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Womens Initiative for Self- Empowerment

EIN 41-1791358 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUPPORT IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN, GIRLS AND THOSE ON THE FEMININE GENDER SPECTRUM IN THEIR JOURNEY OF SELF-ACTUALIZATION THROUGH CULTURALLY- RESPONSIVE EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, SYSTEMS CHANGE AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$862,646
Spending
$836,955
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
9
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$84,222, executive di

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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 92% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $177,962 spent. OVW - THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TO PROVIDE PREVENTION THROUGH INTERVENTION SERVICES IN RELATION TO DATING VIOLENCE/STALKING/SEXUAL ASSAULT/SEX TRAFFICKING/CYBERBULLYING FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDING WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY MAGNET SCHOOL IN ST. PAUL, MN. IT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL, WISE AND TRANSFORMING GENERATIONS, A HMONG-COMMUNITY BASED VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDER FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE TRAINING STUDENTS AND SCHOOL STAFF ON ACTIVE BYSTANDER INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, REVIEWING AND REVISING SCHOOL POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS IN RESPONSE TO INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, GENERAL AND LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES TO YOUTH VICTIMS/SURVIVORS, AND TRAINING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT/JUDICIARY/PROBATION/SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ON TRAUMA-INFORMED VICTIM-CENTERED RESPONSES TO YOUTH VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF THESE CRIMES. OVW - THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TO PROVIDE PREVENTION THROUGH INTERVENTION SERVICES IN RELATION TO DATING VIOLENCE/STALKING/SEXUAL ASSAULT/SEX TRAFFICKING/CYBERBULLYING FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDING WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY MAGNET SCHOOL IN ST. PAUL, MN. IT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL, WISE AND TRANSFORMING GENERATIONS, A HMONG-COMMUNITY BASED VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDER FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE TRAINING STUDENTS AND SCHOOL STAFF ON ACTIVE BYSTANDER INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, REVIEWING AND REVISING SCHOOL POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS IN RESPONSE TO INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, GENERAL AND LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES TO YOUTH VICTIMS/SURVIVORS, AND TRAINING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT/JUDICIARY/PROBATION/SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ON TRAUMA-INFORMED VICTIM-CENTERED RESPONSES TO YOUTH VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF THESE CRIMES.
  2. $81,689 spent. GIRLS GETTING AHEAD IN LEADERSHIP (GGAL) WORKS WITH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE GIRLS ON COLLEGE PREP, TUTORING, CAREER EXPLORATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND LIFE SKILLS.
  3. $59,947 spent. HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WHICH FOCUSES ON EDUCATING GGAL AND WELEAD PARTICIPANTS ON THE ASPECTS OF BUILDING A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNICATION BUILT ON MUTUAL RESPECT/SUPPORT - THIS PROGRAM'S RESOURCES ARE DIRECTED TOWARD PREVENTION OF DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING/CYBERSTALKING AND TRAFFICKING.
  4. $403,349 spent. WELEAD, WHERE GGAL ALUMS AND OTHER IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE WOMEN ENROLLED IN POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS RECEIVE HOMEWORK HELP, CAREER GUIDANCE, SCHOLARSHIPS, INTERNSHIP/PRACTICUM PLACEMENT, AND ASSISTANCE WITH ENROLLING/TRANSFERRING/ SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS/FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS.
  5. WELEAD, WHERE GGAL ALUMS AND OTHER IMMIGRANT/REFUGEE WOMEN ENROLLED IN POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS RECEIVE HOMEWORK HELP, CAREER GUIDANCE, SCHOLARSHIPS, INTERNSHIP/PRACTICUM PLACEMENT, AND ASSISTANCE WITH ENROLLING/TRANSFERRING/ SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS/FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS.

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 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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 June 1995.

    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 October 21, 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.