California Womens Law Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CALIFORNIA WOMEN'S LAW CENTER (CWLC) ADVANCES GENDER JUSTICE THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION, POLICY ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION. OUR WORK ENSURES THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FACING INTERSECTING BARRIERS DUE TO RACE, INCOME, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR OTHER MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES, HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATION, SAFETY, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND HEALTHCARE.
- Income
- $822,157
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 41.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 76%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $45,877, interim executive dirctor
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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 41.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 89% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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 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)
- $876,853 spent. STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL 1: LEGAL CHAMPIONTHIS YEAR MARKED SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ADVANCING GENDER JUSTICE THROUGH MAJOR LITIGATION, STRATEGIC ADVOCACY, AND EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS. AFTER 17 YEARS, THE OLLIER V. SWEETWATER FAIR PLAY FOR GIRLS IN SPORTS CASE REACHED FULL COMPLETION, AND THE COLLEGE PARK FAIR PLAY CASE ACHIEVED SETTLEMENT, ATTORNEYSF FEES APPROVAL (AND PAYMENT) AND THE BEGINNING OF MONITORING. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR MONITORING WORK IN THE AB V. HAWAII FAIR PLAY CASE. WE ACHIEVED FINAL APPROVAL AND BEGAN MONITORING IN FARRELL V. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE A NATIONWIDE CLASS ACTION ON BEHALF OF LGBTQ+ VETERANS. OUR LIMITED REPRESENTATION DOCKET REMAINED ACTIVE, INCLUDING THREE ONGOING AND ONE COMPLETED PARKS & RECREATION FAIR PLAY MATTERS, FIVE ONGOING AND ONE CLOSED TITLE IX HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS FAIR PLAY CASES, AND CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER CLIENTS.WE DEEPENED PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS BOTH THE PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTORS: WE BEGAN OR MAINTAINED PRO BONO LAW FIRM RELATIONSHIPS, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE ONE JUSTICE NATIONAL PRO BONO CONFERENCE; AND WE RENEWED 15 PARTNERSHIPS WITH QUALIFIED LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS. AND WE COLLABORATED WITH OTHER WOMEN'S LAW CENTERS TO EXPAND OUR COLLECTIVE INFLUENCE.THE TEAM ALSO CONTRIBUTED AMICUS BRIEFS IN LIVELY V. WAYFARER, KT V. ES, AND THE SHAFFER APPEAL. IN ADDITION, CWLC RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 200 INTAKE CALLS AND MANAGED MORE THAN TWO DOZEN HOUSING CLINIC INTAKES.STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL 2: POLICY ADVOCACYCWLC POLICY ADVOCACY ADVANCED AT BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS THROUGH BUILDING ON OR RECONNECTING WITH COALITION RELATIONSHIPS AND ONGOING ENGAGEMENT IN NATIONAL POLICY EFFORTS. THE NEW POLICY ASSOCIATE POSITION STRENGTHENED OUR CAPACITY. WE UTILIZED A VARIETY OF POLICY TOOLS INCLUDING NUMEROUS LETTERS TAKING POSITIONS ON CRITICAL CALIFORNIA LEGISLATION AFFECTING WOMEN AND GIRLS. WE ALSO CLOSELY MONITORED THE CALIFORNIA LAW COMMISSION'S WORK ON THE REVIEW OF STATE LAW FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (A RESULT OF A CWLC SPONSORED EQUAL RIGHTS AUDIT RESOLUTION). THE COMMISSIONFS WORK WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR AND THEN PUBLISHED.STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL 3: RESPECTED EXPERTCWLC ENHANCED ITS REPUTATION AS A LEADING EXPERT THROUGH STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, AND TRAINING. OUR REACH AND VISIBILITY GREW THROUGH NEWSLETTERS, E-BLASTS, WEBSITE UPDATES, SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, AND NUMEROUS MEDIA AND SPEAKING APPEARANCES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO BECAME AN MCLE PROVIDER, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER ADVOCATES STATEWIDE.STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL 4: SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISECWLC STRENGTHENED INTERNAL CAPACITY THROUGH STAFFING INVESTMENTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, RENEWED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW SCHOOLS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND LONG-TERMIMPACT. CWLC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED A NEW PRINTER, LAPTOP COMPUTERS, SOFTWARE, AND TRAINING PACKAGES. THESE EFFORTS ENSURE THAT CWLC CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A RESILIENT, MISSION]DRIVEN ORGANIZATION CAPABLE OF ADVANCING GENDER EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR YEARS TO COME.
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
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 June 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 April 1994.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Childrens Law Center of California (Monterey Park, CA), EIN 95-4252143. 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.