irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $183KRETAIL TRAINING CENTER - TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME WOMEN OPPORTUNITIESTO GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE WHICH THEY CAN HIGHLIGHT IN THEIR RESUMES ALONG WITH OBTAINING THE MARKETABLE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO FIND A LIVABLE WAGE JOB. TRAINING TAKES PLACE IN A USED CLOTHING STORE AND IN THE OFFICE OF THE AGENCY WHERE EXPERIENCED STAFF PROVIDE JOB SKILLS SUPPORT AND SOFT SKILLS FEEDBACK AND CUSTOMIZED TRAINING ON A DAILY BASIS. EXPERIENCED EMPLOYMENT COUNSELORS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL RESOURCES ASSIST JOB SEEKERS WITH REFERRALS ALONG WITH REMOVING ANY BARRIERS TO BECOME JOB READY.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Future Ready: AI for Work, Business & Life
Free 4-week eCornell learning cohort teaching generative and agentic AI skills to help women adapt to technological changes in the workplace.
Her+ Entrepreneurship Program
Training initiative that equips women with tools to start and grow their own businesses, including access to resources and market opportunities.
Opportunity Boutique
Second-hand clothing store providing professional attire and workwear to women reentering the workforce, promoting sustainability and self-confidence.
She Can Academy
Program teaching women practical skills in business, financial stability, and everyday life to support long-term independence.
WOC Cares
Support program offering life coaching, resource navigation, and personal development services to women facing economic and social barriers.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 2 activities
- Fund free programs through boutique salesGenerates revenue through sales at the Opportunity Boutique to fund no-cost programs and services that support women's economic independence and long-term financial security.
- Operate Opportunity Boutique and WOC Cares ClosetRuns the Opportunity Boutique as a curated thrift shop offering women's clothing, shoes, and accessories to support workforce re-entry and sustainability, while also operating the WOC Cares Closet to distribute toiletries, hygiene products, and essential supplies to women in need in Ithaca and beyond.
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Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Education 1 activity
- Advocate for awareness and legal reforms related to non-physical abuseEngages in advocacy efforts focused on legal reform, employer collaboration, and community outreach to raise public awareness about non-physical forms of abuse.
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Women's Empowerment and Leadership Development 1 activity
- Deliver workshops and educational programmingOffers free workshops and informational sessions on financial literacy, emotional wellbeing, community resources, resume writing, professional etiquette, interview skills, and personal development to support women’s self-sufficiency and career advancement.
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Diaper and Baby Supply Distribution 1 activity
- Distribute essential goods to women and nonprofit partnersProvides free distributions of professional clothing, hygiene products, non-perishable food, and other essentials to individual women and nonprofit organizations through the WOC Cares program, including nonprofit-to-nonprofit (N-2-N) packages for schools and agencies serving clients in need.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Operate retail training center with hands-on job skills programProvides low-income women with work experience and marketable job skills through hands-on training in a used clothing store and agency office, supported by daily instruction in job search strategies, soft skills feedback, and customized training.
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 1 activity
- Run entrepreneurship programs for women (Her+, Made by Her Marketplace, She Can Academy)Offers comprehensive entrepreneurship support through Her+ and its components—Made by Her Marketplace and She Can Academy—providing education, coaching, networking, real-world business opportunities, and specialized guidance for food entrepreneurs in partnership with Shared Kitchen Ithaca.
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Domestic Violence Survivor Support Services 1 activity
- Support survivors of abuse with tailored coaching and servicesProvides specialized support for survivors of abuse through financial literacy training, emotional support, personalized planning for self-sufficiency, and access to legal advice, court support, peer mentorship, and administrative assistance.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Host AI literacy training cohortHosts a free 4-week eCornell-powered learning cohort on generative and agentic AI, providing local participants with training in practical applications of tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, including prompting, research, marketing, productivity, ethics, and workforce integration, through weekly in-person meetings.
- Provide virtual and in-person life coaching servicesOffers certified, strategic life coaching to women on personal and professional goals, including career development, financial management, work-life balance, relationship improvement, and self-confidence building, delivered virtually or in person based on availability.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$511K
Contributions & grants$475K93%
Program service revenue$13K3%
Investment income$24K5%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$566K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$399K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$994K
Cash$236K
Investments$469K
Liabilities$70K
Net assets$923K
Liquid reserves14.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -7.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan Bridgeford-Smith | Executive Director | 40 | $72K |
board members · 7
- Judy Tennant — Director
- Kate Shanks-Booth — Vice President
- Nancy Oltz — President Secretary
- Oya Rieger — Director
- Serena Jackson — Director
- Susan Barnett — Treasurer
- Tamer Elshourbagy — Director
relationships · 11
Who they work with
- 8 local organizations Partner — Collaborated with 8 local organizations to expand reach and impact.
- Centro Partner — Provides Centro Bus Passes to clients in Syracuse.
- Cornell University Partner — Provides curriculum through eCornell for the Future Ready program hosted by the Women's Opportunity Center.
- Employers Partner — Collaborates with employers to raise awareness of non-physical abuse.
- Microsoft Partner — Uses Microsoft Forms for client inquiry submissions.
- Shared Kitchen Ithaca Partner — Collaborates to support food entrepreneurs with specialized resources including food safety, licensing, production, and market access.
- Shared Kitchen Ithaca Partner — Collaborates with the Women's Opportunity Center to expand access to training, resources, and market opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
- Shared Kitchen Ithaca Partner — Nonprofit food business incubator where Stephanie King, Community Impact Lead at Women's Opportunity Center, serves on the Board of Directors.
- Speaking Emotions LLC Partner — Partner organization whose founder, Elizabeth Evett, leads workshops on emotional regulation and self-care for WOC clients.
- TCAT Partner — Provides TCAT bus passes to clients in Ithaca.
- Women's Opportunity Center Partner — Hosts the Opportunity Boutique within its facility in Ithaca, NY.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Barrier Removal Through Local Resource Navigationmethodology: barrier-removal-through-local-resource-counselingBy leveraging counselors’ knowledge of local resources to connect job seekers with targeted referrals, the organization removes practical barriers to employment readiness because localized, context-aware support increases access and follow-through.
- Client-Driven Empowerment Modelmethodology: client_driven_coachingBy allowing women to define their own goals and shape their paths to success with guided support, the organization fosters ownership, self-efficacy, and sustained personal and professional advancement because autonomy is central to lasting empowerment.
- Integrated Career and Life Coachingmethodology: holistic_life_coachingBy integrating career development—such as resume building, job search strategies, and mock interviews—into holistic life coaching, the organization improves employment outcomes because addressing both personal and professional barriers simultaneously increases readiness and resilience.
- Social Enterprise for Sustainable Empowermentmethodology: social_enterpriseBy operating a retail social enterprise using slow fashion and sustainability principles, the organization funds empowerment programs and provides real-world work experience, creating a self-reinforcing cycle where retail operations generate both revenue and skill-building opportunities.