Womens Law Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WOMEN'S LAW PROJECT CREATES A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY BY ADVANCING THE RIGHTS AND STATUS OF ALL WOMEN THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. TO THIS END, WE ENGAGE IN HIGH-IMPACT LITIGATION, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION. THE CORE VALUES OF WOMEN'S LAW PROJECT ARE A BELIEF IN THE RIGHT OF ALL WOMEN TO BODILY INTEGRITY AND PERSONAL AUTONOMY; DEDICATION TO LISTENING TO WOMEN AND BEING GUIDED BY THEIR EXPERIENCES; AND COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 6.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 66
- Highest pay
- $152,535, executive di
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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 21 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 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)
- $1.5 million spent. WOMEN'S LAW PROJECT (WLP), A PENNSYLVANIA LEGAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1974, LEVERAGES THE POWER OF THE LAW TO ELIMINATE GENDER BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION. WLP ENVISIONS A SOCIETY IN WHICH JUSTICE AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY ARE NOT DETERMINED BY SEX, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE, ECONOMIC STATUS, OR INTERSECTING IDENTITIES. WLP BELIEVES THAT EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO BODILY AUTONOMY, HEALTH, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND FREEDOM FROM VIOLENCE, AND THAT PERSONAL DECISIONS ABOUT SEXUALITY AND PROCREATION MUST BE PROTECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT INSTEAD OF INTRUDED UPON. A KEYSTONE OF WLP'S WORK IS OUR COMMITMENT TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH TO ENSURE THAT ALL PERSPECTIVES ARE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON SOLUTIONS AND TO STREAMLINE ADVOCACY EFFORTS, THUS RENDERING THEM MORE EFFECTIVE AND MEANINGFUL. WLP HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF NUMEROUS LEGAL AND POLICY INITIATIVES INVOLVING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND NATIONWIDE, FOR OVER FIVE DECADES. WE CHALLENGE LAWS AND POLICIES DESIGNED TO LIMIT OR DENY ACCESS TO ABORTION AND CONTRACEPTION. WE RECENTLY ACHIEVED A LANDMARK RULING BEFORE THE PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT AND COMMONWEALTH COURT ON BEHALF OF PENNSYLVANIA ABORTION PROVIDERS IN ALLEGHENY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CENTER V. PENNSYLVANIA DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES, RECOGNIZING A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY UNDER OUR STATE CONSTITUTION. WE DIRECTLY REPRESENT MINORS WHO ARE SEEKING JUDICIAL BYPASS ORDERS TO PERMIT THEM TO CONSENT TO ABORTION CARE. IN ADDITION, WE ADVOCATE FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO CRIMINAL SANCTIONS RELATED TO THEIR PREGNANCY. WLP HAS A SUBSTANTIAL PORTFOLIO OF WORKPLACE JUSTICE ADVOCACY. WE PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON EMPLOYMENT-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION CASES, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON BEHALF OF LOW-INCOME WORKERS. WE AUTHOR AMICUS CURIAE (FRIEND OF THE COURT) BRIEFS ON WORKPLACE JUSTICE ISSUES. WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO POLICY MAKERS ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT, PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION, LACTATION ACCOMMODATION, PAY EQUITY, AND PAID SICK DAYS. WE TESTIFY AT RELEVANT LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS. WLP REPRESENTS PREGNANT STUDENTS WHO EXPERIENCE DISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS. WLP HAS A LONG TRACK RECORD OF TITLE IX CHALLENGES TO INEQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND UNFAIR TREATMENT DISADVANTAGING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCHOOL-BASED ATHLETICS. WLP IS A LEADING ADVOCATE WORKING TO IMPROVE SYSTEMIC RESPONSES TO DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE, WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL IMPACT. WLP LED A REFORM EFFORT THAT RESULTED IN COMPLETE REORGANIZATION OF THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE TO SEX CRIMES, INCLUDING AN UNPRECEDENTED CASE REVIEW BY ADVOCATES, WHICH IS NOW A NATIONAL MODEL. WLP IS INVOLVED IN LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCACY IN PHILADELPHIA IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, IMMIGRANT, AND SENIOR CITIZEN SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND BATTERERS' INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF COORDINATING ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE VICTIM SAFETY AND PERPETRATOR ACCOUNTABILITY. WLP AUTHORS AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS HIGHLIGHTING THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS, AND HAS AUTHORED MANUALS, JUDICIAL DESK BOOKS, AND NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. WLP VIEWS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LGBTQ PEOPLE AS A FORM OF SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION THAT ARISES FROM THE SAME HARMFUL GENDER-BASED STEREOTYPES THAT AFFLICT CISGENDER PEOPLE. WLP REPRESENTS LGBTQ PEOPLE IN WORKPLACE, SCHOOL, HEALTH CARE, AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS CASES, SEEKING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO FULL AND EQUAL PARTICIPATION AND ERADICATE STIGMA. WE PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE LEGAL INFORMATION AND POLICY ANALYSIS FOR COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH OUR EXTENSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM, IN-PERSON MEETINGS, DEVELOPING AND SHARING TALKING POINTS ON RELEVANT INITIATIVES, PARTICIPATING IN CONFERENCES, AND PROVIDING MESSAGING ASSISTANCE TO OUR ALLIES. WOMEN'S LAW PROJECT (WLP), A PENNSYLVANIA LEGAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1974, LEVERAGES THE POWER OF THE LAW TO ELIMINATE GENDER BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION. WLP ENVISIONS A SOCIETY IN WHICH JUSTICE AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY ARE NOT DETERMINED BY SEX, GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RACE, ECONOMIC STATUS, OR INTERSECTING IDENTITIES. WLP BELIEVES THAT EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO BODILY AUTONOMY, HEALTH, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND FREEDOM FROM VIOLENCE, AND THAT PERSONAL DECISIONS ABOUT SEXUALITY AND PROCREATION MUST BE PROTECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT INSTEAD OF INTRUDED UPON. A KEYSTONE OF WLP'S WORK IS OUR COMMITMENT TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH TO ENSURE THAT ALL PERSPECTIVES ARE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON SOLUTIONS AND TO STREAMLINE ADVOCACY EFFORTS, THUS RENDERING THEM MORE EFFECTIVE AND MEANINGFUL. WLP HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF NUMEROUS LEGAL AND POLICY INITIATIVES INVOLVING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND NATIONWIDE, FOR OVER FIVE DECADES. WE CHALLENGE LAWS AND POLICIES DESIGNED TO LIMIT OR DENY ACCESS TO ABORTION AND CONTRACEPTION. WE RECENTLY ACHIEVED A LANDMARK RULING BEFORE THE PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT AND COMMONWEALTH COURT ON BEHALF OF PENNSYLVANIA ABORTION PROVIDERS IN ALLEGHENY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CENTER V. PENNSYLVANIA DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES, RECOGNIZING A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY UNDER OUR STATE CONSTITUTION. WE DIRECTLY REPRESENT MINORS WHO ARE SEEKING JUDICIAL BYPASS ORDERS TO PERMIT THEM TO CONSENT TO ABORTION CARE. IN ADDITION, WE ADVOCATE FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO CRIMINAL SANCTIONS RELATED TO THEIR PREGNANCY. WLP HAS A SUBSTANTIAL PORTFOLIO OF WORKPLACE JUSTICE ADVOCACY. WE PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON EMPLOYMENT-BASED SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION CASES, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON BEHALF OF LOW-INCOME WORKERS. WE AUTHOR AMICUS CURIAE (FRIEND OF THE COURT) BRIEFS ON WORKPLACE JUSTICE ISSUES. WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
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
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 June 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 April 1974.
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.