Women First Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 84 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
WOMEN FIRST INVESTS IN GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES DRIVEN BY WOMEN IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES THAT SUSTAINABLY ADVANCE THEIR LIVES.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 76.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 67%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $222,713, executive director
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 76.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 116% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 84 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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, 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)
- $2.2 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OGRANTMAKING PROGRAM - WOMEN FIRST PROVIDES GRANTS AND LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP TO SMALL AND EMERGING ORGANIZATIONS LED BY WOMEN WORKING TOWARDS GENDER EQUITY IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. THROUGH OUR UNIQUE 3-STAGE APPROACH, WE PARTNER WITH GRANTEES FOR 6 YEARS. WOMEN FIRST OFFERS FUNDING, CAPACITY ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING TOOLS, CAPACITY BUILDING RESOURCES, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. GRANTEE PARTNERS MAY ALSO BE AWARDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO NAVIGATE UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES AND/OR CAPITALIZE ON URGENT, TIME-BOUND OPPORTUNITIES.WE WORK ALONGSIDE OUR GRANTEE PARTNERS OVER YEARS TO BUILD ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHANGE LIVES.SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1969, WOMEN FIRST HAS FUNDED MORE THAN 700 ORGANIZATIONS, IN OVER 95 COUNTRIES. WOMEN FIRST BELIEVES THAT WOMEN-LED ORGANIZATIONS ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO EMPOWER WOMEN AND GIRLS. TO ENHANCE ITS GRANT-MAKING EFFORTS, WOMEN FIRST ENGAGES IN EVENTS, BRIEFING, TRAINING, WORKSHOPS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL DISCUSSIONS AT THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK AS WELL AS VIRTUALLY THROUGH ITS CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH ECOSOC (UN'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL) AND ITS MEMBERSHIP IN UN-RELATED GROUPS. WOMEN FIRST PRESENTS A GRASSROOTS PERSPECTIVE IN ITS FORMAL STATEMENTS TO THE UN AGENCIES AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND IN A WIDE RANGE OF MEETINGS SPONSORED WITHIN THE AUSPICES OF THE UN. AN ACTIVE WOMEN FIRST UN COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP, VOLUNTEERS AND ITS REGISTERED REPRESENTATIVES MAXIMIZE THE OUTCOMES OF ITS UN AFFILIATION WHILE EXPENDING A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF RESOURCES. THROUGH REPORTS FROM THESE ACTIVITIES, WOMEN FIRST INFORMS GRANTEES, MEMBERS AND DONORS ABOUT UN DISCUSSIONS, DECISIONS, AND POLICIES RELEVANT TO WOMEN FIRST'S FOCUS AND GOALS.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.