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Wny Womens Foundation

EIN 27-4154672 · Buffalo, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WNY WOMEN'S FOUNDATION (WNYWF) TRANSFORMS SYSTEMS, CULTURE, AND POLICY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EACH WOMAN TO THRIVE

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$705,831
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
34.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
7
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$149,182, ceo

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 90% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (4)
  1. $391,615 spent. WNYWF'S MPOWER: FROM EDUCATION TO EMPLOYMENT (FORMERLY MOMS: FROM EDUCATION TO EMPLOYMENT) EVOLVED IN 2020 FROM A COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION PROGRAM TO INCLUDE SHORT-TERM, HIGH-SUPPORT WORKFORCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS. CURRENT EFFORTS FOCUS ON HEALTHCARE SUPPORT TRAINING THROUGH THE WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PATHWAY (WEMP), A PERSON-CENTERED, TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND DATA-DRIVEN COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE EMPOWERING WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES TOWARD ECONOMIC SUCCESS. MPOWER PRIMARILY SERVES THE CITY OF BUFFALO, WHERE 53.5% OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY ARE HEADED BY WOMEN, FAR EXCEEDING NATIONAL AVERAGES. SINCE 2014, MPOWER HAS SUPPORTED APPROXIMATELY 2,700 WOMEN (AND SINGLE FATHERS) PURSUING EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING, CREATING PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND EMPOWERMENT.
  2. $53,624 spent. ALL IN COLLABORATES WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO INVEST IN PURPOSEFUL EFFORTS TO EMPOWER WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE AND ILLUMINATE PATHWAYS TO BUILD STRONGER LEADERS, SUPPORTS EQUITY & CULTURE FOR WOMEN TO LEAD LEADING TO BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. A DATA-DRIVEN, INTERSECTIONAL INITIATIVE, ALL IN ADVANCES GENDER EQUITY IN WESTERN NEW YORK THROUGH FOUR PATHWAYS: EMPLOYER PATHWAY, WHICH ENGAGES EMPLOYERS TO MOVE WOMEN AND GENDER MINORITIES INTO LEADERSHIP AND FOSTER INCLUSIVE COMPANY CULTURES; ASPIRING LEADER PATHWAY (READY, SET, LEAD!), WHICH CULTIVATES ASPIRING LEADERS THROUGH MENTORSHIP, EDUCATION, AND NETWORKING IN A BROAD CROSS-SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY; ENTREPRENEUR PATHWAY, WHICH ELEVATES WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES THROUGH PROMOTION, ENDORSEMENT, PARTNERSHIP, AND COLLABORATION; SHE-SUITE (LAUNCHED IN 2024), WHICH SUPPORTS WOMEN CEOS AND SENIOR WOMEN LEADERS TO CONNECT, GROW, AND LEAD BOLDLY AND LEADERSHIP ALLIES ENGAGING ALL GENDERS TO SUPPORT WORKPLACE SUCCESS.
  3. $1,881 spent. WNYWF AMPLIFIES WOMEN'S VOICES TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUITY THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS. IN 2024, WE RELEASED SEVEN WHITE PAPERS TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY AND GUIDE DECISION-MAKERS. AS A TRUSTED, CREDIBLE SOURCE OF DATA, WE CENTER WOMEN'S VOICES THROUGH AN INTERSECTIONAL GENDER LENS AND, THROUGH DEEP COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, RAISE AWARENESS OF COMMUNITY NEEDS WITH DATA THAT TELLS A STORY AND ELEVATES WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES. WNYWF IS THE GO-TO SOURCE FOR DATA AND INFORMATION ON ISSUES IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING GENDER EQUITY, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND CHILD CARE AS AN ESSENTIAL WORKFORCE SUPPORT. OUR RESEARCH INFORMS POLICYMAKERS AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS, AND OUR MEDIA PRESENCE HELPS SHIFT PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND DRIVE SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT WOMEN AND THUS OUR COMMUNITY.
  4. $1,375 spent. WNYWF EDUCATES AND ENGAGES DECISION-MAKERS TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND FUNDING THAT ACCELERATE THE PACE OF CHANGE FOR ISSUES IMPACTING WOMEN AND THUS OUR COMMUNITIES. AS A RESPECTED, TRUSTED, AND NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION WITH A PROVEN RECORD OF COLLABORATION, WE CONNECT FUNDERS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF OUR MOST MARGINALIZED AND DRIVE SYSTEMIC CHANGE. OUR LEADERSHIP HAS HELPED SECURE A RECORD, TRANSFORMATIONAL STATE INVESTMENT IN THE CHILD CARE WORKFORCE AND BUSINESSES, AND EXPAND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PARENTS. WNYWF'S EXPERTISE IS FREQUENTLY SOUGHT BY STAKEHOLDERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND COALITIONS FOR REPORTS, HEARINGS, ADVOCACY EFFORTS, TASK FORCES, AND POLICY GUIDANCE.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.

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