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Women Venture

EIN 41-1463426 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO ACHIEVE THEIR ECONOMIC GOALS BY BUILDING PROFITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES THAT TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 49%
Employees
39
Volunteers
74
Highest pay
$258,921, chief executive officer

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.8 million spent. ENTREPRENEURSHIP:WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER - THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) AT WOMENVENTURE IS ONE OF TWO WBCS IN MINNESOTA. WBCS ARE PART OF A NETWORK OF NEARLY 100 EDUCATIONAL CENTERS DESIGNATED BY THE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WHO FACE UNIQUE OBSTACLES IN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS. WBCS ENSURE THAT RESOURCES LIKE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CLASSES AND CONSULTING ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY OR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED. WOMENVENTURE IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY BUS AND OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CLASSES AND SERVICES TO QUALIFYING CLIENTS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)TRAINING - WOMENVENTURE SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS WITH A VARIETY OF CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS, INCLUDING LEVELS FOR STARTUP, EMERGING, AND GROWING BUSINESSES. KEY MULTIPART SERIES INCLUDE GETTING READY, WHERE CLIENTS DETERMINE IF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS RIGHT FOR THEM; SMALL BUSINESS ESSENTIALS, A 5-SESSION COURSE THAT COVERS ALL OF THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF CREATING AND FINE-TUNING A BUSINESS PLAN TO LAUNCH THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS WITH CONFIDENCE; AND LAUNCHED & GROWING, A 10-SESSION COURSE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF OPERATION. OTHER OFFERINGS FOCUS ON SPECIALIZED TOPICS SUCH AS LEGAL STRUCTURE, WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT, AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. WOMENVENTURE ALSO FOCUSES ON CHILDCARE BUSINESS - BOTH FAMILY CHILDCARE AND CHILDCARE CENTERS.TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - BUSINESS CONSULTANTS ASSIST CLIENTS IN EVALUATING NEW BUSINESS CONCEPTS, BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL PLANNING, FINANCING, LOAN PACKAGING, ACCOUNTING SERVICES, MARKETING, AND SPECIFIC CHALLENGES FACING THEIR SMALL BUSINESS. THE BUSINESS CONSULTING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AT WOMENVENTURE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH SMALL BUSINESSES AND OFFER VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHT UNIQUE TO WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS. IN FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, WOMENVENTURE SERVED 1,490 ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS: 90% WERE WOMEN, 57% LOW-INCOME; AND 52% WERE BIPOC.
  2. $1.2 million spent. LENDING:MICROLOANS - WOMENVENTURE IS AN SBA MICROLOAN PROVIDER OFFERING BUSINESS LOANS UP TO $100,000 TO QUALIFIED BORROWERS TO START OR EXPAND SMALL BUSINESSES. WOMENVENTURE'S LOAN STAFF GUIDES APPLICANTS THROUGH THE PROCESS TO DETERMINE READINESS AND QUALIFICATIONS. OTHER CAPITAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - SOURCES INCLUDE FUNDS FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (DEED), SBA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (CDFI), PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS AND THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.WOMENVENTURE DEPLOYED 46 LOANS TOTALING $1,586,800.

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

  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 June 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 September 1984.

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