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Passes our checks

A Better Balance

EIN 20-3664771 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A Better Balance (ABB) is a legal advocacy organization using a range of legal strategies to promote equality and expand choices in the workplace for at all income levels so they may care for their families without sacrificing their economic security.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
28
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$192,493, coo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 12 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $3.0 million spent. Paid Family and Medical Leave and Paid Sick Leave: Millions of U.S. workers lack paid leave for personal or family health needs, with workers in low-wage jobs much less likely to have paid leave than higher-income earners. A Better Balance has worked with coalitions and partners to help secure paid family and medical leave laws extended paid time off to bond with a new child or to address a personal or family members serious illness in D.C. and 13 states. With our legal and policy support, there are also now shorter-term paid sick time laws in 17 states, D.C., and more than a dozen localities, with nearly all of them based upon our model policy. Our organization has also made great strides at the state and local level in helping to obtain paid leave for educators and government workers, including many in the South. We both lead paid leave coalitions and work closely with state advocates and policymakers to pass, implement, defend, and enforce paid leave policies. We also continue to develop and update tools, model bills, and resources on paid leave. In addition, we work at the national level to advocate for federal paid family and medical leave and paid sick time legislation. Pregnant and Postpartum Workers Rights: Pregnant and postpartum workers face job and income loss due to workplace discrimination or lack of accommodations at a time when they need economic security the most. For far too long, pregnant workers were put on leave, fired, or forced to risk their health when they required a modest change to their work duties or job environment. Other workers faced termination while they were recovering from childbirth, even a mere weeks or days after giving birth. Breastfeeding workers face barriers such as inadequate private space and break time on the job. Many workers cease breastfeeding or must choose between their income and feeding their child. A Better Balance leads advocacy efforts for laws protecting pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding workers. This includes passage of the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Pump for Nursing Mothers Acttwo landmark civil rights protections passed after a decade of progress in states. We also protect, defend, and enforce critical legal protections so that pregnancy and breastfeeding do not lead to financial ruin.Additional Workers Rights: A growing number of Americans are struggling to juggle work responsibilities with care for loved ones, with millions providing care simultaneously to minor children and older adults. A Better Balance also works to curb abusive attendance policies, advance fair and flexible schedules for medical or caregiving needs, combat discrimination against caregivers, protect rights for temporary workers, ensure that an inclusive definition of family is incorporated into workplace leave laws, and protect local worker protection laws against abusive state preemption.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 September 2006.

    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 November 4, 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.