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Young Womens Freedom Center

EIN 94-3227681 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CORE MISSION OF THE YOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM CENTER IS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND/OR THE UNDERGROUND STREET ECONOMY TO CREATE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE YOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM CENTER BACKEND FREEDOM CENTER IS TO PROVIDE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, COACHING, AND TRAINING TO PROJECTS THAT CENTER SYSTEMS-IMPACTED WOMEN, GIRLS, AND TRANS PEOPLE OF ALL GENDERS WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND OR THE UNDERGROUND STREET ECONOMY TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES.

Income
$12.5 million
Spending
$12.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
110
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$218,283, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $9.9 million spent. YOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM CENTER (YWFC) ADVANCED ITS CORE MISSION WORKING WITH YOUNG WOMEN ACROSS CALIFORNIA IN FIVE COUNTIES PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING TO OVER 3,500 YOUTH IN THE AREAS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, POWER BUILDING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. YWFC OFFERED ITS CORE PROGRAMS TO YOUNG PEOPLE SURVIVING POVERTY, LIVING AND WORKING ON THE STREETS, HOMELESS YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE ENTANGLED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND FOSTER CARE, AND YOUNG PREGNANT AND PARENTING YOUTH.ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY YWFC INCLUDE BELOVED VILLAGE, A PILOT PROGRAM PROVIDING DEEP INVESTMENT AND INTENSIVE WRAP AROUND SERVICES TO THE YOUNG PERSON AND THAT YOUNG PERSON'S FAMILY TO ADDRESS STRUCTURAL DRIVERS OF YOUTH INCARCERATION INCLUDING POVERTY, HOUSING, AND SERVICES TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM NEEDS. THIS PROGRAM SERVED AN ADDITIONAL 100 + YOUTH ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND AN ADDITIONAL 72 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, INVESTING SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES INTO THE YOUNG PERSON AND FAMILY AND CREATING COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND CONGREGATE CARE IN LOS ANGELES AND THE BAY AREA.THROUGH THE SISTER WARRIORS FREEDOM COALITION, YWFC'S BASE BUILDING AND HEALING COMMUNITY FOR YOUTH AND ADULT WOMEN THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED POVERTY, VIOLENCE, EXPLOITATION AND INCARCERATION, WE SERVED OVER 1,000 PEOPLE AND CONTINUED TO BUILD A BASE OF OVER 10,000 MEMBERS. THIS WORK SPANNED GEOGRAPHICALLY ACROSS CALIFORNIA IN LOS ANGELES, THE CENTRAL VALLEY, THE BAY AREA, AND HAD ACTIVE PROGRAMMING INSIDE ALL OF CALIFORNIA'S WOMEN'S PRISONS. SISTER WARRIORS PROVIDED INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO A COHORT OF 20 WOMEN, INVESTING OVER 80 HOURS INTO THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDED OVER 600 HOURS OF REENTRY SUPPORT, AND PROVIDED IN DEPTH PROGRAMMING TO INCARCERATED WOMEN.THIS YEAR'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO BUILDING ECONOMIC POWER, LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS AND HEALING SPACES FOR SYSTEMS IMPACTED WOMEN, GIRLS, AND GENDER EXPANSIVE PEOPLE. OUR WORK REMAINS GROUNDED IN LIVED EXPERIENCE AND DRIVEN BY THE COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY CYCLES OF POVERTY, VIOLENCE, AND INCARCERATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 August 1995.

    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.

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.