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Mindleaps

EIN 20-2041093 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MINDLEAPS CREATES EDUCATIONAL PATHS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH THE CREATIVE ARTS AND 21ST CENTURY SKILLS BUILT ON DATA-DRIVEN METRICS.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
7
Volunteers
15
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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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 (4)
  1. $235,859 spent. IN FY24, MINDLEAPS SERVED 551 AT-RISK CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AT THE MINDLEAPS CENTER IN NONGO, CONAKRY. THERE WERE 80 OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN AND 80 SCHOOL-SPONSORED CHILDREN THAT PARTICIPATED IN ARTS AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING FROM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, YEAR-ROUND. BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MEALS WERE SERVED DAILY, AND 217 CHILDREN WERE SUPPORTED IN FORMAL EDUCATION WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND TUITION FEES. THE FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAM ORGANIZED SINGLE MOTHERS INTO SAVINGS AND LOANS GROUPS TO SUPPORT IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING IN THE COMMUNITY. IN JUNE, MINDLEAPS HELD A HOSTED TRIP TO GUINEA FOR BOARD MEMBERS, DONORS AND INVITED GUESTS. IN JULY, US BREAKDANCER AND PARIS OLYMPICS JUDGE KID GLYDE TRAVELED TO MINDLEAPS GUINEA TO WORK WITH THE CHILDREN AND TRAINERS.
  2. $223,541 spent. MINDLEAPS OPERATED IN KAMPALA, THE CAPITAL CITY, AS WELL AS IN ORUCHINGA REFUGEE SETTLEMENT. IN TOTAL, 811 AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH COMPLETED 72 HOURS OF TRAINING IN THE MINDLEAPS DANCE PROGRAM TO IMPROVE COGNITIVE AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS. THE CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVED FOOD SUPPLEMENTS AFTER EACH CLASS. AN ADDITIONAL 216 CHILDREN WERE SPONSORED IN FORMAL EDUCATION. MINDLEAPS UGANDA CONTINUED TO RUN ITS FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAM IN BOTH ORUCHINGA AND KAMPALA: PARENTS RECEIVED THREE MONTHS OF BUSINESS TRAINING AND SEED LOANS TO START INCOME-GENERATING PROJECTS.
  3. $215,676 spent. MINDLEAPS OPERATED IN FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN RWANDA AND SERVED 1,173 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN FY24. CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN A DANCE PROGRAM TO DEVELOP COGNITIVE SKILLS AND IMPROVE EMOTIONAL REGULATION. THERE WERE 119 CHILDREN SPONSORED TO ATTEND BOARDING SCHOOLS AND PURSUE FORMAL EDUCATION. ANOTHER 188 CHILDREN ACCESSED TUTORING SERVICES AT THE MINDLEAPS CENTER IN KIGALI. MINDLEAPS CONTINUED ITS PROGRAMMING IN THREE REFUGEE CAMPS: MUGOMBWA, KIZIBA AND MAHAMA REFUGEE CAMPS. IN KIGALI, MINDLEAPS HELPED 230 FAMILIES IMPROVE THEIR LIVELIHOODS AND INCREASE THEIR EARNING POWER BY SUPPORTING SAVINGS AND LOANS GROUPS AND FUNDING SMALL BUSINESSES. CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE UBUMUNTU ARTS FESTIVAL HELD IN KIGALI IN JULY WITH GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS KEY'AIRA LOCKETT AND CAITLYN CASSON FROM THE USA.
  4. $409,255 spent. IN FY24, MINDLEAPS GREW ITS NEWEST PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY AND EXPANDED FROM THE BRONX TO JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS. THESE PROGRAMS SERVED CHILDREN AFFECTED BY PARENTAL INCARCERATION AND/OR CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS TO THE USA. MINDLEAPS WORKED WITH US BREAKDANCER KID GLYDE TO DEVELOP A BREAKING CURRICULUM FOR THE ORGANIZATION. MACEDONIAN DANCER MARKO MARKOVIKJ AND AMERICAN DANCER TRACY VOGT TRAVELED TO GUINEA TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO CHILDREN AND TRAINERS IN NEW DANCE STYLES. MINDLEAPS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP ITS MONITORING & EVALUATION SYSTEM TO TRACK SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING THROUGH DANCE AND MOVEMENT.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.