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California Women Lead

EIN 51-0184448 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CALIFORNIA WOMEN LEAD IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE ROLE OF WOMEN AT ALL LEVELS OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS BY ENHANCING AND STRENGTHENING WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH NONPARTISAN TRAINING, EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND NETWORK DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$353,249
Spending
$270,766
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
1
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$137,000, executive director

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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% 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 66% of charities in its peer group (social science, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $155,183 spent. 2025 SUMMER RECEPTION: SUMMER NETWORK MIXER. IT WAS THE HIGHEST ATTENDED EVENT IN RECENT HISTORY.
  2. $9,617 spent. 2025 WINTER RECEPTION: WINTER NETWORK MIXER. WE PARTNERED WITH THE CA WOMEN'S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS TO HONOR CALIFORNIA DISTRICT WOMEN OF THE YEAR.
  3. $9,188 spent. CA LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S CAUCUS & CA WOMEN LEAD PARTNERSHIP : CALIFORNIA WOMEN LEAD CO-HOSTS POWER LUNCHEONS WITH THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE WOMEN'S CAUCUS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AND COMPLIMENTARY PROGRAMMING THAT WILL SUPPORT AND GROW WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND CAUCUS MEMBERS' DISTRICTS.

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 January 1976.

    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.