARNING ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS RESIDENTS, INCLUDING UNDERSTANDING WHAT LANDLORDS EXPECT AND THE BASICS OF LANDLORD-TENANT LAW. THEY RECEIVE THEIR CREDIT REPORT AND LEARN HOW TO BOOST THEIR CREDIT AND BUDGET WITH THE INCOME THEY HAVE.
  4. IN RESPONSE TO THE HOUSING CRISIS IN SACRAMENTO, WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CREATED TRELLIS GARDENS, OUR TRANSITIONAL WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM FOR GRADUATES WITH MINOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE SECURED A JOB BUT STILL CAN'T AFFORD MARKET-RATE HOUSING. IN 2024, 20 MOMS AND THEIR 37 CHILDREN LEASED THESE COTTAGES FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS. THIS BUOYS THEIR SUCCESS AND ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE THAT TRAJECTORY, BUILDING THEIR CREDIT, BEGINNING A SAVINGS ACCOUNT, PUTTING DOWN ROOTS IN THEIR JOBS, AND EVENTUALLY SECURING A PROMOTION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO QUALIFY FOR MARKET-RATE HOUSING. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES THE CRITICAL STEPPING STONE THEY NEED TO RECLAIM THEIR LIVES AND FUTURES, EMPOWERING THEM TO DEFINE THEMSELVES BY WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY RATHER THAN BY THEIR LACK OF HOUSING.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.