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Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies

EIN 72-1244155 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IWES is dedicated to improving the mental, physical, and spiritual health and quality of life for woman, their families and communities of color, particularly among marginalized populations using community-driven research, programs, training, and advocacy.

Income
$8.2 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
12.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
31
Highest pay
$231,718, president & ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 112% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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 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. $2.0 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH - THROUGH THIS AREA OF FOCUS, IWES PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE THEIR LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY SKILLS THROUGH TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES. ADDITIONALLY, IWES PROVIDES COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IN PARTICULAR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, WITH COMPREHENSIVE ADOLESCENT HEALTH EDUCATION, HIV AND TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION EDUCATION AND SERVICES, ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH USING SOCIAL MEDIA, PEER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
  2. $607,279 spent. RESILIENCE - THIS AREA OF FOCUS CONCENTRATES ON COMMUNITY-LEVEL, NON-CLINICAL APPROACHES TO EQUITABLE RECOVERY, HEALING AND RESILIENCE OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THROUGH COMMUNITY-WIDE HEALING EVENTS, DOCUMENTING STORIES OF STRUGGLE AND SRUVIVAL, COLLLABORATIONS TO DEVELOP TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH. IWES HELPS TO BUILD EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, RESILIENCE AND CAPACITY, USING A SOCIAL ECOLOGICAL MODEL (SEM) AS ITS THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK, WHICH REOCGNIZES THAT INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR IS SHAPED BY MULTIPLE LEVELS OF INFLUENCE INCLUDING, INTERPERSONAL, COMMUNITY AND SOCIETAL CONTEXT.
  3. $218,039 spent. EMOTIONAL/PHYSICAL WELL-BEING - TO FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, IWES ENGAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THEIR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, OVERALL PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH. IWES USES THE SOCIAL ECOLOGIAL MODEL , AN IN-DEPTH MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH, WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR IS SHAPED BY MULTIPLE LEVELS OF INFLUENCE INCLUDING, INTERPERSONAL, COMMUNITY AND SOCIETAL CONTEXT. THROUGH THIS APPROACH, IWES CREATES CULTURALLY PROFICIENT PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND RESEARCH TO ADDRESS AND ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO HEAL AND CREATE COMMUNITY SPACES, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS THAT PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELL BEING.

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 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 December 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 December 1993.

    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.

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