Women and Families Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WFC IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING EQUITY AND TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH SERVICES THAT FOSTER EMPOWERMENT AND INDEPENDENCE. OUR GUIDING VISION: TO BE THE LEADING AGENT FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -14.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 53%
- Employees
- 69
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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 June 30, 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 (5)
- $2.7 million spent. REACH (REACHING EVERY ADOLESCENT TO CREATE HOPE) PROVIDES OUTREACH, CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL GROUPS, AND ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE TO YOUTH AGES 12-24. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-21. ADVOCATES HELP YOUTH TO IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM REMAINING STABLY HOUSED, AND GUIDE THEM TO A SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PATH THAT WILL LEAD TO AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. IN 2021-2022, THE PROGRAM TOUCHED THE LIVES OF 200 AT- RISK YOUTH. ONE YOUTH INDICATED, "WITH THE HELP OF THIS PROGRAM, I HAVE A PLACE THAT MY DAUGHTER AND I CAN CALL OUR OWN."
- SACS (SEXUAL ASSAULT CRISIS SERVICES) OFFERS NO-COST, 24 HOUR CRISIS INTERVENTION TO SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THEIR LOVED ONES IN MERIDEN, WALLINGFORD, CHESHIRE, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW HAVEN, WOODBRIDGE, BETHANEY, EAST HAVEN, HAMDEN, NORTH HAVEN, BRANFORD, NORTH BRANFORD, GUILFORD, AND MADISON. ADDITIONAL SERVICES INCLUDE SHORT-TERM COUNSELING, ACCOMPANIMENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, SUPPORT GROUPS AND REFERRALS TO ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES. COUNSELORS HELP CLIENTS TO BUILD THE SUPPORTS AND SKILLS NEEDED TO ALLEVIATE THE STRESSORS THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING, AND TO RECLAIM POWER, CONTROL, AND A SENSE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY. A CLIENT RECENTLY STATED, "IF IT WEREN'T FOR THIS GROUP, I MIGHT HAVE NEVER TALKED ABOUT MY ABUSE."
- STAR IS A BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM LOCATED IN THREE OF MERIDEN'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. PARENT FEES ARE DETERMINED BY A SLIDING FEE SCALE. EXPERIENCED STAFF HELP CHILDREN (GRADES K-5) TO DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF LEARNING THROUGH ENGAGEMENT IN HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, FIELD TRIPS AND SPECIAL GUEST PRESENTATIONS FOCUSING ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH (STEAM). IN ADDITION, CHILDREN WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM ARE ASSISTED WITH THEIR HOMEWORK BY CREDENTIALED TUTORS. RECENTLY A PARENT RAVED ABOUT HER CHILD'S VASTLY IMPROVED GRADES. THE PARENT NOTED, "WITHOUT THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, HIS SUCCESS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE."
- OPEN DOHR EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM SERVES LOW-INCOME YOUTH AND ADULTS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, OR LACKING THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO COMPETE IN TODAY'S JOB MARKET. THROUGH PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WITH LOW ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AND/OR BASIC SKILL DEFICITS, AND "IN-DEMAND" OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, PARTICIPANTS ARE PREPARED FOR CAREER- ORIENTED JOBS SUCH AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, CUSTOMER SERVICE, CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE, AND MORE. IN ADDITION, OPEN DOHR SPECILIZES IN PROVIDING HOLISTIC, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY LOGISTICAL, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, FINANCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS TO OBTAINING SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS WITH THE TOOLS AND INFORMATION TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THESE BARRIERS AND HELP THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
- OPEN DOHR EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM SERVES LOW-INCOME YOUTH AND ADULTS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, OR LACKING THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO COMPETE IN TODAY'S JOB MARKET. THROUGH PROGRAMS FOR THOSE WITH LOW ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AND/OR BASIC SKILL DEFICITS, AND "IN-DEMAND" OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, PARTICIPANTS ARE PREPARED FOR CAREER- ORIENTED JOBS SUCH AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, CUSTOMER SERVICE, CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE, AND MORE. IN ADDITION, OPEN DOHR SPECILIZES IN PROVIDING HOLISTIC, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY LOGISTICAL, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, FINANCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS TO OBTAINING SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS WITH THE TOOLS AND INFORMATION TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THESE BARRIERS AND HELP THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 1937.
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.