Womens Empowerment International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Womens Empowerment funds econcomic empowerment programs including small business loans, training, education, and other vital poverty alleviation strategies for women experiencing poverty. More on Schedule O.
- Income
- $412,287
- Spending
- $389,464
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $111,600, executive director
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (11)
- $68,330 spent. Nyaka Expenses 22.5 of total program expenses including Grants of 51,000 Revenue Grants to Nyaka provided funds for loans for grandmothers experiencing poverty who are each raising and supporting grandchildren in conditions of dire poverty. During 2025, the program successfully transitioned 2,400 grandmothers from subsistence-level support toward sustainable entrepreneurship by increasing capital access and providing essential business training. In 2025, Nyaka grew the program to 23,376 grandmothers organized into 261 groups. Nyaka conducted 258 training sessions, reaching 17,086 participants. These sessions equipped grandmothers with essential knowledge, financial literacy, and skills, contributing to their wellbeing and that of their families.
- $55,437 spent. International Rescue Committee in San Diego Expenses 18.9 of total program expenses including Grants of 43,000 Revenue 0 Business services and entrepreneurship training were provided for women in refugee, immigrant, and low-income communities in San Diego through grants to the International Rescue Committee in San Diego and their WE STAR Programs. In 2025 the business programs enrolled 128 new women clients and provided training sessions and technical assistance to 112 women. 42 new women-owned businesses were started 55 businesses showed an increase in sales. An estimated 183 jobs were created or sustained from these activities.
- $45,123 spent. Via International Expenses 15.4 of total program expenses including Grants of 35,000 Revenue Grants to Via International provided funding for microloans and educational programs for women who are in or at risk of entering the sex trade industry in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, and for women who have recently immigrated or been deported to the area. The program provides resources to increase economic and social empowerment for women disproportionately burdened by poverty, lacking education and access to employment, poor health outcomes, violence, and other human rights violations. WE funds in 2025 were used to support staff that are operating the microloan program and supporting new groups of women. Two existing indigenous women groups continued to operate successfully, maintaining their 26 clients. Two other groups of 21 women from the deported mothers community are supported in their development of leadership and small sales initiatives. Lastly, 13 women in the ESTIMA loan group continued to gain experience and expand their businesses.
- Program Service Expenses 33,520, Grants and allocations 26,000, Revenue 0 Adelante Foundation Expenses 11.5 of total program expenses including Grants of 26,000 Revenue 0 Grants to the Adelante Foundation provided small business loans and business training to women experiencing poverty in Honduras to start or strengthen their businesses. In 2025, funds to Adelante supported 4,954 loans. WEs funds also supported Adelantes efforts to add 1,247 new women clients to its portfolio. A portion of the funds were used for educational programs and expansion of services to other parts of the country. In 2025, Adelante also expanded into Olancho region, one of the most underserved and isolated regions in Honduras.
- Program Service Expenses 16,762, Grants and allocations 13,000, Revenue 0 Multicolores Expenses 5.7 of total program expenses including Grants of 13,000 Revenue 0 This grant supports a program with Multicolores in Guatemala to elevate the skills and income potential of 48 Maya women from nine rural communities who have traditional textile art and embroidery skills so that they can produce high-end home decor items. The program focuses on creative and economic development, mental health and well-being, and leadership. The grant support includes that for five workshops to expand the womens skills and understanding of the marketplace. Women were able to work from home while caring for their families pay for school supplies, nutrition, clothing, and medical care improve their homes, save, and begin small investment projects and make independent spending decisions.
- Program Service Expenses 29,652, Grants and allocations 23,000, Revenue 0 OEF de El Salvador Expenses 10.1 of total program expenses including Grants of 23,000 Revenue 0 The grant to OEF de El Salvador supported a pilot program training women experiencing poverty in areas of life and work skills, entrepreneurship, health education, gender equity and human rights, and leadership skills. 36 women in 14 communities received loans for the establishment or strengthening of a business. The grant provided funding for the loan pool, as well as training supplies and support of project staff. Trainings supported the economic and social empowerment of over 400 women with topics including human and women rights, gender equity, female empowerment, and womens and family health.
- Program Service Expenses 12,892, Grants and allocations 10,000, Revenue 0 Tipey Joa Native Warriors Expenses 4.4 of total program expenses including Grants of 10,000 Revenue 0 A grant for a new partner, Tipey Joa Native Warriors, was approved in 2025 with work beginning in 2026. Tipey Joa supports indigenous women across Baja California and the Southern California border region. Our grant will expand Tipey Joas Womens Empowerment through Arts and Vital Enterprise W.E.A.V.E. program to help women gain skills in traditional arts, business management, and cooperative organizing. The grant will support the programs aim to strengthen the economic self-sufficiency of participating women by deepening their roles as artisans, cultural educators, and community leaders.
- Program Service Expenses 12,893, Grants and allocations 10,000, Revenue 0 SDSU Research Foundation Expenses 4.4 of total program expenses including Grants of 10,000 Revenue 0A new partner approved in 2025 with work beginning in 2026, SDSU Research Foundation, working with researchers from the SDSU School of Social Work, will conduct a pilot project to support women experiencing homelessness in San Diego County. They will use weekly, small group sessions, over a 12-week period, to help participants access resources and navigate systems to regain stability, as well as improve their skills and job readiness on the path to economic empowerment.
- Program Service Expenses 10,314, Grants and allocations 8,000, Revenue 0 Rooted Wisdom Africa Expenses 3.5 of total program expenses including Grants of 8,000 Revenue 0This grant will support a new partner, Rooted Wisdom Africa, and was approved in 2025 with work beginning in 2026. The grant will support their Stitching Futures program in South Central Uganda to provide 180 women and girls with vocational training in sewing and business skills so they can earn income by producing items like school uniforms and personal care products. The grant will fund training, the purchase of sewing machines and supplies, and business start-up funding for program graduates.
- Program Service Expenses 7,735, Grants and allocations 6,000, Revenue 0 Urban Corps of San Diego County Expenses 2.6 of total program expenses including Grants of 6,000 Revenue 0 This grant supports Urban Corps of San Diego County to aid female Corpsmembers in buying a used car that enables them to successfully compete for and maintain well-paying jobs that were not possible without reliable transportation, in addition to completing advanced educational classes. Through these grants, 15 women have been able to purchase their own cars for reliable transportation to job sites and school, expanding their career and education opportunities and putting their goals within reach. Financial literacy training is an additional aspect of the program, providing each Corpsmember with focused counseling and financial and budgeting training.
- Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 2,000, Revenue 0 Buhoma Community Conservation Development Initiative Expenses 0.9 of total program expenses including Grants of 2,000 Revenue 0Through this new grant partner, Buhoma Community Conservation Development Initiative, and pilot program, this project serves the Batwa community in Uganda. The Batwa people were displaced from their ancestral homeland when National Parks were created and today live in deep poverty and isolation. The funding provides a one-time grant to purchase sewing machines for their tailoring program and provide small loans to buy fabric and supplies so that the participating women can earn income and build self-reliance.
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
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 December 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 2005.
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.
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