Would Works is an LA based social enterprise that trains and employs people experiencing homelessness in the craft of woodworking. Our Artisans gain the satisfaction of doing hands-on work with tangible outcomes--building confidence, community and forging a path toward self-sufficiency.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
66¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$46K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $9K a year · 4% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
66%
of spending
Fine: 66% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$46K
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $70K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$6K
13% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 13% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$303K
+51% vs prior year
Spent
$332K
To programs
66%
Net assets
$41K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$303K
FY2023▲ +51%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$193K
FY2022$201K
FY2023$303K
FY2024$203K
FY2025$209K
Expenses
$332K
FY2023▲ +20%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$112K
FY2022$276K
FY2023$332K
FY2024$260K
FY2025$178K
Net assets
$41K
FY2023▼ -41%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$144K
FY2022$69K
FY2023$41K
FY2024−$16K
FY2025$15K

From the FY2023 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Exemption reinstated (2020-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 2021.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

66 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 66% · $218K Management & general 27% · $89K Fundraising 8% · $25K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

12 people listed on the 990; $46K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$46,106Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Michele Liu’s $47K as Executive Director is at the 35th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2168 $100K–1M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023
Michele Liu$47,223$38,582$46,106

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Would-Works INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Trains and employs people experiencing homelessness in woodworking, building confidence and self-sufficiency.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $218K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

In 2023, Would Works grew our programming to encompass three segments that provided over 6,000 hours of employment and training in woodworking for 18 participants.Our Beginning Builders Program offers folks who face employment barriers and housinginsecurity an opportunity to develop basic woodworking, communication and shop safety…

$218Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$70K

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$303K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$242K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$62K
Money outPt IX
$332K
Ln 25
Programscol B$218K
Managementcol C$89K
Fundraisingcol D$25K
Owns and owesPt X
$41K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$34K
Total assetsLn 16$47K
LiabilitiesLn 26$6K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$242K
Government grantsLn 1e$124K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$62K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$303K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$34K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$34K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11K
Other assetsLn 15$2K
Total assetsLn 16$47K
LiabilitiesLn 26$6K
Net assetsLn 32$41K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 512
VolunteersI 630
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$62K$34K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$14K$11K
Total assetsLn 16$78K$47K
LiabilitiesLn 26$9K$6K
Net assetsLn 32$69K$41K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$46K$27K$15K$4K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$130K$76K$41K$12K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$16K$9K$5K$1K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$5K$3K$2K$437
Accounting feesLn 11c$3K$2K$1K$283
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$6K$4K$2K$579
Office expensesLn 13$763$450$244$69
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$18K$11K$6K$2K
TravelLn 17$75$44$24$7
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$9K$5K$3K$810
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$2K$1K$321
InsuranceLn 23$36K$21K$11K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$57K$56K$1K$309
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$1K$553$157
Total functional expensesLn 25$332K$218K$89K$25K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $209K$178K$31K$15K 990 PDF
FY2024 $203K$260K−$56K−$16K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $303K$332K−$29K$41K 990 PDF
FY2022 $201K$276K−$75K$69K 990 PDF
FY2021 $193K$112K$82K$144K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $303,474 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $170,535$241,912
I-9 Program service revenue$61,562
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $30,706$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $201,241$303,474
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $175,622$191,470
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $100,768$140,554
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $276,390$332,024
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$75,149−$28,550
Part VI · Governance 10 of 12 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $303,474 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$123,668
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$118,244
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$241,912
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $61,562$61,562
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $61,562$303,474
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $332,024 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $27,203 · Management $14,754 · Fundraising $4,149$46,106
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $76,427 · Management $41,452 · Fundraising $11,658$129,537
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $9,338 · Management $5,065 · Fundraising $1,424$15,827
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $2,866 · Management $1,555 · Fundraising $437$4,858
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $1,858 · Management $1,008 · Fundraising $283$3,149
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $3,796 · Management $2,059 · Fundraising $579$6,434
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $450 · Management $244 · Fundraising $69$763
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $10,676 · Management $5,790 · Fundraising $1,629$18,095
IX-17 TravelPrograms $44 · Management $24 · Fundraising $7$75
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,312 · Management $2,882 · Fundraising $810$9,004
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,103 · Management $1,141 · Fundraising $321$3,565
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $21,090 · Management $11,438 · Fundraising $3,217$35,745
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $55,725 · Management $1,099 · Fundraising $309$57,133
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,023 · Management $553 · Fundraising $157$1,733
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $217,911 · Management $89,064 · Fundraising $25,049$332,024
Part X · Balance sheet $46,767 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $62,131$34,279
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $14,490$10,925
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,562$1,563
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $78,183$46,767
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $6,236$4,792
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,767$1,344
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $9,003$6,136
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $69,180$40,631
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $69,180$40,631
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $78,183$46,767
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $40,631 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$303,474
XI-2 Total expenses$332,024
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$28,550
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$69,180
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$40,631

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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