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Athena Foundation

EIN 38-2717362 · Lansing, MI

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • 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

ATHENA INTERNATIONAL IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT DEVELOPS, SUPPORTS AND HONORS GIRLS AND WOMEN FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE BOARDROOM, BUILDING A GLOBAL PIPELINE OF WOMEN LEADERS.

Income
$558,864
Spending
$567,308
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
2
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$93,555, president

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

Weak: 38 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 352% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 79 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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. $440,523 spent. ATHENA INTERNATIONAL IS A CATALYST FOR DEVELOPING DIVERSE, TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERS WHO CREATE A BALANCE IN LEADERSHIP VOICES WORLDWIDE. WE IGNITE, AMPLIFY, AND CELEBRATE GIRLS, WOMEN AND ALLIES THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER THEM TO DISCOVER AND ACTIVATE THE AUTHENTIC LEADER WITHIN. THE ESTABLISHED ATHENA LEADERSHIP MODEL (ALM) IS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO AND IS DRIVEN BY THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP: LIVE AUTHENTICALLY, LEARN CONSTANTLY, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, FOSTER COLLABORATION, ACT COURAGEOUSLY, ADVOCATE FIERCELY, GIVE BACK AND CELEBRATE. OUR GOLD-STANDARD ATHENA LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS GIVE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO SUSTAIN AND GROW A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF ALLIED LEADERS. WE SUPPORT WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN REACHING NEW LEVELS OF SUCCESS THROUGH ATHENAPOWERLINK, AN INNOVATIVE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS SELECTED WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WITH AN ADVISORY BOARD TAILORED TO FIT THEIR NEEDS AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, WE HAVE RECOGNIZED OUTSTANDING WOMEN AND PIONEERING LEADERS WITH GLOBAL, NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARDS. WITH MORE THAN 8,500 RECIPIENTS WE CELEBRATE THE CHANGEMAKERS AND TRAILBLAZERS WHO OPEN DOORS OF LEADERSHIP AND OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN, GIRLS, AND ALLIES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE. ATHENA INTERNATIONAL IS A CATALYST FOR DEVELOPING DIVERSE, TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERS WHO CREATE A BALANCE IN LEADERSHIP VOICES WORLDWIDE. WE IGNITE, AMPLIFY, AND CELEBRATE GIRLS, WOMEN AND ALLIES THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER THEM TO DISCOVER AND ACTIVATE THE AUTHENTIC LEADER WITHIN. THE ESTABLISHED ATHENA LEADERSHIP MODEL (ALM) IS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO AND IS DRIVEN BY THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP: LIVE AUTHENTICALLY, LEARN CONSTANTLY, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, FOSTER COLLABORATION, ACT COURAGEOUSLY, ADVOCATE FIERCELY, GIVE BACK AND CELEBRATE. OUR GOLD-STANDARD ATHENA LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS GIVE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO SUSTAIN AND GROW A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF ALLIED LEADERS. WE SUPPORT WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN REACHING NEW LEVELS OF SUCCESS THROUGH ATHENAPOWERLINK, AN INNOVATIVE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS SELECTED WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WITH AN ADVISORY BOARD TAILORED TO FIT THEIR NEEDS AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, WE HAVE RECOGNIZED OUTSTANDING WOMEN AND PIONEERING LEADERS WITH GLOBAL, NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ATHENA LEADERSHIP AWARDS. WITH MORE THAN 8,500 RECIPIENTS WE CELEBRATE THE CHANGEMAKERS AND TRAILBLAZERS WHO OPEN DOORS OF LEADERSHIP AND OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN, GIRLS, AND ALLIES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE.

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

  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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as revoked as of December 31, 2003. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Ab Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 27-5278038. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.