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Passes our checks

Sew Powerful

EIN 45-3327800 · Yuba City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEW POWERFUL IS A CHRISTIAN MINISTRY SERVING SCHOOLS, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES IN ZAMBIA WITH VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND PURPOSEFUL PRODUCTS, SUCH AS REUSABLE FEMININE HYGIENE PADS, SOAP, AND FOOD.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
1,673
Highest pay
$3,077, president

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% 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 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 10 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. PURSE PROGRAM - THE SEW POWERFUL PURSE PROGRAM IS BOTH A WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND A GIRLS' EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DELIVER MENSTRUAL HEALTH SUPPLIES TO FEMALE STUDENTS IN SPECIAL HEALTH CLASSES. TEAM MEMBERS ARE TRAINED IN VARIOUS ROLES AND ARE PAID FOR THEIR WORK TO OPERATE THE PROGRAM. DURING 2024, THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTED 31,253 STUDENTS.
  2. $548,992 spent. FEEDING & TRAINING PROGRAM - THREE PROGRAM AREAS. FIRST, WE PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 5,000 STUDENTS A DAILY LUNCH AT TEN LOCAL SCHOOLS. FOOD IS DONATED BY CONVOY OF HOPE AND SUPPLEMENTED BY FRESH FOOD WE PRODUCE. WE PROVIDE FUNDS TO EMPLOY COOKS AND COORDINATORS AT EACH SCHOOL TO PREPARE AND SERVE THE MEALS, AS WELL AS TO TRACK HEALTH OUTCOMES.SECOND, OUR "3 ESTHERS FARM" PRODUCES FRESH VEGETABLES AND ORCHARD FRUIT THAT ARE SERVED TO CHILDREN VIA THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.THIRD, THE BACKYARD GARDENS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON TEEN EMPOWERMENT BY HAVING OLDER TEENS MANAGE BACKYARD GARDENS FOR WIDOWS AND VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR SERVICE AREA.
  3. $47,820 spent. BUILDING PROGRAM - WE ARE WORKING TO COMPLETE A NEW CAMPUS IN LVINGSTONE ZAMBIA, WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN EXPANDED SEWING CO-OP, OFFICE SPACE, STAFF HOUSING, GUEST HOUSING, AND SPACE FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING.
  4. $26,813 spent. COSTS INCLUDE CHOLERA RESPONSE PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS GENERAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT EXPENSES.

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 December 2013.

    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.