Black Women for Wellness
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BLACK WOMEN FOR WELLNESS IS A WOMEN CENTERED GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY BASED ORG ON A MISSION TO ENHANCE THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS.
- Income
- $6.0 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 22.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $121,782, 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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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, 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)
- $2.5 million spent. IN 2024 BWW CONTINUED TO HOST AND PARTICIPATE IN AN ASSORTMENT OF IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS AND GATHERINGS TO PROMOTE AND PARTICIPATE IN SUPPORTING THE UPLIFTMENT OF THE LIVES, VOICES, EXPERIENCES, HEALTH STATUS AND WELLBEING OF BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS. BWW STAFF ENGAGED AND WORKED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, CBOS AND CIVIC LEADERS TO CREATE AWARENESS, BUILD POWER AND ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE WERE REACHED THROUGH EVENTS, PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT. WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY ENGAGED WITH MORE THAN 290,000 FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND 272,000 VIEWS ON THE BWW WEBSITE. OUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TEAM WHICH COVERED 85+ COMMUNITY EVENTS AND THE TEAM INCLUDED, COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH WORKERS, CANVASSERS, TEXT AND PHONE BANKERS FOCUSED ON ENGAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SHARING INFORMATION TO PROMOTE VOTER EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION TO INCREASE THE ELECTORAL AND POLITICAL POWER OF BLACK WOMEN DURING AND BETWEEN ELECTIONS, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION RESOURCES TO RESIDENTS ABOUT CALEITC TAX CREDIT, EDUCATING COMMUNITY ABOUT MATERNAL INFANT HEALTH CARE LAWS AND SERVICES, MATERNAL TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES, INCREASING SUPPORT FOR THE PHASE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OIL DRILLING, WATER EQUITY AND HOLDING POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE. WE ALSO LAUNCHED A MEN'S EMPOWERMENT CAMPAIGN IN WHICH WE ENGAGED MORE THAN 22,000 MEN, WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY WORKING TO INCREASE BWW'S SUPPORTER NETWORK. FROM THESE STRATEGIES AND VARIOUS PROGRAM EVENTS WE WERE ABLE TO REACH MORE THAN 640K PEOPLE. THROUGH THE WORK OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM WE WERE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT OUR INTERNET QUILT KEEPS PACE WITH THE CYBER WORLD THROUGH WWW.BWWLA.ORG, MANY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS (FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, X, LINKED IN & ALIGNABLE) AND COMMUNICATES WITH OUR COMMUNITY VIA A WEEKLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER. OUR COMBINED COMMUNICATIONS SURPASSED 500K PEOPLE VIA DATA AND ANALYTICS FROM GOOGLE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. WE ALSO POSTED OVER 30 BILLBOARDS POSTED STATEWIDE AND DIGITAL PROJECTIONS THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES, REACHING OVER 21 MILLION IMPRESSIONS, WHILE BEING FEATURED IN THE PRESS 67 TIMES.SISTERS IN CONTROL REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE(SCRJ) PROGRAM CONTINUES TO SUPPORT POLICY, UTILIZES PROGRAMS, WORKS WITH ADVISORY COUNCILS, COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS TO SECURE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS. THIS PROGRAM LAUNCHED THE FIERCE AUNTIES CAMPAIGN, EMPOWERING 50+ AUNTIES TO BE RJ ADVOCATES.BWW CONTINUED TO SERVE ON SEVERAL COALITIONS, ROUNDTABLES, ALLIANCES, TASK FORCES SUCH AS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN INFANT & MATERNAL MORTALITY COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM OF SOUTH LOS ANGELES/SOUTH BAY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY THAT WORKS COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND RJ ACTIVISTS. WE HOSTED MORE THAN 10 EVENTS SUCH AS BIRTHING TOURS, FILM FESTIVALS, WALKS, BIRTH WORKER CAREER FAIR AND WELLNESS EVENTS FOR MORE THAN 880 HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, MIH ADVOCATES, COMMUNITY LEADERS, PREGNANT WOMEN AND MOTHERS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD CAPACITY TO SHIFT CULTURAL NARRATIVES SURROUNDING BLACK MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDED THE DISSEMINATION OF THE (CENTERING BLACK MOMS REPORT).THROUGH THIS WORK WE ALSO SERVED 2,650 BLACK BIRTHING PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT LA COUNTY. BLACK WOMEN FOR WELLNESS ORGANIZED PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK MOMMA'S WEEK, BREASTFEEDING MONTH, MOTHER'S DAY, REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND RIGHTS, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH PROGRAM SERVICES AND RESOURCES HIGHLIGHTING BIRTHING PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. THROUGH THE STOCKTON OFFICE, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS OF UPLIFTING THE CENTERING BLACK MOTHERS REPORT IN CALIFORNIA, WHILE HOSTING 4 EVENTS AND PARTICIPATING ON PANELS, SPEAKING AT SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES AS WELL AS CONDUCTING OUTREACH AT MORE THAN 30 EVENTS WHICH INCLUDED HEALTH FAIRS, DIABETES PREVENTION, COMMUNITY WALKS AND CELEBRATIONS TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT MATERNAL INFANT HEALTH. THROUGH THESE EVENTS WE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE MORE THAN 550 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS AND CIVIC LEADERS.THE GET SMART B4U GET SEXY (GS B4U GS) PROGRAM TEAM DELIVERED PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION RESOURCES TO BLACK YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 12-30) IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES, BY HOSTING DISCUSSIONS AROUND SEXUAL HEALTH, REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, AND PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT. THE PROGRAM HAD A TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON APPROXIMATELY 1,480 PARTICIPANTS, 179 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHILE ENGAGING 104 FOSTER YOUTH THROUGH A SERIES OF CRITICAL SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS AND RELEASING A SEXUAL HEALTH REPORT FOR YOUTH. THE GET SMART B4U GET SEXY TEAM ALSO CONTINUED TO WORK VIA ONLINE AND IN PERSON WORKSHOPS, HOSTING THE RITES OF PASSAGE(ROP) PROGRAM FOR BLACK GIRLS ENGAGING 60+ PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THREE COHORTS AND ROP AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL. OVERALL, THE TEAM DELIVERED 80+ INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS AND FIELD TRIPS SHARING CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE AND ADVOCACY SKILLS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2,000 PEOPLE.WEBPAGE AND SOCIAL MEDIA EFFORTS INCLUDED PARTNERSHIPS WITH REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ADVOCATES, CONTRIBUTED TO OUR DIGITAL COMMUNITY REACH OF MORE THAN 11,200 VIEWERS HIGHLIGHTING OUR STD AND AIDS/HIV PREVENTION EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM. BWW ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT WORK THAT CONTINUES TO BE CENTERED AROUND ENGAGING IN COALITIONS, ALLIANCES AND ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND UNIVERSITIES TO BUILD POWER TO ELIMINATE NEIGHBORHOOD OIL DRILLING, ADVOCATE FOR WATER EQUITY IN SOUTH LA, ADDRESS THE LIFECYCLE OF PLASTIC POLLUTION AND PROMOTE GREEN SOCIAL HOUSING. THROUGH THESE ENGAGEMENTS, TOXIC TOURS AND EARTH DAY EVENTS WERE HOSTED, EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH EVENTS ABOUT THE WATER GUIDE WERE FACILITATED, EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS WITH CIVIC LEADERS CONDUCTED, PLASTICS TREATY NEGOTIATIONS WERE ATTENDED AND THE E
- $500,137 spent. FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUED TO INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY DURING 2024 AND THE BWW KITCHEN DIVAS FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM WAS OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITY, GIVING FRESH FRUIT AND PRODUCE 2X PER MONTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO APPROXIMATELY 150 FAMILIES. THE UMBRELLA PROGRAM SISTERS IN MOTION, HOUSES OUR KITCHEN DIVAS COOKING DEMO PROGRAM, BODY MATTERS AND MOVEMENT, BOOK CLUBS, HEALING CIRCLES, STOP THE HATE, WELLNESS LABS AND WELLNESS GUIDE DISTRIBUTION LIVES, ENGAGED APPROXIMATELY 9,500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS VIA IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL(ZOOM) PROGRAMS, NEWSLETTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS. BWW STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, MEMBERS, CHEFS AND FARMERS ARE ALL ENGAGED WITH PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION
- $157,720 spent. THE SISTERS @ EIGHT PROGRAM HELD 12 COMMUNITY FORUMS AND 4 SEASONAL EQUINOX AND SOLSTICE GATHERINGS FOR MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS WITH A TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 600+. THESE FORUMS TOOK PLACE IN PERSON AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER AND GATHERING SPACES ACCESSIBLE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS. BWW STAFF MEMBERS HOSTED AND FACILITATED PANEL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, CIVIL RIGHTS, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH, THE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS, PRIMARY ELECTIONS, VOTER GUIDES, ELECTION RESULTS AND NEXT STEPS, CENTERING THE WELLNESS AND JOY OF BLACK MOTHERS AND MATERNAL FIGURES, HONORING BLACK MEN, THE LIFESTYLE OF PLASTICS, BREAST HEALTH AWARENESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.
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 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 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 August 1997.
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.