Cool Girls Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To empower girls from low-income communities by providing the tools to help girls make positive choices to achieve academic success, break the cycle of teen pregnancy and poverty, and to overcome the barriers of racism and sexism.
- Income
- $576,345
- Spending
- $941,898
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 13.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 48%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 101
- Highest pay
- $124,954, executive dir.
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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 63% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 95% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $733,749 spent. Cool Girls is dedicated to the self-empowerment of girls living in Atlantas most vulnerable communities. We support girls in all aspects of their development addressing issues of racism, sexism, and economic inequality. We provide tuition-free life skills programs that develop girls into confident women through education and exposure to a broader world of opportunity.This school year, our award winning Girls Club program thrived at our partner school sites including our newest location at Dresden Elementary School. Over the course of 27 weeks, girls participated in high quality, evidence based porgramming designed to build confidence, leadership skills, and academic success. We expanded learning beyond the classroom with field trips to the Georgia Aquarium, High Museum of Art, Atlanta Science Festival. Our 9 Cool STEAM workshops and our program-wide STEAM conference ingnited curiosity and ambition in science, technology, engineering, arts and math-empowering girls to see themselves as future innovators and change makers. In support of thier long-term success, we awarded $77,000 in college scholarships to 24 Cool Scholars, advancing our mission to increase college access and to reduce student debt for the girls we serve. Our impact continues to grow; since 2021, following the pandemic, we have increased our impact by 135%.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.