Neighborhood Leadership Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Neighborhood Leadership Institute exists to develop grassroots leaders who help rebuild the bonds of community and improve the quality of life for neighborhood residents throughout Greater Cleveland.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 54%
- Employees
- 100
- Highest pay
- $105,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $765,885 spent. Neighborhood Leadership Institute exists to develop grassroots leaders who help rebuild the bonds of community and improve the quality of life for neighborhood residents throughout Greater Cleveland.
- $199,575 spent. True2U - True2U is a volunteer mentoring program that helps Cleveland eighth graders explore their true selves, identify their strengths and passions, and connect them to their future. True2U mentors deliver the tools and perspectives that help youth make the most of high school and be successful in college and/or their career path. True2U started in 2015 with just 22 schools, True2U will serve 2500 students this school year in the 8th grade in Cleveland Metropolitan School District, with the support of about 300 volunteer mentors.
- $182,396 spent. Schools As Neighborhood Resources (SNR) - SNR is the largest and most comprehensive school-community initiative in Cuyahoga County. It s a model of school, family and community collaboration that turns schools into community gathering places designed to improve the educational environment and social development opportunities for students and families. We partner with Cleveland Metropolitan Schools and the City of Cleveland to open six school buildings for out-of-school time three nights a week, November through March. Programs inlude recreation and enrichment programs for all ages. All SNR sites are open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights and all activities are free and open to the public. Participants range in age from elementary school children to senior citizens. Sites include: Collinwood High School; James Ford Rhodes High School; John Adams High School; John Marshall High School and Lincoln West High School.
- $100,362 spent. Other NLI Programs - Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland (NLC) is our flagship program for grassroots leadership development. NLC is a 19-week course held January through May. Classes are held on Thursday evenings from 6-9 p.m., with dinner served at 5:30 p.m., and include a leadership retreat, group projects, coaching, and neighborhood tours. Key components of the class include Finding your strengths, values and leadership style Cultural & political history of Cleveland Discovering tools and resources Understanding systems of power Managing conflict and change Power and privilege Participants will come away from the class with a deeper sense of their own purpose as leaders, a greater appreciation for the assets of their neighborhood, and a lifetime connection to the Institute s network of more than 1,500 other grassroots leaders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.