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Working in Support of Education

EIN 13-4024627 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF W!SE IS TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT DEVELOP FINANCIAL LITERACY AND READINESS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS. OUR SUCCESS IS BUILT ON FIVE PILLARS RELEVANCY, DIGITAL LEADERSHIP, REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES, VOLUNTEERISM, AND EVALUATION.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
21
Volunteers
434
Highest pay
$263,383, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 16 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 July 31, 2025, 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. $1.1 million spent. FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMTHE FINANCIAL LITERACY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM PREPARES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GRADUATE AS FINANCIALLY CAPABLE YOUNG ADULTS. SCHOOLS TEACH PERSONAL FINANCE AND ADMINISTER OUR NATIONAL, STANDARDIZED CERTIFICATION TEST, SUPPORTED BY W!SE'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, STANDARDS-ALIGNED RESOURCES, ONLINE PRACTICE QUIZZES, AND OPTIONAL PRETESTING. STUDENTS WHO PASS EARN THE W!SE CERTIFIED FINANCIALLY LITERATE (CFL) CREDENTIAL, RECOGNIZED BY COLLEGES AND EMPLOYERS. SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS ARE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, INCLUDING THROUGH THE ANNUAL "W!SE 100 BEST HIGH SCHOOLS TEACHING PERSONAL FINANCE" RANKING.
  2. $325,678 spent. EURO CHALLENGE PROGRAMTHE EURO CHALLENGE IS A NATIONAL COMPETITION THAT INVITES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE EURO AREA ECONOMY AND APPLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES. STUDENTS WORK IN TEAMS TO RESEARCH A EURO-AREA COUNTRY, ANALYZE AN ECONOMIC CHALLENGE IT FACES, AND PRESENT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO A PANEL OF JUDGES. THE PROGRAM BUILDS ECONOMIC LITERACY, PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS, TEAMWORK, AND GLOBAL AWARENESS WHILE GIVING STUDENTS A HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITY TO THINK LIKE POLICYMAKERS.
  3. $266,714 spent. W!SE INSTITUTETHE W!SE INSTITUTE IS A COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM EMBEDDED INTO THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY AT NYC SCHOOLS. THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF SEMINARS AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES LED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM INDUSTRY AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. THESE VOLUNTEERS BRING PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE DIRECTLY INTO THE CLASSROOM.THE PROGRAM SERVES STUDENTS IN GRADES 8-12, OFFERING SEMINARS ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS, INCLUDING SUSTAINABILITY AND STEM, ECONOMICS AND FINANCE, BUSINESS, COMMUNICATION AND LAW, CAREER AND ACADEMIC SKILLS, AND ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS. THROUGH THESE ENGAGING, PRACTICAL SESSIONS, STUDENTS GAIN CURRENT, RELEVANT KNOWLEDGE THAT SUPPORTS THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND PREPARES THEM FOR FUTURE COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS.
  4. $272,602 spent. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM - MONEYW!SECREATED IN 2009 AND CURRENTLY OFFERED IN 22 U.S. CITIES WITH 30 PARTNER SITES, MONEYW!SE IS A 10-12 SESSION COMPREHENSIVE PERSONAL FINANCE COURSE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND OTHER UNDERSERVED WOMEN'S GROUPS. MONEYW!SE HELPS ITS PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP THE FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO BREAK FREE OF ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND FIND A PATHWAY TO FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. PARTICIPANTS TAKE A PRE-TEST TO BENCHMARK KNOWLEDGE PRIOR TO INSTRUCTION. ON THE LAST DAY, THEY TAKE W!SE'S FINANCIAL LITERACY CERTIFICATION TEST; THOSE PASSING BECOME "CERTIFIED FINANCIALLY LITERATE", A CREDENTIAL THAT CAN HELP THEM IN THEIR SEARCH FOR WORK. MONEYW!SE IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO PARTNER CENTERS (E.G., YWCAS, FAMILY JUSTICE CENTERS, AND NON-PROFITS) AND THEIR CLIENTS. MONEYW!SE INSTRUCTORS OFFER THEIR SERVICES ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS. THEY COMPRISE SENIOR FINANCE EXPERTS FROM LEADING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN NYC AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY; MANY ARE CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS (CFPS) RECRUITED BY FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSOCIATIONS IN CITIES WHERE MONEYW!SE IS OFFERED. EACH SESSION IS 90 MINUTES WITH THE INSTRUCTOR DEDICATING AT LEAST 3 HOURS/CLASS TO PREPARE FOR AND DELIVER THE SESSION. TO ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE, A LIGHT MEAL, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CARDS/OTHER TRANSPORTATION COST SUPPORT, CHILDCARE, AND PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES (TYPICALLY GIFT CARDS) CAN BE OFFERED, THANKS TO EXTERNAL GRANT FINANCING. 90% OF PARTICIPANTS ARE LOWER, MIDDLE INCOME (LMI). AN AVERAGE OF 83% OF PARTICIPANTS EARN THE FINANCIAL LITERACY CERTIFICATION. QUALITY OF LIFETHE QUALITY OF LIFE INNOVATIONS (QLI) PROGRAM IS A PROJECT-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO RESEARCH A COMMUNITY ISSUE, DEVELOP AN EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATION, AND IMPLEMENT A REAL SOLUTION. THE PROGRAM BUILDS CIVIC READINESS, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, AND ACADEMIC CONFIDENCE WHILE CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH MENTORS WHO SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH. IN APRIL, STUDENTS WILL SUBMIT THEIR WORK (A 10 TO 17-PAGE RESEARCH PROPOSAL) TO THE QLI COMPETITION WHERE THE WINNERS EARN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.