Braveworks
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR VISION IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR GOD-INSPIRED TRANSFORMATION THROUGH ARTISAN ENTERPRISE, LEADING TO ABUNDANT & PURPOSEFUL LIVES. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN & FAMILIES OVERCOMING TRAUMA & INJUSTICE, BRIDGING THE GAP FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE THROUGH: - IMPACTFUL CONNECTIONS,INSPIRED CREATIONS AND ECONOMIC CONFIDENCE. WE WORK WITH WOMEN IN THE US AS WELL AS AFRICA AND SOUTH/CENTRAL AMERICA, EMPOWERING THEM THROUGH PURPOSEFUL WORK, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CONNECTION TO RESOURCES/SOCIAL CAPITAL, ALL WHILE HELPING THEM TO HEAL FROM THEIR TRAUMA. THE WOMEN WE SERVE ARE OVERCOMING TRAFFICKING, ABUSE, ADDICTION, INCARCERATION, POVERTY AND ETHNIC PERSECUTION. THEY COME TO US BROKEN, WITH THEIR CONFIDENCE SHATTERED. WE OFFER A JUDGEMENT-FREE ZONE WHERE THEY ARE WELCOMED JUST AS THEY ARE. WE INTRODUCE THEM TO STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND PEERS FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, HAVING COME THROUGH A WIDE ARRAY OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND/OR TRAUMAS, AND HELP THEM DEVELOP A SUPPOR
- Income
- $913,725
- Spending
- $792,299
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $48,474, former exe d
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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $577,326 spent. WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION BY PROVIDING PART-TIME TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND PURPOSEFUL WORK ALONG WITH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO WOMEN OVERCOMING TRAFFICKING, ABUSE, ADDICTION, INCARCERATION, POVERTY AND ETHNIC PERSECUTION. THE WOMEN WE SERVE ARE REFERRED BY NON-PROFIT AND NGO PARTNERS SPECIALIZING IN THESE VARIOUS TRAUMAS. WE INTRODUCE THE WOMEN TO A DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY LEARN TRANSFERABLE WORK-READINESS SKILLS, RECEIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, EXPAND THEIR SOCIAL CAPITAL AND GAIN ACCESS TO THE ECONOMIC LADDER, OFTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES. THERE ARE OPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND WE SERVE REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, SEXUAL IDENTITY, RELIGION OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. WOMEN WORK WITH OUR TEAM TO IDENTIFY AND ACHIEVE LIFE GOALS SUCH AS EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, STABLE HOUSING, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, ESL, EMOTIONAL HEALTH, CONTINUED SOBRIETY, HEALTHY COMMUNITY, AND MORE. THESE WOMEN EMERGE FROM OUR PROGRAM CONFIDENT IN THEIR WORTH AND ABILITIES AND EQUIPPED WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THEIR NEWLY ACHIEVED GOALS. PROGRAM GRADUATES JOIN OUR ALUMNI PROGRAM WHERE THEY RECEIVE CONTINUED SUPPORT, COMMUNITY AND RESOURCES, AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR GRADUATES TO JOIN OUR LEAD AND ADVANCED ARTISAN PROGRAMS. OUR GRADUATES TELL US THAT THROUGH OUR PROGRAM THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE BACK INTO SOCIETY FULL OF HOPE AND WELL-EQUIPPED TO NAVIGATE THEIR FUTURE. WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION BY PROVIDING PART-TIME TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND PURPOSEFUL WORK ALONG WITH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO WOMEN OVERCOMING TRAFFICKING, ABUSE, ADDICTION, INCARCERATION, POVERTY AND ETHNIC PERSECUTION. THE WOMEN WE SERVE ARE REFERRED BY NON-PROFIT AND NGO PARTNERS SPECIALIZING IN THESE VARIOUS TRAUMAS. WE INTRODUCE THE WOMEN TO A DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY LEARN TRANSFERABLE WORK-READINESS SKILLS, RECEIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, EXPAND THEIR SOCIAL CAPITAL AND GAIN ACCESS TO THE ECONOMIC LADDER, OFTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES. THERE ARE OPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND WE SERVE REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, SEXUAL IDENTITY, RELIGION OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. WOMEN WORK WITH OUR TEAM TO IDENTIFY AND ACHIEVE LIFE GOALS SUCH AS EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, STABLE HOUSING, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, ESL, EMOTIONAL HEALTH, CONTINUED SOBRIETY, HEALTHY COMMUNITY, AND MORE. THESE WOMEN EMERGE FROM OUR PROGRAM CONFIDENT IN THEIR WORTH AND ABILITIES AND EQUIPPED WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THEIR NEWLY ACHIEVED GOALS. PROGRAM GRADUATES JOIN OUR ALUMNI PROGRAM WHERE THEY RECEIVE CONTINUED SUPPORT, COMMUNITY AND RESOURCES, AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR GRADUATES TO JOIN OUR LEAD AND ADVANCED ARTISAN PROGRAMS. OUR GRADUATES TELL US THAT THROUGH OUR PROGRAM THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE BACK INTO SOCIETY FULL OF HOPE AND WELL-EQUIPPED TO NAVIGATE THEIR FUTURE.
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 August 2014.
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.