Hands of Mothers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
HANDS of MOTHERS (formerly Manos de Madres) is dedicated to carving pathways out of poverty and improving the lives of vulnerable women and their families through income generation initiatives founded upon the principles of cooperation, creativity, fair trade and sustainability. Manos works exclusively with women and young adults in existing or emerging cooperatives to develop capacity through financial, technical and business training supports as well as assistance in product development, production, marketing and sales. HANDS OF MOTHERS strives to ensure that fair trade standards are maintained and that food, security, health, and education objectives are furthered.
- Income
- $78,543
- Spending
- $85,603
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -11.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 7
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 212% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 12 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $78,092 spent. 2024 UPDATE EDUCATION INITIATIVES- 165 Childred attended school, including lunch, uniforms, books, and school supplies. 48 High Risk teen children of Sec Workers attended boarding school. 1 adult attended college with partial funding from HOM. 101 students attended an innovative 5 seek intensive English Language summer school.46 upper-level high school students regularly participated in our Pathways to Success mentoring program.Expanded the Hands of Mothers English Language Library.Instituted the Hands of Mothers Computer Academy providing rising high school juniors and seniors (30 students) with a 1 month long hands-on computer and IT training in July 2024. In October 2024 training was given to 16 recent high school graduates.2023 UPDATE--YEP: Youth Empowerment Program to equip recent high school graduates with professional and life skills. Goals are to enhance their employability and transform them into future peer trainers. Generously funded by the US Embassy in collaboration with the US nonprofit Photo Start--ELEP: English Language Enrichment Program designed to elevate English skills among students in our program and enhance their overall academic performance.--SEX EDUCATION-Conducted a 2-day Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights training program for all summer school students in conjunction with the Rwandan nonprofit GROWN TO HELP. Intergration of sex education in the summer school program to prevent early pregnancies and provide crucial knowledge on sexual and reproductive health.--BOARDING PROGRAM-47 high risk teen children of sex workers attended boarding high school. This fully funded initiative aims to protect them from the trauma, and physical and sexual abuse commonly faced in their mother's line of work.--LIBRARY-Grew from 250 TO 600 books- This free resource serves as a crucial tool to strengthen English language skills among our students.--ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTSLG-Savings and Lending Group initiative increased to 5, with 143 women actively saving and extending/repaying loans to each other as a first step in finding safe and legal alternatives to sex work. Weekly financial literacy and entrepreneurship training was provided to the women in the SLGs 2022 UPDATE-Children's Education Initiative-Funded 160 children with school fees, lunch, uniforms, books, and school supplies who otherwise would not have access to this lifechanging opportunity.2021 UPDATESupport for all Programs and inititives and Emergency Relief continued.HOM**Education Initiative-----The program grew to 156 children in 2020.**Emergency Relief -----Covid-19 Hunger Relief program- assisted 156 families-----84 Solar radios were distributed for access to government broadcast of school lessons during Covid-19 lockdowns.2019 UPDATEHOM**Education Initiative-----School Fees for children of the women in our programs.The program stated in fall of 2018. The program grew to 151 students in 2019 and added boys. Tuition is paid on a trimester basis directly to school. We provide uniforms, books, backpacks, school supplies, and sanitary pads.-----Literacy training for women in the Sex Workers Group. Includes monthly tuition, books, supplies, and transportation. Length of program i 12 to 18 months, 3 afternoons per week. The program doubled in size from 5 to 10 women.** Sex Work to Safe Work Intiative: Creation of legal, safe income generation alternativees to prostitution for the women in the WE-ACTx Sex Workers Support Groups.-----Program grew from 83 in 2018 to 105 -4 groups of women who meet with Hands of Mothers once per month. HOM managed Savings and Lening Groups. New Times Article.**Continuation of existing technical support programs to 2 remaining cooperatives-INEZA Textile Cooperative and Twiyubake Sandal Cooperative.2018 UPDATEHOM**New-Sex Work to Safe Work Initiative Funded-Identified legal and safe income alternatives to prostitution for 83 women; and Implemented 3 savings & Lending groups amoong these women focusing on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and group lending.**New-Education Initiative Funded- School fees for 52 girls as school in Rwanda is not free and girls from vulnerable familes are disproportionately impacted. -Tuition paid on a trimester basis directly to school -Provision of uniforms, books, supplies, and sanitary pads Literacy training for women in the Sex Workers Group -Includes monthly tuition, books, supplies, and transportation.HOM continued to provide technical support to 126 women in the existing programs. Assistance to 4 cooperatives to adapt to market changes and escalating costs of materials etc. -New Product Development -Marketing -Applications for Grants Assistance to entrepreneurs - women who have received micro-loans------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2017 UPDATE - HOM **Funded vocational training and internships for 3 young women; 2 in tailoring and 1 in cosmetology**Baho Agricultural Assoc-HOM started a new chicken/egg farm to replace the organic garden displaced by urban development**All COOPERATIVES-HOM improved self management; Expanded product lines; Improved production techniques and product quality; Increased distribution and market penetration**HOM Increased independence and business management capacity of supported enterprises**HOM expanded the entrepreneurship training and micro-lending program to include 2 women in the WE-ACTx social Assistance Service------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2016 UPDATEHOM added a peace Corps Response Volunteer position in Rwanda to assist in staff and cooperative capacity building and development of strategic partnerships in RwandaEjo Hazaza started a Mushroom Pilot. Demonstrated a demand for mushrooms. The challenge now is to meet that demand.They also received their official government Certification with assistance from HOMThe Twyubake Sandal Cooperative was awarded two grants to support work - US Embassy and Peace Corps. They also re
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2012.
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 2024.
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 2014.
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.