Empower Dc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF EMPOWER DC IS TO BUILD THE POWER OF DC RESIDENTS THROUGH RESIDENT-LED COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TO ADVANCE RACIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 17.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 90
- Highest pay
- $142,126, 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 10Did not give 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)
- $1.0 million spent. IN 2025, EMPOWER DC CONTINUED TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, TENANT RIGHTS, HOUSING JUSTICE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACROSS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WE CONDUCTED OUTREACH AT MORE THAN 300 MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS WHERE TENANTS WERE FACING POOR HOUSING CONDITIONS, EVICTION THREATS, DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES, AND OTHER URGENT CONCERNS. WE ALSO VISITED THE HOMES OF OVER 500 RESIDENTS FACING EVICTION AND CONNECTED THEM WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS, AVAILABLE RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION. EMPOWER DC HELD 65 TENANT MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS, VOUCHER HOLDERS, AND OTHER TENANTS TO SHARE INFORMATION, IDENTIFY COMMON CONCERNS, DEVELOP ORGANIZING STRATEGIES, AND PREPARE RESIDENTS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO HELD 8 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 101 TRAINING SESSIONS ACROSS THE CITY AND LED 15 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WALKING TOURS IN IMPACTED COMMUNITIES TO BUILD RESIDENT KNOWLEDGE, LEADERSHIP, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS AFFECTING DC NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR MEMBERS REMAINED ACTIVE IN LOCAL ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC DECISION-MAKING. EMPOWER DC MEMBERS PRESENTED 67 TESTIMONIES BEFORE THE DC COUNCIL, AND 27 MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL OFFICES TO RAISE CONCERNS AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICY SOLUTIONS. THROUGH OUR OUTREACH AND DIGITAL ADVOCACY EFFORTS, WE RECRUITED 1,126 NEW CONTACTS, AND 635 PARTICIPANTS GENERATED 5,489 EMAILS TO THE DC COUNCIL URGING ACTION ON IMPORTANT HOUSING, TENANT RIGHTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES.
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 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 December 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 September 2011.
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.