Leap Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LEAP EMPOWERS LOW AND MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE BY HELPING THEM GAIN ACCESS TO LIVING-WAGE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER PATHS. WE SEEK TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT COUNTER PREVAILING MARKET INEQUALITIES AND CONTRIBUTE TO A BROADER MOVEMENT FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
- Income
- $8.2 million
- Spending
- $8.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 18.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 69
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $320,345, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 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 June 30, 2025, 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)
- $1.6 million spent. RED HOOK ON THE ROAD:RED HOOK ON THE ROAD IS BWI'S COMMERCIAL DRIVING TRAINING PROGRAM. THIS FOUR-WEEK PROGRAM PREPARES PARTICIPANTS FOR JOBS AS DRIVERS OF "CLASS B/BPS" COMMERCIAL VEHICLES INCLUDING TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUSES, COACH OR CHARTER BUSES, AIRPORT SHUTTLE BUSES AND ACCESS-A-RIDE AND OTHER PARA-TRANSIT VEHICLES. THE COURSE CONSISTS OF INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC SKILLS, SUCH AS MAP-READING AND BEHIND-THE-WHEEL INSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS JOB READINESS AND SOFT SKILLS, SUCH AS MOCK INTERVIEWS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING. IN 2025, BWI ENROLLED 240 INDIVIDUALS INTO TRAINING, GRADUATING 93%. SUBSEQUENTLY, 85% OF GRADUATES OBTAINED THEIR CDL CERTIFICATION, AND 79% OF THOSE LICENSED HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO EMPLOYMENT. STARTING WAGES FOR WORKING GRADUATES ARE $24.87/HOUR, ON AVERAGE.
- $935,677 spent. BWI'S NYCHA RESIDENT TRAINING ACADEMY:BWI'S NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY (NYCHA) RESIDENT TRAINING ACADEMY PREPARES PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS FOR CAREERS WITH THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY (NYCHA). TRAINEES PARTICIPATE IN UP TO SIX WEEKS OF TRAINING FOR VARIOUS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING PEST CONTROL TECHS AND JANITORIAL CARETAKER POSITIONS - IN NYCHA DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE FIVE BOROUGHS. POSITIONS WITH NYCHA OFFER UNION MEMBERSHIP, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT, AND EXCELLENT BENEFITS. IN 2025, THIS PROGRAM ENROLLED 326 INDIVIDUALS, GRADUATING 94% OF THOSE ENROLLED. THUS FAR, 85% OF GRADUATES HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO JOBS EARNING $17.49 ON AVERAGE.
- $661,076 spent. BROOKLYN WOODS: BROOKLYN WOODS TRAINS NEW YORKERS FOR CAREERS IN WOODWORKING AND FABRICATION. THROUGH SEVEN WEEKS OF CLASSROOM AND HANDS-ON TRAINING, GRADUATES LEARN SHOP PRODUCTION, WOOD TECHNOLOGY, FINISHING TECHNIQUES, CABINET INSTALLATION, MECHANICAL DRAWING, AND THE SAFE USE AND PROPER CARE OF HAND AND POWER TOOLS IN BWI'S CUSTOM-BUILT WOODWORKING SHOP. GRADUATES ARE PLACED IN JOBS AT LARGE AND SMALL WOODWORKING SHOPS, METAL OR LIGHT MANUFACTURING SHOPS, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRMS, AND MORE. BROOKLYN WOODS ALSO OPERATES A CABINET-BUILDING SOCIAL ENTERPRISE THAT OFFERS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO RECENT GRADUATES. IN 2025, BROOKLYN WOODS ENROLLED 58 PARTICIPANTS, GRADUATING 95%. AT THIS TIME, 51% OF GRADUATES HAVE BEEN PLACED IN JOBS IN THE SECTOR, EARNING $20.28 ON AVERAGE.
- $3.6 million spent. "MADE IN NY" PRODUCTION ASSISTANT TRAINING PROGRAM:THE "MADE IN NY" PRODUCTION ASSISTANT (PA) TRAINING PROGRAM CONNECTS UNDERREPRESENTED NEW YORKERS WITH CAREERS IN TV AND FILM PRODUCTION THROUGH HANDS-ON TRAINING. THE INTENSIVE FOUR-WEEK PROGRAM IS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NYC MAYOR'S OFFICE OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT. PARTICIPANTS LEARN SET AND OFFICE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT SKILLS AND ARE PLACED IN JOBS ON FEATURE FILMS, EPISODIC AND REALITY TV, COMMERCIALS, MUSIC VIDEOS AND OTHER PRODUCTIONS. IN 2025, THIS PROGRAM ENROLLED 80 INDIVIDUALS, GRADUATING 96%. THUS FAR, 62% OF GRADUATES HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO EMPLOYMENT AND ARE EARNING AN AVERAGE OF $25.67/HOUR. PLACEMENTS FOR 2025 ARE STILL BEING IMPACTED BY WRITERS (WGA) AND ACTORS (SAG-AFTRA) STRIKES, AND THE SUBSEQUENT THREAT OF STRIKES BY OTHER INDUSTRY UNIONS, BUT AS THE INDUSTRY RECOVERS, ROBUST HIRING IN NYC IS EXPECTED TO RESUME. "MADE IN NY" POST PRODUCTION TRAINING PROGRAM:THE "MADE IN NY" POST PRODUCTION PROGRAM OFFERS FIVE WEEKS OF TRAINING ON INDUSTRY-STANDARD POST PRODUCTION SOFTWARE AND CERTIFICATION BY THE NEW YORK CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT. THE PROGRAM PREPARES GRADUATES EACH YEAR FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS AT POST PRODUCTION COMPANIES. ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS OFTEN LEAD TO EXPOSURE TO MORE TECHNICAL FACETS OF POST PRODUCTION AND CAN HELP ESTABLISH A PATHWAY TO A MORE SPECIALIZED ROLE IN THE FIELD. IN 2025, THIS PROGRAM ENROLLED 45 INDIVIDUALS, GRADUATING 97% AND THUS FAR PLACING 34% OF GRADUATES IN JOBS EARNING $30.31/HOUR. LIKE THE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT TRAINING PROGRAM, THE NATIONWIDE WRITERS (WGA) AND ACTORS (SAG-AFTRA) STRIKES IMPACTED PLACEMENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM, BUT HIRING DEMAND IS EXPECTED TO REBOUND IN THE YEAR AHEAD. BROOKLYN NETWORKS:BROOKLYN NETWORKS IS BWI'S INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS ACCESS TO JOBS INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING COMPUTER, VOICE, DATA, VIDEO, AND SECURITY SYSTEM CABLING. THIS SIX-WEEK, FULL-TIME TRAINING PROGRAM IS LED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND SERVED 61 INDIVIDUALS IN 2025, GRADUATING 85% OF ENROLLEES. GRADUATES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN THEIR INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED BUILDING INDUSTRY CONSULTING SERVICE INTERNATIONAL ("BICSI") CERTIFICATION AND QUICKLY BEGIN WORK IN THE FIELD. AT THIS TIME, 89% OF GRADUATES ARE BICSI CERTIFIED, AND BWI HAS PLACED 80% OF CREDENTIALED GRADUATES FROM THE 2025 COHORT INTO JOBS EARNING AN AVERAGE OF $20.46/HOUR. BROOKLYN WORKFORCE COLLABORATION:THE CUSTOMIZED TRAINING PROGRAM OFFERS TRAINING TAILORED TO SPECIFIC HIRING DEMANDS, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON GROWING SECTORS OF NEW YORK CITY'S ECONOMY. TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE DEVELOPED BASED ON SPECIFIC EMPLOYER DEMAND. BWI HAS PILOTED SUCCESSFUL TRAINING PROGRAMS IN PREPARATION FOR ROLES IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INDUSTRY, SOLAR INSTALLATION, AND THE TECH SECTOR. IN 2025, THE PROGRAM OPERATED TWO INITIATIVES: THE HOUSING CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM AND THE KINDWORK CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE FELLOWSHIP. IN TOTAL, THE PROGRAM SERVED 112 INDIVIDUALS AND 80% OF THOSE ENROLLED GRADUATED. THUS FAR, 70% OF GRADUATES HAVE BEEN PLACED IN JOBS EARNING AN AVERAGE OF $23.26/HR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 October 1992.
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 November 4, 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.