Local Initiatives for Education International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Provide health, education, and training resources for children and adults in lesser developed areas of the world.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 69% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (7)
- $517,228 spent. Local Initiatives for Education provided medical training (ortho- plasties) for the Orthopedic Department at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Medical training in arthoplastic surgery as well as the devices and implants were provided to doctors for indigent patients. The training enhanced the surgeons skills to appropriately provide medical treatment. Medical camps were conducted in South Sudan through the provision of medicines to local doctors to administer in areas with limited healthcare. Accountability through on-site monitoring, receipted expenses and partaner reporting. Individuals served - 1,125
- $311,614 spent. Local Initiatives for Education provided health and sustainability resources,including food and water,for refugees, internally displaced and residents in South Sudan, Djibouti,Somalia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The resources provided immediate aid in severly drought-stricken areas where food supplies and water were non-existent Accountability through on-site monitoring, receipted expenses and partner reporting. Individuals served - 8,550
- $195,286 spent. Local Initiatives for Education provided widows, single-parent families and young women with resources to develop self-sustaining micro-enterprise opportunities. These opportunities included bread- making, sewing/tailoring, handiwork/crafts, goat, vegetable and fruit production. The outcome has enabled the families to better provide for themselves and generated small incomes by selling their excess in the marketplace. Accountability through on-site monitoring, receipted expenses and partner reporting. Individuals served - 525
- $155,215 spent. Local Initiatives for Education provided educational resources for a primary school in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Individuals served - 850
- Expenses: $155215.00 including grants of: $155215.00 Revenue: $0.00
- Local Initiatives for Education provided educational resources for a
- primary school in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Individuals served - 850
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.