Brides for a Cause

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To provide financial assistance for women-focused charities by collecting and reselling donated wedding gowns and accessories.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 81-1902616) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
93¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 11 volunteers and 45 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $311K a year · 14% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
93%
of spending
93% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$148K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
1.8 mo
of spending, in cash
1.8 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$834K
25% of total assets
Liabilities are 25% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
5 of 5 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$3.1M
+41% vs prior year
Spent
$2.4M
To programs
93%
Net assets
$2.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$3.1M
FY2024▲ +41%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.8M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$3.1M
Expenses
$2.4M
FY2024▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.5M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$2.2M
FY2024$2.4M
Net assets
$2.6M
FY2024▲ +32%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.8M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$2.6M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Oct 2017.

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

Where the money goes

93 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 93% · $2.3M Management & general 7% · $174K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

6 people listed on the 990; $148K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$147,782Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Erin Scharf’s $148K as Executive Dir. is at the 72nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3869 $1–10M 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Erin Scharf$147,782$124,079$118,178$119,691$112,819

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 Brides for a Cause executive salaries →

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

Resells donated wedding gowns and accessories to fund women's charities.

Questions for Brides for a Cause

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Your first name shows with your question. Brides for a Cause answers here, for everyone.

1 program · $2.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Brides for a cause is an oregon nonprofit that provides financial assistance for women-focused charities by collecting and reselling donated wedding gowns and bridal accessories. The donated wedding dresses and bridal accessories are received from bridal stores, designers, manufactures and individuals and resold at its boutique…

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 81-1902616) · Dispute this line
$2.3Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · this organization's grantmaking
Grants paid · 172 grants · $1.9M · 2020–2024
The Princess ProjectCA · FY2024$40,000
Young Women EmpoweredWA · FY2024$10,000
WomenheartDC · FY2024$10,000
Women Deliver INCNY · FY2024$10,000
Woman of WonderWA · FY2024$10,000
Wish Upon a WeddingIL · FY2024$10,000
Wellspring Women's CenterCA · FY2024$10,000
Weave INCCA · FY2024$10,000
Vow for Girls INCNY · FY2024$10,000
Too Young to WedNY · FY2024$10,000
Loveland Foundation INCNY · FY2024$10,000
She's the First INCNY · FY2024$10,000
She Should RunNY · FY2024$10,000
Running StartDC · FY2024$10,000
Ruby RoomWA · FY2024$10,000
Rose Haven CicOR · FY2024$10,000
Pink Lemonade ProjectWA · FY2024$10,000
See all 172 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Other incomeLn 4–11$382K
Money outPt IX
$2.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$174K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$365K
Total assetsLn 16$3.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$834K
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$2.7M
Other incomeLn 4–11$382K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$3.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$365K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$365K
Inventories for sale or useLn 8$2.2M
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$12K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$156K
Other assetsLn 15$696K
Total assetsLn 16$3.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$834K
Net assetsLn 32$2.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 545
VolunteersI 611
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$2.7M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$246K$365K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$92K$156K
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M$3.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$700K$834K
Net assetsLn 32$1.9M$2.6M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$704K$704K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$159K$143K$16K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$753K$678K$75K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$10K$9K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$61K$55K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$85K$77K$9K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$34K$30K$3K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$50K$45K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$56K$50K$6K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$317K$286K$32K
TravelLn 17$48K$43K$5K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$12K$11K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$19K$17K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$132K$119K$13K
All other expensesLn 24e$7K$7K$749
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.4M$2.3M$174K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 11, 2025 $3.1M$2.4M$622K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Oct 29, 2024 $2.2M$2.2M−$15K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Oct 11, 2023 $2.0M$2.0M$32K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Aug 10, 2022 $2.4M$1.7M$604K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Oct 20, 2021 $1.8M$1.5M$310K$1.8M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990
Part I · Summary $3,070,091 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,964,277$2,688,130
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $211,828$381,961
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,176,105$3,070,091
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $746,012$703,866
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $926,296$1,068,015
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $518,823$675,850
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,191,131$2,447,731
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$15,026$622,360
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
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 $3,070,091 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $320,611 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,688,130
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,679,334
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,688,130
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-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $61,350$61,350
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $320,611 · Excluded from tax $61,350$3,070,091
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,447,731 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $703,866$703,866
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 officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $142,951 · Management $15,883$158,834
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $677,967 · Management $75,331$753,298
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $9,112 · Management $1,012$10,124
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $54,527 · Management $6,058$60,585
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $76,657 · Management $8,517$85,174
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting fees$0
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $30,444 · Management $3,383$33,827
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $45,096 · Management $5,011$50,107
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $50,292 · Management $5,588$55,880
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $285,729 · Management $31,748$317,477
IX-17 TravelPrograms $43,135 · Management $4,793$47,928
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $10,979 · Management $1,220$12,199
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $16,898 · Management $1,878$18,776
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $118,954 · Management $13,215$132,169
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $6,738 · Management $749$7,487
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,273,345 · Management $174,386 · Fundraising $0$2,447,731
Part X · Balance sheet $3,399,358 assets, 22 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $245,815$364,530
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-5 Loans to officers and key people$0
X-6 Loans to other insiders$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $1,693,004$2,170,275
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $8,472$12,026
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $92,355$156,059
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 $602,715$696,468
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,642,361$3,399,358
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $96,865$137,749
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $602,715$696,468
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $699,580$834,217
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,942,781$2,565,141
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,942,781$2,565,141
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,642,361$3,399,358
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,565,141 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,070,091
XI-2 Total expenses$2,447,731
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$622,360
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,942,781
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,565,141

Form 990 e-file FY2024 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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