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Empowerment Factory

EIN 81-0682337 · Pawtucket, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TEF IS DEDICATED TO GIVING CHILDREN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO LEAD HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, MORE EMPOWERED LIVES. OUR VISION IS FOR EVERY CHILD TO KNOW THAT THEY MATTER AND CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

Income
$410,314
Spending
$366,016
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 42%
Employees
17
Volunteers
192
Highest pay
$52,503, executive director

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $65,425 spent. ART IN THE PARK - PROGRAM THAT COMBINES LITERACY, MINDFULNESS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND CREATIVITY. THE PROGRAMS ARE FREE FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN PAWTUCKET, CENTRAL FALLS, AND PROVIDENCE. WORKING WITH THE LOCAL CITIES AND SCHOOLS, THESE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO CONNECT.
  2. $54,842 spent. CREATIVE SQUAD OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS- SUMMER AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOCUS ON LITERACY, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, CREATIVITY, AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, LOCAL SCHOOL DEPARTMENTS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE 8 WEEK PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN TITLE 1, UNDERSERVED URBAN CORE COMMUNITIES.
  3. $24,312 spent. VIRTUAL LEARNING-NATURE DRAWING - THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE RI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TEF CONTINUE THE POPULAR NATURE DRAWING CLASSES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT ABOUT ENDANGERED ANIMALS AS THEY LEARN HOW TO DRAW THEM. THE 6-WEEK CLASSES BRING STUDENTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE INTO A VIRTUAL CLASSROOM WHERE THEY MAKE NEW FRIENDS, LEARN TO DRAW, AND LEARN WAYS THEY CAN HELP PROTECT VULNERABLE ECO SYSTEMS
  4. $58,709 spent. READING ADVENTURES AND TRASH2TREASURES ARE 6-WEEK, IN SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT MEET STEAM CURRICULUM CRITERIA AND COLLABORATE WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, AND ART AND MUSIC TEACHERS TO BRING AN SEL FOCUSED PROGRAM TO THE CHILDREN, ONE GRADE AT A TIME. THE OTHER PROGRAMS CENTER AROUND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ART IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE TIES BETWEEN GENERATIONS AND PROVIDE A SPACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECTS. STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDE K-12 STUDENTS, THE ELDERLY, VOLUNTEERS, CORPORATIONS, AND THE PAWTUCKET, PROVIDENCE, AND CENTRAL FALLS COMMUNITIES.

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 2024.

    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 August 2016.

    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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