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National Womens Law Center

EIN 52-1213010 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE AND PROTECT WOMEN'S LEGAL RIGHTS. THE CENTER FOCUSES ON MAJOR POLICY AREAS OF IMPORTANCE TO WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES INCLUDING EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND HEALTH, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE CONCERNS OF LOW-INCOME WOMEN.

Income
$24.2 million
Spending
$39.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
192
Volunteers
31
Highest pay
$562,916, president and ceo

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

Weak: 41 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 64% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $8.2 million spent. EDUCATION & WORKPLACE JUSTICE: BROUGHT LITIGATION ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS CHALLENGING THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO END FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS SERVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS AND FOR PROGRAMS HELPING WOMEN ENTER THE SKILLED TRADES, AS WELL AS PAY DISCRIMINATION, PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION, AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN IN HIRING. LAUNCHED NARRATIVE AND POLICY CAMPAIGN WITH COALITION PARTNERS TO PROTECT AGAINST ATTACKS ON GENDER JUSTICE AT WORK. DEFENDED THE RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS AND TRANS INCLUSIVE POLICIES. ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF THE RIGHTS OF STUDENT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. PROVIDED ANALYSIS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ON THE GENDER WAGE GAP. DOCUMENTED THE IMPACTS OF BOOK BANS AND ATTACKS ON PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGH THE VOICES AND STORIES OF TEACHERS. EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPACT OF STAFF CUTS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION.- THROUGH THE TIME'S UP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, SUPPORTED INDIVIDUALS CHALLENGING WORKPLACE HARASSMENT IN THE COURTS AND THROUGH PUBLIC STORYTELLING; CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ASSISTANCE WITH SEX DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS TO ATTORNEYS IN THE LEGAL NETWORK FOR GENDER EQUITY.
  2. $8.2 million spent. REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND HEALTH: PROTECTED REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN THE COURTS. EDUCATED THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS ON THE IMPACTS OF THREATENED CUTS TO MEDICAID AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH. SHINED A SPOTLIGHT ON BLACK WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES THROUGH RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. PUBLISHED REPORTS SHOWING HOW ARGUMENTS USED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ABORTION ARE BEING USED TO ATTACK HEALTH CARE FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL. CREATED RESOURCES CONNECTING ABORTION ACCESS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND HIGHLIGHTING HOW REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ARE WORKERS' RIGHTS.- THROUGH THE ABORTION ACCESS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND TO HELP PAY LEGAL EXPENSES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES FACING PROCEEDINGS BECAUSE THEY SOUGHT ABORTION, PROVIDED ABORTION, OR HELPED SOMEONE OBTAIN AN ABORTION OF INFORMATION ABOUT ABORTION CARE.
  3. $8.0 million spent. CHILD CARE AND INCOME SECURITY: RAISED AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE EXPIRATION OF PANDEMIC-ERA CHILD CARE INVESTMENTS ON CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND CHILD CARE. PRODUCED REPORTS DESCRIBING STATE CHILD CARE POLICIES AND CONVENED STATE CHILD CARE ADVOCATES AND ADMINISTRATORS. HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORT ROLE OF IMMIGRANTS WITHIN CARE WORKFORCE. EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPACT OF STAFF CUTS, AGENCY OFFICE CLOSURES, POLICY CHANGES, AND FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZES ON CHILD CARE AND HEAD START PROGRAMS. PROVIDED ANALYSIS OF TAX POLICY CHANGES AND IMPACTS OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS ON THE ECONOMIC SECURITY, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF WOMEN, LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, AND FAMILIES. DOCUMENTED WAYS IN WHICH WOMEN AND CHILDREN CONTINUED TO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A ROBUST ECONOMIC RECOVERY. SUPPORTED THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN COMMITTED TO SHARING THEIR PERSONAL STORIES TO HELP SHAPE ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND CHILD CARE POLICIES THAT REFLECT THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES; HELPED BUILD COALITIONS AND ADVOCACY IN STATES.
  4. $6.3 million spent. GENDER JUSTICE STRATEGY AND POLICY - PROVIDED RESEARCH AND POLICY RESOURCES TO STATE LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES COMMITTED TO GENDER JUSTICE AND FACILITATED CROSS-STATE PEER LEARNING AND COLLABORATION THROUGH OUR STATE GENDER POLICY COLLECTIVE.- ANALYZED WHAT PROJECT 2025 PROPOSALS WOULD MEAN FOR WOMEN, LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, AND FAMILIES; TRACKED AND TRANSLATED THE IMPACTS OF THESE POLICIES AS THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.- RELEASED THE STATE PLAYBOOK FOR GENDER JUSTICE, SETTING OUT SEVEN CROSS-CUTTING POLICY AGENDAS AND 12 POLICY BRIEFS LAYING OUT A FRAMEWORK FOR STATE-LEVEL GENDER JUSTICE POLICIES; PUBLISHED STATE FACT SHEETS CAPTURING KEY DATA FOR MEASURING GENDER EQUITY.- AMPLIFIED EXAMPLES OF STATE STRATEGIES AND SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT IN RESPONSE TO FEDERAL OVERREACH AND ABUSES IN FEDERAL ATTACKS TO STATE ACTION: HOW STATE LEGISLATORS ARE FIGHTING BACK.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.