Women's Law Project

What it reported doing in 2024

Women's law project (wlp), a Pennsylvania legal advocacy organization founded in 1974, leverages the power of the law to eliminate gender bias and discrimination. Wlp envisions a society in which justice and equality of opportunity are not determined by sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, economic status, or intersecting identities. Wlp believes that every person has the right to bodily autonomy, health, economic security, and freedom from violence, and that personal decisions about sexuality and procreation must be protected by the government instead of intruded upon. A keystone of wlp's work is our commitment to work collaboratively with other organizations, both to ensure that all perspectives are brought to bear on solutions and to streamline advocacy efforts, thus rendering them more effective and meaningful. Wlp has been at the forefront of numerous legal and policy initiatives involving reproductive health care, here in Pennsylvania and nationwide, for over five decades. We challenge laws and policies designed to limit or deny access to abortion and contraception. We recently achieved a landmark ruling before the Pennsylvania supreme court and commonwealth court on behalf of Pennsylvania abortion providers in allegheny reproductive health center v. Pennsylvania dept of human services, recognizing a fundamental right to reproductive autonomy under our state constitution. We directly represent minors who are seeking judicial bypass orders to permit them to consent to abortion care. In addition, we advocate for pregnant people who have been subjected to criminal sanctions related to their pregnancy. Wlp has a substantial portfolio of workplace justice advocacy. We provide direct legal representation on employment-based sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination cases, almost exclusively on behalf of low-income workers. We author amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs on workplace justice issues. We provide technical assistance to policy makers on sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, lactation accommodation, pay equity, and paid sick days. We testify at relevant legislative hearings. Wlp represents pregnant students who experience discrimination in educational settings. Wlp has a long track record of title ix challenges to inequitable opportunities and unfair treatment disadvantaging women and girls in school-based athletics. Wlp is a leading advocate working to improve systemic responses to domestic and sexual violence, with local, state, and national impact. Wlp led a reform effort that resulted in complete reorganization of the philadelphia police department's response to sex crimes, including an unprecedented case review by advocates, which is now a national model. Wlp is involved in local domestic violence advocacy in philadelphia in collaboration with the philadelphia police department, office of the district attorney, domestic violence, sexual assault, immigrant, and senior citizen service providers, and batterers' intervention programs for the specific purpose of coordinating activities to improve victim safety and perpetrator accountability. Wlp authors amicus curiae briefs highlighting the needs of victims, and has authored manuals, judicial desk books, and numerous publications on gender-based violence. Wlp views discrimination against lgbtq people as a form of sex-based discrimination that arises from the same harmful gender-based stereotypes that afflict cisgender people. Wlp represents lgbtq people in workplace, school, health care, and public accommodations cases, seeking to remove barriers to full and equal participation and eradicate stigma. We provide accessible legal information and policy analysis for community- based organizations through our extensive social media platform, in-person meetings, developing and sharing talking points on relevant initiatives, participating in conferences, and providing messaging assistance to our allies.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 71.8%; rating input score 72
• Program expense ratio: 72.3%; rating input score 72
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.31 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 90.5%; rating input score 90; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 0.8%; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.29; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.17; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 12.9%; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.8% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 28% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings