Wings for Life International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Wings for Life proactively interacts with at-risk families to interrupt the generational cycle of crime & imprisonment. We offer a weekly program (live and virtual) that connects community leaders & volunteers with family members of incarcerated individuals or probationers to share mutual experiences & learn critical life-skills.
- Income
- $669,033
- Spending
- $690,683
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 88%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $64,983, 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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- $449,200 spent. WFL Education Programs: Wings for L.I.F.E.-Life-Skills Imparted to Families. These programs focus on empowering the families of inmates by imparting valuable life skills and important education. Through this empowering program, families are equipped to deal with issues caused by incarneration, learn coping mechanisms to reduce at-risk behaviors, and ultimately take control of their lives. We have weekly programs state wide live and virtual.
- $42,620 spent. Wings Works - a job training program for returning citizens, the homeless, and anyone who needs to learn job skills. Wings Works prepares our participants to succeed in either starting their own home-based business, or to be well-trained employees for an existing company. Participants focus on creating hand make artwork which is available for purchase.
- $1,694 spent. Wings For Life International - Liberia With the ambition for touching individuals positively whose lives have been impacted by law-breaking/crime, Wings for LIFE International- Liberia desires to provide individuals with necessary essentials, including career training and discipleship programs, that they need in order to efficiently transition back into society.
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
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 June 2003.
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 November 4, 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.