Women for Economic and Leadership Development
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WELD DEVELOPS AND ADVANCES WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.
- Income
- $675,425
- Spending
- $734,914
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 242
- Highest pay
- $181,227, president/ce
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
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% 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
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 28 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (3)
- $185,419 spent. WELD HAS DIVERSIFIED ITS MEMBERSHIP FOOTPRINT TO NOW COVER 16 STATES. THE COMBINATION OF ITS IN-PERSON PROGRAMS AND VIRTUAL PROGRAM LINEUP HAS DELIVERED VALUE TO ITS MEMBERS. ITS MEMBER-ONLY PROGRAMS INCLUDE: NEW AND RENEWING MEMBER PROGRAMS, BOARD PROGRAMS AND SPECIALTY PROGRAMS. ITS CORPORATE MEMBER ONLY PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE EXECUTIVE WOMEN'S SERIES AND BUSINESS RESOURCE GROUPS BEST PRACTICES SERIES. CERTAIN MEMBERSHIP CLASSES ARE ABLE TO ATTEND EITHER THE TELL IT LIKE IT IS THURSDAY WEBINAR SERIES PROGRAMS OR E-CHAPTER WEBINAR PROGRAMS FOR FREE. MEMBERS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE DEEP REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS RELATIVE TO NON-MEMBERS.
- $356,704 spent. KEYNOTE: THE WELD COLUMBUS CHAPTER HELD A KEYNOTE IN 2025. THE EVENT FEATURED MELINDA DAVENPORT, WHO AT THE TIME, WAS VICE PRESIDENT OF MESSAGING AND TALENT MARKETING AT EQUINIX (NASDAQ: EQIX). SHE IS A STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE AND MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARDS CHARM INDUSTRIAL AND BOSTON COMMON GOLF. HER TOPIC WAS "OUTTHINK. OUTLEAD. OUTLAST. THE AI REVOLUTION AND YOUR POWER MOVE." CORPORATE BOARD CONFERENCE: FOR OVER 15 YEARS, WELD HAS PROVIDED CORPORATE BOARD TRAINING AND BOARD JOURNEY PREPARATION AS ONE OF ITS CORE OFFERINGS. ITS 2025 SOLD-OUT CONFERENCE FEATURED SUSAN RECTOR, BOARD CHAIR, PEOPLES BANCORP INC. (NASDAQ: PEBO) AND PEOPLES BANK, AND ROBERT H. SCHOTTENSTEIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT OF M/I HOMES, INC. (NYSE: MHO) AND INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR FOR INSTALLED BUILDING PRODUCTS (NYSE: IBP), AS ITS KEYNOTE DINNER "FIRESIDE CHAT" SPEAKERS. COLLEEN MARSHALL, NEWS ANCHOR, NBC4, WCMH-TV, MODERATED THE SESSION WHERE SHE SHARED KEY LEARNINGS ABOUT HER BOARD AND EXECUTIVE JOURNEY AND PROVIDED EXCELLENT STRATEGIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PURSUE CORPORATE BOARD SEATS. THE EVENT ALSO INCLUDED SESSIONS WITH 13 OTHER DIRECTORS. THE CONFERENCE INCLUDED PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON HOT TOPICS IN THE BOARDROOM AND EMERGING PRACTICES FROM THE NOM/GOV PROCESS ALONG WITH ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS ON THE BOARD JOURNEY. LEADERSHIP: WELD HOSTS AN ANNUAL WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EACH SUMMER TO EDUCATE WOMEN AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. THE 2025 CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON UNLEASHING POTENTIAL. MOTIVATE. MAGNIFY. MULTIPLY. A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ADDRESSED THE DIVERSE WAYS WOMEN CAN DEVELOP AND APPLY LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC SERVICE VIA MAKING CONNECTIONS. THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CAREER TRACKS. ATTENDEES WALKED AWAY WITH A STRONG SENSE OF THE URGENT NEED TO APPLY THOUGHT AND CREATIVITY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AS WELL AS PRACTICAL SKILLS TO HELP ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. THIS CONFERENCE FEATURED JOHNNI BECKEL, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, OHIOHEALTH, AS THE OPENING SESSION SPEAKER AND FEATURED OVER 30 EXPERT PRESENTERS ON A VARIETY OF LEADERSHIP TOPICS. WELD HAD OVER 300 REGISTRATIONS, INCLUDING 50 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. THESE WOMEN ARE STRIVING FOR ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND ARE REINVENTING THEIR LIVES AFTER SUFFERING EXTREME SETBACKS. THEY WERE ABLE TO LEARN NEW SKILL SETS IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND BUILD NEW COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. WOMEN WELDING THE WAY CALENDAR(R) RECEPTION: THE WELD COLUMBUS CHAPTER LAUNCHED ITS 22ND ANNUAL WOMEN WELDING THE WAY CALENDAR. THESE CALENDARS SHOWCASE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF 12 WOMEN WHO ARE NOMINATED BY THE COMMUNITY AND SELECTED BY KEY BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE CALENDAR HONOREES ARE A DIVERSE MIX OF WOMEN WHO ARE LEADERS IN THEIR COMPANIES AND INDUSTRIES, HAVE POSITIVELY IMPACTED THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HAVE INSPIRED WOMEN TO STRIVE FOR THEIR CAREER ASPIRATIONS WHILE REACHING BACK FOR OTHERS. A PRINTED CALENDAR IS CREATED FOR EACH OF THESE CHAPTERS THAT SHOWCASES THE TALENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE WOMEN. THIS EVENT WAS HELD IN PERSON AT THE OHIO STATEHOUSE. OVER 200 BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS REGISTERED TO ATTEND THE EVENT. KEYNOTE: THE WELD COLUMBUS CHAPTER HELD A KEYNOTE IN 2025. THE EVENT FEATURED MELINDA DAVENPORT, WHO AT THE TIME, WAS VICE PRESIDENT OF MESSAGING AND TALENT MARKETING AT EQUINIX (NASDAQ: EQIX). SHE IS A STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE AND MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARDS CHARM INDUSTRIAL AND BOSTON COMMON GOLF. HER TOPIC WAS "OUTTHINK. OUTLEAD. OUTLAST. THE AI REVOLUTION AND YOUR POWER MOVE." CORPORATE BOARD CONFERENCE: FOR OVER 15 YEARS, WELD HAS PROVIDED CORPORATE BOARD TRAINING AND BOARD JOURNEY PREPARATION AS ONE OF ITS CORE OFFERINGS. ITS 2025 SOLD-OUT CONFERENCE FEATURED SUSAN RECTOR, BOARD CHAIR, PEOPLES BANCORP INC. (NASDAQ: PEBO) AND PEOPLES BANK, AND ROBERT H. SCHOTTENSTEIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT OF M/I HOMES, INC. (NYSE: MHO) AND INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR FOR INSTALLED BUILDING PRODUCTS (NYSE: IBP), AS ITS KEYNOTE DINNER "FIRESIDE CHAT" SPEAKERS. COLLEEN MARSHALL, NEWS ANCHOR, NBC4, WCMH-TV, MODERATED THE SESSION WHERE SHE SHARED KEY LEARNINGS ABOUT HER BOARD AND EXECUTIVE JOURNEY AND PROVIDED EXCELLENT STRATEGIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PURSUE CORPORATE BOARD SEATS. THE EVENT ALSO INCLUDED SESSIONS WITH 13 OTHER DIRECTORS. THE CONFERENCE INCLUDED PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON HOT TOPICS IN THE BOARDROOM AND EMERGING PRACTICES FROM THE NOM/GOV PROCESS ALONG WITH ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS ON THE BOARD JOURNEY. LEADERSHIP: WELD HOSTS AN ANNUAL WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EACH SUMMER TO EDUCATE WOMEN AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. THE 2025 CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON UNLEASHING POTENTIAL. MOTIVATE. MAGNIFY. MULTIPLY. A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ADDRESSED THE DIVERSE WAYS WOMEN CAN DEVELOP AND APPLY LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN BOTH PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC SERVICE VIA MAKING CONNECTIONS. THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CAREER TRACKS. ATTENDEES WALKED AWAY WITH A STRONG SENSE OF THE URGENT NEED TO APPLY THOUGHT AND CREATIVITY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AS WELL AS PRACTICAL SKILLS TO HELP ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. THIS CONFERENCE FEATURED JOHNNI BECKEL, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, OHIOHEALTH, AS THE OPENING SESSION SPEAKER AND FEATURED OVER 30 EXPERT PRESENTERS ON A VARIETY OF LEADERSHIP TOPICS. WELD HAD OVER 300 REGISTRATIONS, INCLUDING 50 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. THESE WOMEN ARE STRIVING FOR ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND ARE REINVENTING THEIR LIVES AFTER SUFFERING EXTREME SETBACKS. THEY WERE ABLE TO LEARN NEW SKILL SETS IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND BUILD NEW COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS. WOMEN WELDING THE WAY CALENDAR(R) RECEPTION: THE WELD COLUMBUS CHAPTER LAUNCHED ITS 22ND ANNUAL WOMEN WELDING THE WAY CALENDAR. THESE CALENDARS SHOWCASE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF 12 WOMEN WHO ARE NOMINATED BY THE COMMUNITY AND SELECTED BY KEY BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE CALENDAR HONORE
- $168,859 spent. WELD HOLDS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO TEACH SKILLS USEFUL FOR LEADERS AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THEIR CAREERS. TYPICALLY, THESE ARE A BLEND OF IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE THE EMERGING PROFESSIONAL SERIES PROGRAMS TARGETED TO THOSE JUST STARTING OUT IN THEIR CAREERS, THE LEADERSHIP SERIES PROGRAMS TARGETED TO MID-CAREER PROFESSIONALS COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS AND AN EXECUTIVE WOMEN'S SERIES FOR SENIOR LEADERS AND C-SUITE EXECUTIVES. WELD CONTINUED TO OFFER SEVERAL PROGRAMS WITH SHRM, CPE AND OH CLE. WELD LAUNCHED A FULL YEAR OF BOARD PROGRAMS/C-SUITE SERIES DESIGNED TO HELP WOMEN OBTAIN THEIR FIRST SEAT ON A NONPROFIT BOARD. THE TOPICS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC COMPANY FINANCIALS, NONPROFIT FINANCIALS, PREPARING FOR THE BOARD INTERVIEW AND OTHER BOARD PREPARATION TOPICS. WELD ALSO CONDUCTED ITS ANNUAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM ON GOVERNMENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS GOVERNANCE SKILLS TRAINING. WELD CONDUCTED SEVERAL NEW MEMBER PROGRAMS ACROSS ITS CHAPTER BASE AND ALSO HOSTED ITS ANNUAL AFFINITY GROUPS BEST PRACTICES SESSION FOR ITS CORPORATE MEMBERS. WELD ALSO CONDUCTED COHORT-BASED LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PREPARE AND HELP WOMEN ACHIEVE THEIR FIRST PROMOTION INTO MANAGEMENT. IN 2025, WELD CONDUCTED 2 COHORTS FOR ITS PATHWAY TO MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. WELD ALSO LAUNCHED TWO COHORT OF ITS PATHWAY TO MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR WOMEN OF COLOR THIS YEAR ATTRACTING MAJOR GRANT SUPPORT AND DELIVERING EXCELLENT ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS. IN ALL, WELD HAD OVER 3,200 WOMEN AND MEN ATTENDED OUR 2025 LEADERSHIP AND MEMBER PROGRAMS AND SIGNATURE EVENTS. WELD HAD 164 WOMEN AND MEN SERVED AS PROGRAM SPEAKERS. WELD HOLDS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO TEACH SKILLS USEFUL FOR LEADERS AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THEIR CAREERS. TYPICALLY, THESE ARE A BLEND OF IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE THE EMERGING PROFESSIONAL SERIES PROGRAMS TARGETED TO THOSE JUST STARTING OUT IN THEIR CAREERS, THE LEADERSHIP SERIES PROGRAMS TARGETED TO MID-CAREER PROFESSIONALS COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS AND AN EXECUTIVE WOMEN'S SERIES FOR SENIOR LEADERS AND C-SUITE EXECUTIVES. WELD CONTINUED TO OFFER SEVERAL PROGRAMS WITH SHRM, CPE AND OH CLE. WELD LAUNCHED A FULL YEAR OF BOARD PROGRAMS/C-SUITE SERIES DESIGNED TO HELP WOMEN OBTAIN THEIR FIRST SEAT ON A NONPROFIT BOARD. THE TOPICS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC COMPANY FINANCIALS, NONPROFIT FINANCIALS, PREPARING FOR THE BOARD INTERVIEW AND OTHER BOARD PREPARATION TOPICS. WELD ALSO CONDUCTED ITS ANNUAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM ON GOVERNMENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS GOVERNANCE SKILLS TRAINING. WELD CONDUCTED SEVERAL NEW MEMBER PROGRAMS ACROSS ITS CHAPTER BASE AND ALSO HOSTED ITS ANNUAL AFFINITY GROUPS BEST PRACTICES SESSION FOR ITS CORPORATE MEMBERS. WELD ALSO CONDUCTED COHORT-BASED LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PREPARE AND HELP WOMEN ACHIEVE THEIR FIRST PROMOTION INTO MANAGEMENT. IN 2025, WELD CONDUCTED 2 COHORTS FOR ITS PATHWAY TO MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. WELD ALSO LAUNCHED TWO COHORT OF ITS PATHWAY TO MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR WOMEN OF COLOR THIS YEAR ATTRACTING MAJOR GRANT SUPPORT AND DELIVERING EXCELLENT ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS. IN ALL, WELD HAD OVER 3,200 WOMEN AND MEN ATTENDED OUR 2025 LEADERSHIP AND MEMBER PROGRAMS AND SIGNATURE EVENTS. WELD HAD 164 WOMEN AND MEN SERVED AS PROGRAM SPEAKERS.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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