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Brides Foundation

EIN 81-1902616 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WOMEN-FOCUSED CHARITIES BY COLLECTING AND RESELLING DONATED WEDDING GOWNS AND ACCESSORIES.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
11.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
45
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$158,834, executive dir.

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 (1)
  1. $2.3 million spent. BRIDES FOR A CAUSE IS AN OREGON NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WOMEN-FOCUSED CHARITIES BY COLLECTING AND RESELLING DONATED WEDDING GOWNS AND BRIDAL ACCESSORIES. THE DONATED WEDDING DRESSES AND BRIDAL ACCESSORIES ARE RECEIVED FROM BRIDAL STORES, DESIGNERS, MANUFACTURES AND INDIVIDUALS AND RESOLD AT ITS BOUTIQUE LOCATIONS. BRIDES FOR A CAUSE OPERATES FIVE BRIDAL STORE LOCATIONS, INCLUDING PORTLAND, OR, TACOMA, WA, SEATTLE, WA, SACRAMENTO, CA AND SAN DIEGO, CA. THE ORGANIZATION GIVES MONETARY DONATIONS TO 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT WOMENS CAUSES WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE WEDDING INDUSTRY BY RESELLING THE DONATED BRIDAL ATTIRE. IN 2024, BRIDES FOR A CAUSE COLLECTED 8,661 DONATED WEDDING DRESSES, VALUING $2,682,404 ALONG WITH $141,004 WORTH OF SPECIAL OCCASION DRESSES AND BRIDAL ACCESSORIES. BRIDES FOR A CAUSE CONTRIBUTED $550,000 TO 52 LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CHARITABLE CAUSES THAT PROVIDES SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN IN NEED. BRIDES FOR A CAUSE ALSO PROVIDED IN-KIND DONATIONS OF WEDDING DRESSES, SPECIAL OCCASION DRESSES AND BRIDAL ACCESSORIES VALUING $153,866 TO OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THEIR MISSION, INCLUDING 54 FREE WEDDING DRESSES TO MILITARY BRIDES AND FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGH THE BRIDES ACROSS AMERICA OPERATION WEDDING GOWN EVENTS. IN 2024, BRIDES FOR A CAUSE CONTRIBUTED $550,000 TO THE FOLLOWING BENEFICIARIES: ABBYS CLOSET, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN (AAUW), AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE, BABY QUEST FOUNDATION, BRADLEY ANGLE, BRIDES ACROSS AMERICA, CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, COCOON HOUSE, DAYS FOR GIRLS, DRESS FOR SUCCESS OREGON, DRESS FOR SUCCESS SEATTLE, EQUALITY NOW, EVERY MOTHER COUNTS, FIGHTING PRETTY, FREEDOM NETWORK USA, GENERATEHOPE, GIRLS INC OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, GIRLS ON THE RUN, GIRLS WHO CODE, GLOBAL FUND FOR WOMEN, HAYDEN'S HELPING HANDS, JOYFUL HEART FOUNDATION, JUBILEE WOMENS CENTER, INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION, LADIES WHO LAUNCH, LODI HOUSE, MARYS PLACE, NATIONAL WOMENS HEALTH NETWORK, OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH ALLIANCE (OCRA), PERIOD., PINK LEMONADE PROJECT, PRINCESS PROJECT, ROSE HAVEN, RUBY ROOM, RUNNING START, SHE SHOULD RUN, SHE'S THE FIRST, SISTER LEAGUE OF SAN DIEGO, THE LOVELAND FOUNDATION, TOO YOUNG TO WED, VOW FOR GIRLS, WEAVE INC., WELLSPRING WOMENS CENTER, WISH UPON A WEDDING, WOMAN OF WONDER, WOMEN DELIVER, WOMENHEART: THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR WOMEN WITH HEART DISEASE, YOUNG WOMEN EMPOWERED AND 9TO5 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKING WOMEN.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 October 2017.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Tides Foundation (San Francisco, CA), EIN 51-0198509. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.