Womens Refugee Commission Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND YOUTH DISPLACED BY CONFLICT AND CRISIS. THE WOMEN'S REFUGEE COMMISSION ENVISIONS A WORLD IN WHICH REFUGEES ARE SAFE, HEALTHY AND RELIANT AND SEEKS TO DRIVE CHANGE IN HUMANITARIAN PRACTICE.
- Income
- $3.6 million
- Spending
- $6.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 31
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $297,259, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 76% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (9)
- $1.2 million spent. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT & SELF RELIANCE: MOST REFUGEES DEEPLY WANT TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES-TO WORK, TO USE THEIR SKILLS, AND TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FINANCES, THEIR LIVES, AND THEIR FUTURES. THE WOMEN'S REFUGEE COMMISSION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS PROVIDE REFUGEE WOMEN AND YOUTH ACCESS TO CASH ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND HELP THEM SAFELY EARN A LIVING. THIS, IN TURN, INCREASES REFUGEES' SELF-RELIANCE AND RESILIENCE. OUR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND SELF-RELIANCE WORK INVOLVES DEVELOPING GUIDANCE ON CASH ASSISTANCE AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFUGEE WOMEN, AS WELL AS BUILDING REFUGEES' SELF-RELIANCE AND RESILIENCE.
- $781,733 spent. MIGRANT RIGHTS AND JUSTICE (MRJ): THE MIGRANTS RIGHTS AND JUSTICE (MRJ) PROGRAM WORKS TO ENSURE FAIR ACCESS TO ASYLUM IN THE U.S. FOR THOSE FLEEING PERSECUTION AND VIOLENCE, PROMOTES THE USE OF ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION ESPECIALLY OF ASYLUM-SEEKING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, HUMANE CONDITIONS IN DETENTION FACILITIES WHEN THEY ARE USED, AND ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES FOR THEIR ASYLUM CLAIMS. THE MRJ PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED AGAINST THE FAMILY SEPARATION POLICY, FOR BETTER PROTECTIONS FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS ARRIVING IN THE U.S., AND FOR RELEASE OF FAMILIES WHEN FEASIBLE. WRC, WORKING WITH PARTNERS, ASSISTED IN THE REUNIFICATION OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND HAS DRAFTED A MORE HUMANE ASYLUM POLICY FOR THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION.
- $729,718 spent. GENDER AND SOCIAL INCLUSION: ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL REQUIRES RECOGNIZING THAT SOME GROUPS FACE ADDITIONAL OBSTACLES AND BARRIERS. THE WOMEN'S REFUGEE COMMISSION PROMOTES THE FULL INCLUSION OF TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS, SUCH AS REFUGEE WOMEN, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THE LGBTQI COMMUNITY, AND ADOLESCENT GIRLS, IN IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS AND DESIGNING PROGRAMS THAT MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS AND BUILD UPON THEIR CAPACITIES. OUR GENDER AND SOCIAL INCLUSION WORK INCLUDES LEARNING DIRECTLY FROM REFUGEES FROM TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED GROUPS ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND WORKING TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY.
- $147,264 spent. ADVOCACY: WRC'S ADVOCACY TEAM WORKS TO ENSURE THAT U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL LAWS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN, YOUTH, AND LGBTQIA+ PEOPLE WHO ARE DISPLACED BY CONFLICT AND CRISIS. WRC ENGAGES WITH U.S. ELECTED OFFICIALS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTORS IN GENEVA, AND UN BODIES IN NEW YORK, INCLUDING THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL. ROOTED IN THE PRINCIPLES OF RESILIENCE AND GENDER EQUALITY AND SUPPORTING THE LEADERSHIP OF LOCAL ACTORS, THE ADVOCACY TEAM WORKS WITH STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS ALL SECTORS TO ENSURE THAT PREVENTION AND RESPONSES TO FORCED DISPLACEMENT REFLECT THE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF THOSE WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED.
- $477,970 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: THROUGH ITS COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WRC USES TRADITIONAL MEDIA, DIGITAL MEDIA, EVENTS, AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING TO HELP ADVANCE ITS PROGRAM, ADVOCACY, AND DEVELOPMENT GOALS AS WELL AS TO ADVANCE WRC STRATEGIC PLAN. COMMUNICATIONS WORKS CROSS-DEPARTMENTALLY AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND DISPLACED PERSONS TO FOSTER A CONTINUUM OF ENGAGEMENT ACROSS ITS KEY AUDIENCES - PRACTITIONER, POLICYMAKER, DONOR, MEDIA, AND NPR TO ELEVATE WRC'S BRAND AND REINFORCE OUR EXPERTISE IN THE HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS SECTORS.
- $130,998 spent. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: AROUND THE WORLD, UP TO SIX OF EVERY TEN WOMEN EXPERIENCE PHYSICAL AND/OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME. DURING WAR OR OTHER HUMANITARIAN CRISES-SUCH AS THE BRUTAL CONFLICT CURRENTLY OCCURRING IN SYRIA-THE RISKS TO WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE HEIGHTENED. WITH THE BREAKDOWN OF MORAL AND SOCIAL ORDER THAT OCCURS DURING EMERGENCIES, WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO PHYSICAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION, RAPE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. PERPETRATORS MAY BE FAMILY MEMBERS, NEIGHBORS OR OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, MEMBERS OF ARMED GROUPS OR, IN SOME INSTANCES, HUMANITARIAN WORKERS. EVEN AFTER A CRISIS ABATES, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV) MAY CONTINUE AT HIGH LEVELS AS COMMUNITIES STRUGGLE TO HEAL AND REBUILD. WRC IS PART OF THE MULTI-STAKEHOLDER INITIATIVE, CALL TO ACTION TO ADDRESS GBV IN EMERGENCIES. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT LEAD (CANADA IN 2018 - 2020/ DENMARK IN 2021 -2023), SUPPORTING ROLLOUT AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL, ANALYZING PARTNER COMMITMENTS TO ADDRESS GAPS, AND CAPTURING PROGRESS AGAINST THE CALL TO ACTION ROADMAP INDICATORS. WRC ALSO LEADS GLOBAL EFFORTS ON RESEARCHING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST DISPLACED MEN, BOYS, AND LGBTQIA+ POPULATIONS AND HAS PUT THESE UNDESERVED POPULATIONS ON THE HUMANITARIAN AGENDA THROUGH FACT-FINDING RESEARCH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES, AND THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
- $586,307 spent. GLOBALCAMPAIGN
- $164,502 spent. INTER-AGENCY WORKING GROUP (IAWG): WRC SERVES AS THE SECRETARIAT FOR THE INTER-AGENCY WORKING GROUP ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN EMERGENCIES AND LEADS EFFORTS ON FAMILY PLANNING, SAFE ACCESS TO ABORTION CARE, AND ADOLESCENT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES. WRC IS ALSO LEADING INTER-AGENCY EFFORTS TO RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND HOW CONFLICT AND DISPLACEMENT IMPACT THE PRACTICE OF CHILD MARRIAGE TO IDENTIFY THE DRIVERS OF SUCH AND IDENTIFY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT MITIGATE RISKS AND REDUCE THE PRACTICE OF CHILD MARRIAGE.
- $146,009 spent. SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 October 13, 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 September 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 April 2014.
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 October 21, 2026.
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