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Womens Business Development Council Inc

EIN 06-1493737 · Stamford, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TTHE MISSION OF THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (WBDC) IS TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR WOMEN AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIAL AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION SERVICES THAT CREATE AND GROW SUSTAINABLE JOBS AND BUSINESSES ACROSS CONNECTICUT. WBDC SERVES CLIENTS FROM CONNECTICUT'S 169 CITIES AND TOWNS. SINCE 1997, WBDC HAS BEEN PROVIDING TRAINING TO GUIDE ASPIRING, EMERGING, AND ESTABLISHED ENTREPRENEURS ALONG THEIR GROWTH JOURNEY. SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE 1:1 BUSINESS ADVISING, CLASSES (IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL), ON-DEMAND LEARNING, MENTORING.

Income
$19.3 million
Spending
$13.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 67%
Employees
43
Volunteers
163
Highest pay
$356,503, chief executive officer

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 162% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 (1)
  1. $12.7 million spent. THE MISSION OF THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (WBDC) IS TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT ECONOMIC SUCCESS FOR WOMEN THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIAL SERVICES THAT LAUNCH AND GROW BUSINESSES ACROSS CONNECTICUT. WBDC SERVES CLIENTS FROM CONNECTICUT'S 169 CITIES AND TOWNS FROM ITS THREE REGIONAL OFFICES ACROSS THE STATE: NEW HAVEN, STAMFORD, WATERBURY AND NEW LONDON. SINCE 1997 WBDC HAS BEEN PROVIDING THE TRAINING NECESSARY TO GUIDE ASPIRING, EMERGING, AND ESTABLISHED ENTREPRENEURS ALONG THEIR GROWTH JOURNEY. SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: 1:1 BUSINESS ADVISING, CLASSES (IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL), ON-DEMAND LEARNING, MENTORING.IN ADDITION TO TRAINING, WBDC BELIEVES IN CONNECTING OUR CLIENTS, DONORS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, FOSTERING BUSINESS GROWTH THROUGH COLLABORATION AND TEAM SUPPORT.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS: WBDC CONNECT MEMBERSHIP, COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS PODCAST, ANNUAL GALA & FUNDRAISING EVENTS, VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE, PUBLIC SPEAKING & MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES.FINANCIAL RESOURCES: WBDC HELPS ITS CLIENTS IDENTIFY SOURCES OF CAPITAL WHICH ALIGN WITH THEIR UNIQUE BUSINESS NEEDS AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE THROUGH THE APPLICATION AND COMPLIANCE PROCESS. RESOURCES INCLUDE WBDC'S OPPORTUNITY FUND GRANTS, BANK AND NON-BANK LOANS, PRIVATE INVESTMENTS, FEDERAL AND STATE COVID-19 RELIEF, OTHER NON-TRADITIONAL LOANS AND GRANTS.BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR CT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS: WBDC OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SUPPORTING CT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, HOME AND CENTER-BASED, TO HELP THEM LAUNCH, SUSTAIN, AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. THE CHILD CARE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CATERS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS NEEDS OF THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY: CUSTOMIZED ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PERSONAL FINANCIAL TRAINING & COACHING, MENTORING, FISCAL AND TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVES, ADVOCACY, TRAIN THE TRAINER.

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 November 1997.

    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.