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Passes our checks

Women Aware Inc

EIN 22-2374378 · New Brunswick, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WOMEN AWARE ENVISIONS A SOCIETY WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN LIVE FREE FROM VIOLENCE AND INJUSTICE. OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
36
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$244,424, chief executive officer

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. WOMEN AWARE IS THE STATE DESIGNATED LEAD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCY FOR MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ. OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE SERVE ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, AGE, GENDER, RELIGION, DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, MARITAL STATUS, OR MILITARY STATUS. EACH YEAR, WOMEN AWARE PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER TO 200 VICTIMS AND THEIR CHILDREN FACING IMMINENT DANGER. IN ADDITION, 3,000 INDIVIDUALS BENEFIT FROM OUR SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDE LEGAL ADVOCACY, COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND TRAUMA REDUCTION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN. OUR 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE SERVES AS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR MOST VICTIMS SEEKING SUPPORT IN THE COUNTY, REAFFIRMING OUR ROLE AS THE COUNTY'S PRIMARY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDER. WOMEN AWARE IS THE LEAD AGENCY OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER (FJC)A CENTRALIZED HUB OFFERING COORDINATED SERVICES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 20 AGENCIES, FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHILD ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ELDER ABUSE. THROUGH THE FJC, ADVOCATES GUIDE SURVIVORS IN UNDERSTANDING AND ACCESSING THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS. SURVIVORS ARE CONNECTED TO A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE, HOUSING, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, CHILDCARE, AND MORE. SERVICES ARE SURVIVOR-DRIVEN, ALLOWING CLIENTS TO CHOOSE THE SUPPORT THAT BEST MEETS THEIR NEEDS.
  2. $807,184 spent. LEGAL ADVOCATES HELP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS/SURVIVORS RECEIVE JUSTICE BY INCREASING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF, AND ACCESS TO, THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO THEM BY THE LAW. ADVOCATES CONNECT CLIENTS TO A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ACCESS LEGAL COUNSEL, IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN A 73% INCREASE IN COURT REQUESTED INTERVENTION BY ADVOCATES, WHICH IS A TESTAMENT OF THE GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FJC AND FAMILY COURT.
  3. $540,790 spent. WOMEN AWARE'S NON-RESIDENTIAL CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, PALS (PEACE: A LEARNED SOLUTION), IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED TRAUMA TREATMENT AND SUPPORT INITIATIVE FOR CHILDREN AGED 3 TO 12 WHO HAVE WITNESSED OR EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN THERAPY FOR A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 57 CHILDREN RECEIVED HEALING AND SUPPORT THROUGH THE PALS PROGRAM.
  4. $216,925 spent. OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER IS THE CORNERSTONE FOR SAFETY, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND HOUSING ADVOCACY FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND AIMS TO MITIGATE THE TRAUMA AND DISTRESS OF VICTIMS BY PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND BASIC NECESSITIES TO ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OF VICTIMS AND THEIR CHILDREN. THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE PROVIDED 12,259 BEDNIGHTS TO 191 SURVIVORS FLEEING ABUSE.

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 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 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 June 1984.

    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.