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Philanos

EIN 46-3953482 · Ellicott, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PHILANOS' MISSION IS TO EMPOWER AND ADVANCE WOMEN'S COLLECTIVE GIVING TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.

Income
$235,996
Spending
$174,799
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
33.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
0
Volunteers
85

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (5)
  1. $12,173 spent. THE PHILANOS CONFERENCE, KNOWN AS POWERUP!, IS A NATIONAL GATHERING THAT BRINGS TOGETHER WOMEN INVOLVED IN COLLECTIVE GIVING TO FOSTER COLLABORATION, LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. PLANNING BEGAN IN REPORTED FY FOR THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE IN FEBRUARY 2026.
  2. $32,654 spent. PHILANOS OFFERS MEMBERS-ONLY MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS, AS WELL AS TIMELY INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE COVERING RELEVANT TOPICS IN PHILANTHROPY AND GRANTMAKING. PHILANOS CONDUCTED 7 WEBINARS AND CONTINUED A MONTHLY SERIES OF MODERATED DISCUSSIONS FOR AFFILIATES TO DISCUSS ISSUES AND IDEAS FOR STRENGTHENING THEIR GIVING CIRCLES.
  3. IN OCTOBER 2023, PHILANOS WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO BE AWARDED A MULTIYEAR GRANT FROM FIDELITY CHARITABLE CATALYST FUND. OVER 3 YEARS, WE WILL RECEIVE A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $406,000, WITH THE 2ND PAYMENT OF $135,000 RECEIVED IN DEC 2024. THIS GRANT WILL ALLOW US TO: 1. PILOT NEW EFFORTS TO INCREASE GIVING CIRCLES IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL AND MOUNTAIN WEST BY HAVING REGIONAL GATHERINGS THAT REQUIRE TRAVEL BY BOARD MEMBERS, MEETING SPACES, FOOD AND SOME MEMBERSHIP SUBSIDIES (3-4/YR). 2. EXPAND BIPOC REACH WITH NETWORK ENGAGEMENT AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS.3. INCREASE DIVERSITY OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS BY FUNDING ADDITIONAL INCLUSIVE COHORTS IN FUTURE CONFERENCES. 4. ENCOURAGE AFFILIATES TO START, STRENGTHEN OR RESTART A YOUNG PHILANTHROPIST PROGRAM BY OFFERING AN EDUCATIONAL COHORT AND STIPENDS
  4. $1,000 spent. PHILANOS AWARDS AN ANNUAL SPOTLIGHT AWARD TO THREE AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS AND A WILLOUGHBY AWARD TO ONE MEMBER OF AN AFFILIATE ORGANIZATION.
  5. $68,272 spent. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER NONPROFIT SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS, PHILANOS HOST REGIONAL CIRCLEUP GATHERINGS ACROSS SIXTEEN STATES, AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: DENVER, LAS VEGAS, RENO, BOISE, PHOENIX, NASHVILLE, JACKSON, MS, NEW ORLEANS, HOUSTON AND ALBUQUERQUE. THESE EVENTS BRING TOGETHER FOUNDATIONS, FUNDERS, NONPROFIT LEADERS, GIVING CIRCLES AND DONORS TO CELEBRATE COLLECTIVE GIVING AND INCREASE PHILANTHROPIC CONNECTIONS AND SUPPORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 November 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.

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