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Womens Fund of East Tenenssee

EIN 47-4871564 · Knoxville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported a significant diversion of its assets during the year.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE WOMEN'S FUND IS A CATALYST TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF LOW-INCOME WOMEN AND GIRLS IN EAST TENNESSEE BY FOSTERING PHILANTHROPY AND MAKING GRANTS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

Income
$439,271
Spending
$584,287
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
2
Volunteers
32

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

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 78% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $432,636 spent. STRENGTHING A SELECT GROUP OF NON-PROFIT PARTS TO WORK TOGETHER AND DEVELOP SOLUTUIONS AROUND KEY ISSUES IMPACTING LOW-INCOME WOMEN AND GIRLS IN OUR 25 COUNTY SERVICE AREA. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS CALLED THE STRONG WOMEN STRONG FUTURES NETWORK. WITH GROUP CONVENINGS FOCUS ON POOLING RESOURCES, CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION COMMUNITIES TO HELP REMOVE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION FOR THE LOW-INCOME WOMEN AND GIRLS WE SERVE. IN 2025, THE WOMENS FUND OF EAST TENNESSEE WILL START ADDRESSING URGENT NEEDS OR EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALIGN WITH OUR MISSION AND VALUES, HELPING ORGANIZATIONS ENHANCE THEIR SERVICES AND EXPAND THEIR REACH.
  2. $21,360 spent. GRANT TO THE SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION TO BUILD THE PERMANENT ENDOWMENT OF THE WOMEN'S FUND OF EAST TENNESSEE
  3. $11,250 spent. GRANT TO SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION, EAST TENNESSEE FOUNDATION, IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS MISSION.

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 2015.

    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.