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Childrens Welfare League Inc

EIN 56-6047373 · Asheville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING LEAGUE (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CHILDREN'S WELFARE LEAGUE) HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 100 YEARS. SINCE ITS FORMATION TO THE PRESENT, THE GOAL OF THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN TO IMPROVE AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN IN ASHEVILLE CITY AND BUNCOMBE COUNTY. FOR OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS CWL'S FOCUS HAS BEEN ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION HAS DONATED OVER 1 MILLION TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NEED THROUGH THEIR VARIOUS PROGRAMS.

Income
$263,207
Spending
$332,208
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
16.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
239

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $327,187 spent. CWL PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS STIPEND PROGRAM THE CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING LEAGUE WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS FROM ALL 10 BUNCOMBE COUNTY AND ASHEVILLE CITY HIGH SCHOOLS. SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS RECOMMEND STUDENTS TO CWL'S STIPEND PROGRAM BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED AND SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT. CWL CURRENTLY SERVES 320 STUDENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. EACH STUDENT RECEIVES A MONTHLY STIPEND OF 70 FOR NINE MONTHS WITH AN ADDITIONAL 100 FOR THE HOLIDAYS. HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 75, WITH EACH SCHOOL ALSO RECEIVING A GRADUATION GIFT OF 250 FOR A SPECIAL GRADUATE. TYPICALLY, STIPEND STUDENTS USE THE MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT NECESSITIES LIKE RENT, GROCERIES AND PERSONAL SUPPLIES. THEY ALSO USE IT FOR SCHOOL FEES, FIELD TRIPS AND, SOMETIMES, TO JUST BE ABLE TO JOIN THEIR FRIENDS IN TYPICAL TEEN ACTIVITIES LIKE A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES. THERE ARE WAITING LISTS AT EVERY SCHOOL FOR THIS PROGRAM. SOS - SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS BOTH STIPEND STUDENTS AND NON-STIPEND STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO A "NORMAL" HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. CWL IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO HELP THEM. THROUGH OUR SOS (SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS) FUND, THE ORGANIZATION IS ABLE TO ASSIST AT THE REQUESTS OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. REQUESTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOLS INCLUDE ITEMS SUCH AS COLLEGE HOUSING DEPOSITS, SPORTS EQUIPMENT, BAND TRIP FEES, AND UNIFORMS FOR CULINARY AND CNA PROGRAMS. IN TIMES OF EXTREME NEED, CWL HAS ALSO HELPED WITH SHORT TERM HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED OVER 32,000 IN REQUESTS FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. OTHER PROGRAMS WHILE THE STIPEND PROGRAM AND SOS ARE THE MAIN FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT CWL OFFERS TO THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PURCHASES BACKPACKS AND MATTRESSES FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS, SNACKS FOR ALL SOCIAL WORKERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS TO HAVE ON HAND, AND GAS CARDS FOR THE SCHOOLS TO GIVE OUT AT THEIR DISCRETION. CWL PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS STIPEND PROGRAM THE CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING LEAGUE WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS FROM ALL 10 BUNCOMBE COUNTY AND ASHEVILLE CITY HIGH SCHOOLS. SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS RECOMMEND STUDENTS TO CWL'S STIPEND PROGRAM BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED AND SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT. CWL CURRENTLY SERVES 320 STUDENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. EACH STUDENT RECEIVES A MONTHLY STIPEND OF 70 FOR NINE MONTHS WITH AN ADDITIONAL 100 FOR THE HOLIDAYS. HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 75, WITH EACH SCHOOL ALSO RECEIVING A GRADUATION GIFT OF 250 FOR A SPECIAL GRADUATE. TYPICALLY, STIPEND STUDENTS USE THE MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT NECESSITIES LIKE RENT, GROCERIES AND PERSONAL SUPPLIES. THEY ALSO USE IT FOR SCHOOL FEES, FIELD TRIPS AND, SOMETIMES, TO JUST BE ABLE TO JOIN THEIR FRIENDS IN TYPICAL TEEN ACTIVITIES LIKE A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES. THERE ARE WAITING LISTS AT EVERY SCHOOL FOR THIS PROGRAM. SOS - SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS BOTH STIPEND STUDENTS AND NON-STIPEND STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO A "NORMAL" HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. CWL IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO HELP THEM. THROUGH OUR SOS (SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS) FUND, THE ORGANIZATION IS ABLE TO ASSIST AT THE REQUESTS OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. REQUESTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOLS INCLUDE ITEMS SUCH AS COLLEGE HOUSING DEPOSITS, SPORTS EQUIPMENT, BAND TRIP FEES, AND UNIFORMS FOR CULINARY AND CNA PROGRAMS. IN TIMES OF EXTREME NEED, CWL HAS ALSO HELPED WITH SHORT TERM HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED OVER 32,000 IN REQUESTS FOR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. OTHER PROGRAMS WHILE THE STIPEND PROGRAM AND SOS ARE THE MAIN FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT CWL OFFERS TO THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PURCHASES BACKPACKS AND MATTRESSES FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS, SNACKS FOR ALL SOCIAL WORKERS AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS TO HAVE ON HAND, AND GAS CARDS FOR THE SCHOOLS TO GIVE OUT AT THEIR DISCRETION.

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 November 6, 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 1953.

    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 November 4, 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.