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Love Light and Melody a Not Forprofit Corporation

EIN 20-8894342 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LOVE LIGHT + MELODY WAS FOUNDED IN 2006 TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR A COMMUNITY OF CHILDREN LIVING AND WORKING IN TRASH DUMP COMMUNITIES IN MANAGUA, NICARAGUA. IN 20 YEARS, LLM HAS ESTABLISHED ILEANA'S SCHOOL OF HOPE, ORGANIZED COUNTLESS TEAM TRIPS AND "DAY OF LIGHT" COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS, PRODUCED AN AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM - ILEANA'S SMILE - BUILT OUT A HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, AND IS NOW EXPANDING ILEANA'S SCHOOL TO INCLUDE A HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS. WE AMPLIFY THE STORIES OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND CREATE HOPE THROUGH THE POWER OF EDUCATION. WE BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO LEARN, GROW AND WRITE THEIR OWN STORY. WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLOURISH.

Income
$436,814
Spending
$462,357
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$104,400, president/fo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $20,968 spent. NICARAGUA - ILEANA'S SCHOOL OF HOPE - LOVE LIGHT + MELODY PARTNERS WITH OPEN HEARTS MINISTRIES TO OPERATE A PRIMARY SCHOOL IN THE VILLA GUADELUPE RESETTLEMENT COMMUNITY SERVING APPROXIMATELY 205 CHILDREN WHO USED TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE TRASH DUMP. CURRENTLY ILEANA'S SCHOOL OFFERS 1ST THROUGH 6TH GRADE EDUCATION, WITH PLANS TO EXPAND THROUGH 11TH GRADE INCREASING THE STUDENT CAPACITY TO 700. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUTORING FOR 40-45 SECONDARY SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ACROSS MANAGUA.
  2. $113,260 spent. NICARAGUA - SCHOOL EXPANSION - LOVE LIGHT & MELODY IS PARTNERING WITH ENGINEERING MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL "EMI- AND HAS COMPLETED A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN TO EXPAND ILEANA'S SCHOOL BY ADDING A HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, INCLUDING TWO-STORY ADA ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT. DIGITAL 3-D RENDERINGS ILLUSTRATE ADEQUATE CLASSROOM AND ADMINISTRATION SPACES AS WELL AS DEDICATED ART/MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY LAB/LIBRARY FACILITIES. THE SCHOOL HAS ACQUIRED SEVERAL ADJACENT PARCELS OF LAND TO GROW THE PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT OF THE CAMPUS AS WELL AND AWAITS GOVERNMENT PERMITTING.
  3. $205,341 spent. ILEANA'S SMILE IS A DOCUMENTARY FILM WHICH TELLS MUCH OF LLM'S ORIGIN STORY, AND IS A FUNDRAISING AND AWARENESS TOOL FOR ILEANA'S SCHOOL OF HOPE. THE FILM HAS RECEIVED 15+ AWARDS IN THE FILM FESTIVAL SPACE, AND RELEASED ON APPLE TV / AMAZON / YOUTUBE IN 2025. IT TELLS THE STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL WHOSE LIGHTNING SMILE, BRAVERY, AND HEART CHANGED OUR LIVES FOREVER. THE FILM EXISTS TO SHINE A LIGHT ON CHILD VULNERABILITY, AND THE POWER OF EDUCATION TO TRANSFORM LIVES.
  4. IN 2016 LOVE LIGHT & MELODY FORMED A WEAVING CO-OPERATIVE IN A NEIGHBORING TRASH DUMP COMMUNITY IN NICARAGUA TO PROVIDE VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING AND MEANINGFUL LIVELIHOODS OPPORTUNITY FOR FIVE FAMILIES. THE WEAVING CO- OPERATIVE PRODUCES "HOPE BRACELETS" WOVEN FROM COLORFUL TRASH BAGS WHICH ARE SOLD TO US DONORS, AND GIVEN AWAY PROMOTIONALLY AT LLM EVENTS. IN 10 YEARS OUR WEAVERS HAVE PRODUCED MORE THAN 25,000 BRACELETS.
  5. IN 2016 LOVE LIGHT & MELODY FORMED A WEAVING CO-OPERATIVE IN A NEIGHBORING TRASH DUMP COMMUNITY IN NICARAGUA TO PROVIDE VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING AND MEANINGFUL LIVELIHOODS OPPORTUNITY FOR FIVE FAMILIES. THE WEAVING CO- OPERATIVE PRODUCES "HOPE BRACELETS" WOVEN FROM COLORFUL TRASH BAGS WHICH ARE SOLD TO US DONORS, AND GIVEN AWAY PROMOTIONALLY AT LLM EVENTS. IN 10 YEARS OUR WEAVERS HAVE PRODUCED MORE THAN 25,000 BRACELETS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 September 2025.

    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 May 2008.

    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 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.