Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Why We Can T Wait

EIN 46-0755751 · Goodlettsvlle, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Why We Can't Wait Inc's Mission is to empower and develop youth in the under-served communities to become productive citizens in society; also improve parent involvement by encouraging better parent/child relations, and combat growing health concerns in under-served/underprivileged communities such as, but not limited to, childhood obesity and diabetes, and sedentary lifestyles of families.

Income
$441,831
Spending
$398,788
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
1
Volunteers
5

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 65% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $298,988 spent. WWCW Afterschool Academy occurs Monday through Thursday, from 3:30 until 6:00 p.m. It features dinner, homework help, tutoring, social/ emotional learning sessions, Restorative practice sessions, team building and enrichment activities in sports as well as the arts, i.e., African/hip-hop dance, yoga, spoken word, flag football, golf, Step, etc. We also have students from local colleges and universities to assist in our mentoring program. In addition, we will have an incentive field trip to be taken at the end of each semester for participants that have perfect attendance, improved grades, and little to no office visits. The funding partner for this initiative is the Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA).
  2. $25,000 spent. WWCW Career Applications Regarding Students (C.A.R.S) summer teen job program is a collaborative between Why We Can't Wait, Inc., and Metro Action Power Youth Teen job program that provided job for 80-100 teens. These sites allow teens to explore various careers in the various organizations. The teens receive four hours a day/ 20 hours a week at the rate of $12 an hour. Why We Can't Wait, Inc. hires and trains site coordinators to help stabilize the teams at each site, completing a PowerPoint to conclude the six weeks experience
  3. $32,300 spent. WWCW Cultivating Character in Millennials Leadership Academy CCM Leadership Academy is an eight-week summer enrichment program. It is city-wide and serves ages 6 - 16, providing left brain and right brain experiences. Mornings consist of science/technology/engineering, English/language arts, math and sports. Following lunch, arts & crafts, African dance, Zumba and leadership development. Thursday's are reserve for college tours and every Friday we have field trips
  4. $42,500 spent. WWCW BASI - Building A Sucess In Students - Juvenile Justice Center

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

  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 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 February 2014.

    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.