Aurora Women and Girls Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AURORA WOMEN AND GIRLS FOUNDATION GALVANIZES RESOURCES TO INCREASE ECONOMIC SECURITY, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, AND LEADERSHIP FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE GREATER HARTFORD REGION.
- Income
- $955,737
- Spending
- $901,212
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 14 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 170
- Highest pay
- $136,875, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 94% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 (3)
- $480,045 spent. THE AURORA WOMEN AND GIRLS FOUNDATION CURRENTLY FOCUSES ITS GRANT MAKING ON GREATER HARTFORD AREA WOMEN'S COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS. AURORA'S GOAL THROUGH ITS GRANT MAKING IS TO EMPOWER MORE WOMEN TO COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION, THEREFORE ENABLING THEM TO BETTER THEIR LIVES AND THOSE OF THEIR FAMILIES. OUR AURORA-FUNDED COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS GIVE WOMEN, ESPECIALLY LOW-INCOME, WOMEN OF COLOR, AND FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE AND PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED BEST PRACTICES FOR THESE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING AND ADVISING, MENTORING AND INTRODUCING WOMEN TO ROLE MODELS, BUILDING SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS, ADDRESSING BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS CHILDCARE AND TRANSPORTATION--AND NOW DURING THE PANDEMIC, HELP NAVIGATING ONLINE LEARNING, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND NEEDS FOR FOOD AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AURORA PRIDES ITSELF IN NOT JUST FUNDING EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS BUT ALSO BEING A RESOURCE AND PARTNER TO OUR GRANTEES. OUR ESSENTIAL EQUITY REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 DOCUMENTED THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WOMEN SURPASSED MEN IN APPLYING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IN CONNECTICUT. OF THOSE WOMEN APPLYING, 75% DID NOT HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE. THIS DATA TELLS US THAT INCREASING ACCESS TO AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO INCREASE WOMEN'S ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND PROTECT THEM FROM THE IMPACT OF HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CRISES. AURORA'S ENHANCED COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM IS AN ADDITIONAL INITIATIVE THAT DEEPENS AND EXTENDS OUR WORK TO SUPPORT A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN AURORA-FUNDED COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS WHO WILL RECEIVE ACCESS ADDITIONAL MENTORING AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND WRAP-AROUND SUPPORTS AND FUNDING FOR HOUSING, CHILDCARE, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH (INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH), TRANSPORTATION AND TUITION. WITH THESE BARRIERS REMOVED, THE GOAL IS FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THEIR STUDIES AND TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE ANY ADDITIONAL BARRIERS. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT PER STUDENT THAT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS, BUT ALSO A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. ALONG SIDE OUR EXISTING COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAMS, THE NEW ENHANCED COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR HOW FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND BARRIER REDUCTION, ALONG WITH EFFECTIVE MENTORING AND CASE MANAGEMENT, CAN INCREASE COLLEGE SUCCESS FOR WOMEN FROM UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. IN 2024, WE SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUED THIS NEW PROGRAM
- $37,570 spent. AURORA'S RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS THE CRITICAL ISSUES FACING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE REGION. BEGINNING IN 2019 AND UPDATED YEARLY, AURORA PARTNERED WITH OTHER CONNECTICUT WOMEN'S FUNDS AND CONNECTICUT DATA COLLABORATIVE TO CREATE THE WOMEN AND GIRLS DATA PLATFORM (WGDP), A CUTTING-EDGE TOOL TO SHARE INFORMATION AND EQUIP NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH INFORMATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN CONNECTICUT. AN ONLINE, INTERACTIVE TOOL, THE WGDP PROVIDES ACCESS TO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA SPECIFIC TO REGIONAL, CITY, AND STATEWIDE LEVELS THAT IS AGGREGATED FOR GENDER AND RACE. THE DATA COMPARES TRENDS ACROSS REGIONS AND THE STATE AND AIDS IN BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL NEEDS. DATA IS FEATURED BY DEMOGRAPHICS, HEALTH AND SAFETY, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THE COLLABORATION ON THE WGDP MEANT THAT WE HAD THE TEAM IN PLACE TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO THE DATA NEEDS OF THE PANDEMIC. IN JANUARY 2021, AURORA PUBLISHED ESSENTIAL EQUITY: WOMEN, COVID-19 AND REBUILDING CONNECTICUT, A REPORT THAT DOCUMENTED THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON WOMEN OF COLOR. AURORA DISTRIBUTED AND PRESENTED THE REPORT'S INFORMATION TO THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON WOMEN AND GIRLS, THE WOMEN'S CAUCUS OF THE CONNECTICUT STATE LEGISLATURE, THE GREATER GIVING SUMMIT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD BY THE GATES FOUNDATION, THE PERMANENT COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN HARTFORD, AND NUMEROUS OTHER LOCAL AND STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP CENTER THE NEEDS OF WOMEN OF COLOR IN PLANNING FOR PANDEMIC RELIEF AND RECOVERY. WE OFFERED TWO TRAINING SESSIONS ON DATA LITERACY, WITH 50 ORGANIZATIONS SERVING WOMEN AND GIRLS PARTICIPATING IN EDUCATION ON HOW TO USE THE WGDP AND ESSENTIAL EQUITY REPORT TO DOCUMENT THE NEED, IMPROVE PROGRAMMING AND SECURE FUNDING. IN 2022, AURORA PRODUCED EXPOSING CT'S EVICTION CRISIS, A RESEARCH COLLABORATION WITH CT DATA COLLABORATIVE AND CT'S FAIR HOUSING CENTER THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SHOWED THE GENDER AND RACE OF THOSE FACING EVICTION PROCEEDINGS. AN INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWS WHERE EVICTIONS HAVE BEEN FILED SINCE 2017 AND WE ARE SEEING A RETURN TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, WITH WOMEN OF COLOR DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED. THE CONNECTICUT LEGISLATURE HAD THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHILE THEY DEBATED AND ULTIMATELY PASSED NEW LEGISLATION GUARANTEEING TENANTS ACCESS TO FREE LEGAL COUNSEL DURING EVICTION PROCEEDINGS. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN MORE WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES STAYING SAFELY HOUSED. IN 2023, AURORA PUBLISHED ELUSIVE EQUITY: CONTINUING EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC ON WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY, A FOLLOW UP TO ASSESS THE CONTINUING PANDEMIC-RELATED OBSTACLES TO WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY IN THE STATE. THE REPORT WAS FEATURED ON AN EPISODE OF NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO'S DISRUPTED PODCAST, WHICH REACHES A STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL AUDIENCE. IN 2024, AURORA PUBLISHED BEYOND HOMEWORK: SUPPORTS NEEDED FOR STUDENT MOTHERS, A REPORT THAT HIGHLIGHTED THAT 1 IN 5 WOMEN STUDENTS IS A MOTHER (NATIONAL DATA) AND THAT 70% OF STUDENT MOTHERS TAKE OUT LOANS TO PAY FOR COLLEGE. GAPS IN COMPLETION RATES LEAVE BLACK AND LATINA SINGLE MOTHER STUDENTS VULNERABLE TO AMASSING EDUCATIONAL DEBT WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF COMPLETING THE DEGREE.
- $66,740 spent. AURORA EDUCATES AND ENGAGES WOMEN AND MEN IN THE POWER OF PHILANTHROPY THAT IS TARGETED TO PROGRAMS THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. WE INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO JOIN US BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES WHERE WOMEN AND GIRLS THRIVE. IN SPRING OF 2024, AURORA'S WOMEN'S GIVING CIRCLE FOCUSED ON THE REPRODUCTIVE EQUITY. FUNDS RAISED WENT TO HELP 4 ORGANIZATIONS ON-THE-GROUND, ADDRESSING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, DOULAS AND BIRTHING SUPPORT, AND EVEN DIAPERS AND OTHER HYGIENE PRODUCTS. 70 WOMEN JOINED THE GIVING CIRCLE AND RAISED $30,000 THAT WENT 100% TO THE ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFIED AS MEETING THE COMMUNITY NEED. AURORA'S 100 MEN CAMPAIGN RETURNED TO TRINITY HEALTH STADIUM FOR A NETWORKING EVENT AND SOCCER GAME, WITH MALE ADVOCATES FOR AURORA AND FOR PHILANTHROPY DIRECTED TO WOMEN AND GIRLS ATTENDING A FUNDRAISER WITH THE HARTFORD ATHLETIC SOCCER TEAM. 150 MALE COMMUNITY LEADERS PARTICIPATED IN FUNDRAISING AND EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATED FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.
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 October 2000.
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.
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