Equal Rights Advocates Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT AND EXPAND EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS AND OTHERS WITH MARGINALIZED GENDER IDENTITIES. WITH A FOCUS ON LOW INCOME WOMEN, ERA ADDRESSES ECONOMIC INSECURITY, GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, WORKPLACE INEQUITIES, CHILDCARE, AND THE NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $4.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $269,370, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 62 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 March 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 (2)
- $2.2 million spent. LEGAL ADVOCACY, SERVICES, & ENFORCEMENT - ERA PROVIDES FREE LEGAL ADVICE AND COUNSELING AS WELL AS LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO STUDENTS AND WORKERS IN NEED ACROSS THE NATION. THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION AND OTHER ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES, ERA CHALLENGES SEX HARASSMENT DISCRIMINATION AT WORK AND SCHOOL AND OTHER UNLAWFUL CONDUCT VIOLATING CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. BUILDING ON 50+ YEARS OF GROUNDBREAKING LEGAL WORK, INCLUDING CASES UP TO THE SUPREME COURT, ERA LEADS GROUNDBREAKING CASES AFFIRMING RIGHTS AND CONFIRMING ITS REACH TO THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY INEQUITIES.ERA LEADS STATE AND NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE IMPACT CAMPAIGNS/NETWORKS WITH 500+ ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS TO BUILD POWER BEHIND MISSION-ALIGNED SYSTEM REFORM. THESE INCLUDE, STRONGER CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES NETWORK, EQUAL PAY TODAY, THE STOP HARASSMENT STATE NETWORK (COLLECTIVELY, WOMEN'S AGENDA INITIATIVES) AND THE NATIONAL TASKFORCE ON TRADESWOMEN ISSUES, WHICH BECAME A PROJECT OF ERA IN 2024. IN THE PAST DECADE ALONE, ERA HAS HELPED DRIVE THE PASSAGE OF 66 LAWS IN CALIFORNIA AND 183 LAWS NATIONWIDE BENEFITTING 30 MILLION IN ADVANCING WORKPLACE EQUITY, POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND WEALTH GENERATION, THE NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES, AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE.
- $1.4 million spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND CULTURE/NARRATIVE CHANGE - ERA EDUCATES STUDENTS AND WORKERS AND ALLIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT LEGAL RIGHTS AND MISSION GOALS THROUGH ITS NATIONAL ACTION TEAM ALERTS, DIGITAL CAMPAIGNS, WEBSITE CONTENT, POLICY VIDEOS, MEDIA THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS, AND THE ERA DIGITAL POLICY HUB. ERA'S EFFORTS GARNER OVER 100 MILLION SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS ANNUALLY REACHING COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING EQUAL PAY DAY EVENTS AND CAMPAIGNS WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ERA ALSO CONDUCTS COMMUNITY RESEARCH TO TRACK TRENDS AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE IT SERVES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 October 13, 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 March 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 September 1972.
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 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.