Brides for a Cause FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Portland, OR501(c)(3)Human ServicesEIN 81-1902616Revenue $2.4M in FY2021

On file with the IRSbridesforacause.com2505 Se 11th Ave Ste 120, 97202-1061 · Portland, ORTax-exempt since Oct 2017Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
94¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$120K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
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
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
94%
of spending
Looks good: 94% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$120K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.6 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$17K
0.7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.4M
+29% vs prior year
Spent
$1.7M
To programs
94%
Net assets
$2.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.4M
FY2021▲ +29%
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
$1.7M
FY2021▲ +16%
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
$2.4M
FY2021▲ +34%
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 FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

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

94 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 94% · $1.6M Management & general 6% · $110K

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

6 people listed on the 990; $120K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$119,691Pt 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 →

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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

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

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.6M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Brides for a cause receives and sells donated wedding dresses and bridal accessories to raise money to give grants and donations to irc 501 (c)(3) organizations that promote womens causes while simultaneously protecting the environment by reusing wedding material at its boutique locations in portland, or, tacoma, wa, seattle, wa and…

$993Kprogram expense
02

Provided 100 free wedding dresses to military brides, first responders and healthcare workers working the front lines of COVID-19 pandemic through the brides across america operation wedding gown events, valuing $49,130.

$426Kprogram expense
03

Contributed $220,000 to (22) locally and nationally-recognized charitable causes that provide services and assistance to women in need. Beneficiaries include: abbys closet, american association of university women, bradley angle, baby quest foundation, brides across america, cocoon house, dressember, dress for success oregon, dress for…

$220Kprogram 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 FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.8M
Money outPt IX
$1.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.6M
Managementcol C$110K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$85K
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$17K
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$2.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$216K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$2.5M
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$2.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$85K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$85K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$108K
Other assetsLn 15$17K
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$17K
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 545
VolunteersI 611
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$81K$85K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$56K$108K
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$107K$17K
Net assetsLn 32$1.8M$2.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$646K$646K
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$129K$103K$26K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$459K$425K$34K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$5K$5K$164
Other employee benefitsLn 9$38K$35K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$59K$53K$6K
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$14K$12K$1K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$28K$25K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$46K$42K$5K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$197K$177K$20K
TravelLn 17$26K$23K$3K
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$7K$6K$696
InsuranceLn 23$16K$14K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$65K$59K$7K
All other expensesLn 24e$14K$12K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.7M$1.6M$110K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $3.1M$2.4M$622K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.2M$2.2M−$15K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.0M$2.0M$32K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $2.4M$1.7M$604K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.8M$1.5M$310K$1.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,353,133 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,880,552$2,758,895
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$57,892−$405,762
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,822,660$2,353,133
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $682,270$646,050
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $531,229$689,964
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $299,145$412,874
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,512,644$1,748,888
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $310,016$604,245
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 $2,353,133 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for −$411,995 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$215,845
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,543,050
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$2,524,760
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,758,895
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)Related to mission $6,233$6,233
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission −$405,762$2,353,133
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,748,888 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $646,050$646,050
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 $103,303 · Management $25,826$129,129
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $424,861 · Management $33,908$458,769
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $5,063 · Management $164$5,227
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $34,769 · Management $3,214$37,983
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $52,970 · Management $5,886$58,856
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting fees$0
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $12,289 · Management $1,365$13,654
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $25,448 · Management $2,827$28,275
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $41,844 · Management $4,649$46,493
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $177,478 · Management $19,720$197,198
IX-17 TravelPrograms $23,163 · Management $2,574$25,737
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 $6,267 · Management $696$6,963
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $14,038 · Management $1,560$15,598
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $58,776 · Management $6,531$65,307
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $12,284 · Management $1,365$13,649
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,638,603 · Management $110,285 · Fundraising $0$1,748,888
Part X · Balance sheet $2,399,652 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $80,712$84,765
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 useStart of year $1,731,719$2,189,870
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $56,004$108,407
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 $16,610$16,610
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,885,045$2,399,652
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $11,213$17,425
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $107,063$17,425
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,777,982$2,382,227
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,777,982$2,382,227
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,885,045$2,399,652
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,382,227 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,353,133
XI-2 Total expenses$1,748,888
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$604,245
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,777,982
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,382,227

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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