Capital Sisters International Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE GRANTS, LOANS, AND LOAN GUARANTEES TO ASSIST THE MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY IN MAKING MICRO LOANS TO IMPOVERISHED WOMEN AND TO PROVIDE DONORS AND INVESTORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE TARGETED INVESTMENTS IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION THROUGH MICROFINANCE.
- Income
- $357,509
- Spending
- $286,587
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 22.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 46
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 64% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 4 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (3)
- $161,776 spent. INVESTMENT PROGRAM: RAISE IMPACT INVESTMENT FUNDS FOR MICROFINANCE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ON-LEND THE CAPITAL TO IMPOVERISHED WOMEN IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES SO THEY CAN START OR BUILD A MICRO ENTERPRISE. CAPITAL SISTERS INTERNATIONAL FINANCES ITS IMPACT INVESTMENT FUND BY SELLING $1,000 ZERO-INTEREST BONDS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND LENDS THE PROCEEDS (WITH ZERO INTEREST) TO MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS WHOSE MISSIONS ARE ALIGNED WITH THAT OF CAPITAL SISTERS AND WHO SATISFY OUR OTHER LENDING CRITERIA.WHEN OUR MICROFINANCE PARTNERS REPAY THE ZERO INTEREST LOANS, CAPITAL SISTERS REPAYS ITS INVESTORS. AS THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD'S FIRST PERSON-TO-PERSON LENDING MODEL AND THE WORLD'S FIRST WOMEN'S BOND, CAPITAL SISTERS IS PIONEERING AN ALTERNATIVE TO (SEE SCHEDULE O) (CONTINUED) TRADITIONAL CHARITY MODELS WHERE RESOURCES ARE DEPLETED AS SERVICES ARE DELIVERED. IN USING A "BLENDED FINANCE" MODEL, CAPITAL SISTERS DEFINES ITS IMPACT BY "LOANS MADE AND REPAID", NOT RESOURCES EXPENDED AS IS DONE BY TRADITIONAL CHARITIES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE IMPACT CREATED BY OUR LENDING PORTFOLIO, WHICH COMPRISES THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES, IS NOT COUNTED AS IMPACT IN THE PROGRAM SERVICES SECTION OF THE 990, WHICH WAS DESIGNED FOR TRADITIONAL CHARITIES.
- $34,348 spent. EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM: EDUCATE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMMUNITIES REGARDING THE IMPACT OF MICROFINANCE ADVOCATE FOR MORE ENABLING PUBLIC POLICY FOR THE MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY, AND PROMOTE GENDER LENS INVESTING.
- GRANTS PROGRAM: PROVIDE GRANTS TO ASSIST THE MICROFINANCE INDUSTRY IN MAKING MICRO LOANS TO IMPOVERISHED WOMEN, AND TO HELP BUILD THE GENDER LENS INVESTING ECOSYSTEM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.
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 December 2004.
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.