Direct Women
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DIRECTWOMEN IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN LAWYERS ON CORPORATE BOARDS. DIRECTWOMEN IDENTIFIES LEADING WOMEN LAWYERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE EXPERIENCE, INDEPENDENCE, AND BUSINESS JUDGMENT REQUIRED FOR BOARD EFFECTIVENESS. THROUGH ITS VARIOUS PROGRAMS, DIRECTWOMEN DEVELOPS AND POSITIONS WOMEN ATTORNEY LEADERS FOR BOARD SERVICE. IT ALSO SERVES AS A RESOURCE FOR COMPANIES SEEKING QUALIFIED BOARD CANDIDATES.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 31.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 112
- Highest pay
- $182,205, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 31.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 December 31, 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)
- $720,233 spent. IN 2025, DIRECT WOMEN PRODUCED A SERIES OF WEBINARS FOR WOMEN LAWYERS TO INSPIRE AN INTEREST IN CORPORATE BOARD SERVICE. THE ORGANIZATION HELD THE BOARD INSTITUTE, ITS FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, IN OCTOBER. EACH YEAR, DIRECTWOMEN IDENTIFIES A SMALL GROUP OF LEADING WOMEN LAWYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BOARD INSTITUTE BASED ON AN ASSESSMENT OF THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE EXPERIENCE, INDEPENDENCE, AND BUSINESS JUDGMENT REQUIRED FOR BOARD EFFECTIVENESS. THE BOARD INSTITUTE PROVIDES WORKING SESSIONS DESIGNED TO HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP THEIR VALUE PROPOSITION AND PERSONAL BOARD-SEARCH STRATEGIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO RAN NETWORKING EVENTS FOR THE BOARD INSTITUTE ALUMNAE TO ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR BOARD SEARCH. TWELVE DIRECTWOMEN BOARD INSTITUTE ALUMNAE WERE ELECTED TO THIRTEEN BOARD SEATS IN 2025. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, DIRECTWOMEN ALUMNAE HAVE SERVED ON 223 CORPORATE BOARDS. DIRECT WOMEN ALSO HOSTED THE 2025 SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR BOARD EXCELLENCE AWARD LUNCHEON TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BOARD DIVERSITY AND TO SHOWCASE SUCCESSFUL WOMEN LAWYER-DIRECTORS. OVER 400 CEOS, CORPORATE DIRECTORS, LAW FIRM LEADERS, AND OTHER SUPPORTERS ATTENDED THE EVENT. DIRECTWOMEN HOSTED ITS THIRD INTERNATIONAL BOARDS PROGRAM IN LONDON, ENGLAND IN JUNE. 120 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED THE EVENT, WHICH FEATURED WOMEN LAWYER DIRECTORS WHO SERVE ON INTERNATIONAL BOARDS AND SEARCH FIRM EXECUTIVES WHO PLACE DIRECTORS ON BOARDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 July 2019.
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.