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Leadership Buffalo Inc

EIN 16-1363536 · Buffalo, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak27 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1987, LEADERSHIP BUFFALO, INC CONDUCTS PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT OF LONG-TERM LEADERSHIP IN THE GREATER BUFFALO, NY COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS AND UNITES LEADERS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND PERSPECTIVES TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITY ISSUES, BROADEN THEIR VISION AND ENHANCE THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO LEAD.

Income
$621,878
Spending
$855,152
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
7
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$148,020, chief executive officer- e

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

Weak: 27 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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 92% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $340,808 spent. LEADERSHIP BUFFALO, INC'S CLASS EXPERIENCE PROGRAM SERVICES - A CLASS OF APPROXIMATELY 60 INDIVIDUALS ARE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM, RUNNING ANNUALLY FROM JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER, WHERE INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL AREAS OF BUSINESS ARE ENRICHED THROUGH DISCUSSIONS AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES FOCUSED ON KEY ISSUES AND TOPICS FACING OUR COMMUNITY
  2. $161,422 spent. RISING LEADERS PROGRAM SERVICES - A CLASS OF APPROXIMATELY 40 INDIVIDUALS RANGING FROM AGE 22 - 35 WHO ARE UP AND COMING IN THEIR CAREERS, WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, PARTICIPATE IN A YEARLONG PROGRAM THAT INVOLVES DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP THROUGH YEARLONG DAY SESSIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS.
  3. $141,308 spent. YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM SERVICES - A TEN-MONTH LEADERSHIP ENRICHMENT PROGRAM WHICH RUNS THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR YEAR AND SERVES APPROXIMATELY 50 HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS AND SENIORS THROUGHOUT WESTERN NEW YORK. THE CURRICULUM BUILDS A FOUNDATION OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AN AWARENESS OF COMMUNITY ISSUES, AN APPRECIATION FOR DIVERSITY AND A COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.

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

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.