Girls Garage
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GIRLS GARAGE IS A NONPROFIT DESIGN AND BUILDING PROGRAM AND DEDICATED WORKSPACE FOR GIRLS AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE YOUTH AGES 9-18. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS AFTER-SCHOOL, SUMMER, AND WEEKEND PROGRAMMING IN STEM, ARCHITECTURE, AND CARPENTRY SKILLS THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $149,118, executive di
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
- $92,132 spent. YOUNG WOMENS DESIGN AND BUILDING INSTITUTE: THIS YEAR-LONG INSTITUTE INTRODUCES GIRLS AGES 9TH-12TH GRADE TO MULTIPLE DESIGN AND BUILDING TECHNIQUES, SKILLS, MEDIA, AND A COMMUNITY OF FEARLESS BUILDER WOMEN. FROM GRAPHIC DESIGN AND SCREEN PRINTING TO CARPENTRY, WELDING, AND ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTING, GIRLS WILL EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF BUILDING IN THEIR OWN LIVES, LEARNING, AND FUTURES. THIS PROGRAM IS BY APPLICATION ONLY, AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS IF ACCEPTED, AND LIMITED TO A COHORT OF 12 GIRLS.
- $313,402 spent. ADVANCED DESIGN/BUILD: OUR ADVANCED DESIGN/BUILD BRINGS TOGETHER 9TH-12TH GRADE GIRLS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO TACKLE COMPLEX, COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS FOR NONPROFIT CLIENTS DESIGNED AND BUILT BY GIRLS THEMSELVES. THIS PROGRAM IS NO-COST, YEAR-ROUND, AND ENROLLS COHORTS OF 12-16 GIRLS PER YEAR.
- $70,747 spent. BUILDER BOOTCAMP: OVER A WEEK-LONG "BOOTCAMP FOR BUILDERS" EXPERIENCE, GIRLS AGES 9-13 WILL DESIGN AND BUILD PROJECTS TO TAKE HOME AS WELL AS PROJECTS RESPONDING TO REAL-WORLD CHALLENGES. ALONG THE WAY, GIRLS WILL LEARN SKILLS IN CARPENTRY, GRAPHIC DESIGN, METALWORK, COLLABORATION, AND TEAMWORK. OUR SUMMER CAMPS ARE TAUGHT BY TALENTED FEMALE EDUCATORS AND BUILDERS WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE.
- $606,277 spent. VARIOUS OTHER PROJECTS DIRECTED TOWARDS FURTHERING THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO PROVIDE DESIGN AND BUILDING PROGRAMS AND DEDICATED WORKSPACE FOR GIRLS AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE YOUTH AGES 9-18.
- VARIOUS OTHER PROJECTS DIRECTED TOWARDS FURTHERING THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO PROVIDE DESIGN AND BUILDING PROGRAMS AND DEDICATED WORKSPACE FOR GIRLS AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE YOUTH AGES 9-18.
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 May 2008.
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.