Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Leadership Education and Athletics in Partnership Inc

EIN 22-2906547 · New Haven, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEAP EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE LEADERS WHO CREATE A NURTURING COMMUNITY FOR CHILDREN IN NEED. WE BELIEVE THAT FAMILIES IN ALL NEIGHBORHOODS DESERVE ACCESS TO LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT INSPIRE A BROAD WORLD VIEW AND ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO EMBRACE THEIR LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
537
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$146,345, dir. of deve

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 August 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 (1)
  1. $6.2 million spent. LEAP IS A FREE YEAR-ROUND AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP MENTORING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC, AND SOCIAL ENRICHMENTS FOR NEW HAVEN YOUTH, ALL FREE OF CHARGE. LEAP IS STRUCTURED IN A MULTI-LEVEL MENTORING FASHION DIVIDED INTO THREE TIERS: A CHILDREN'S PROGRAM (AGES 7-12), A LEADERS IN TRAINING (LIT) PROGRAM (AGES 13-15), AND A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (AGES 16-24). LEAP IS NEW HAVEN'S LARGEST EMPLOYER WITH WELL OVER 200 YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING FOR LEAP EACH YEAR. BY EMPLOYING YOUTH AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE, LEAP ACTIVELY SERVES NEW HAVEN'S AT-RISK YOUTH POPULATION. OVER 1,000 CHILDREN AGES 7-12 ATTEND LEAP AFTER SCHOOL MONDAY-THURSDAY (WITH SATURDAY PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE AS WELL) PER YEAR. TAUGHT AND MENTORED BY HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENT COUNSELORS, CHILDREN RECEIVE HOMEWORK HELP AS WELL AS INSTRUCTION THROUGH A LITERACY-BASED CURRICULUM. IN ADDITION, THE CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF ENRICHMENT "RESOURCES" SUCH AS SWIMMING, COMPUTER EDUCATION AND CODING, HEALTHY COOKING, DANCE, TENNIS, GARDENING, PAINTING AND CHESS. YOUTH AGES 13-15 ARE ENROLLED IN OUR LEADERS IN TRAINING (LIT) PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING TUTORING AND HOMEWORK HELP, THIS PROGRAM IS GEARED TOWARD PROVIDING WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO FOSTER SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL GROWTH. LITS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN RESOURCES GEARED TOWARD TEACHING LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS COOKING, SWIMMING, THEATER AND DANCE. LITS IMPLEMENT A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT EACH SEMESTER IN ORDER TO DEVELOP ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND FOSTER A MINDSET OF COMMUNITY BETTERMENT. LASTLY, IN LINE WITH LEAP'S MENTORING MODEL, LITS ARE TASKED WITH MENTORING AND TEACHING YOUNGER CHILDREN UNDER SUPERVISION OF OLDER COUNSELORS. OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AGES 16 - 24 WHO SERVE AS OUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR COUNSELORS. THESE STUDENTS ARE EMPLOYED TO MENTOR AND TEACH YOUNGER CHILDREN. COUNSELORS AT LEAP LEARN THE SKILLS THAT MAKE THEM CAREER-READY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY LEARNING HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE MENTORS AND EDUCATORS. THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS INCLUDING RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEW SKILSS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, PUBLIC SPEAKING AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. LEAP IS A FREE YEAR-ROUND AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP MENTORING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC, AND SOCIAL ENRICHMENTS FOR NEW HAVEN YOUTH, ALL FREE OF CHARGE. LEAP IS STRUCTURED IN A MULTI-LEVEL MENTORING FASHION DIVIDED INTO THREE TIERS: A CHILDREN'S PROGRAM (AGES 7-12), A LEADERS IN TRAINING (LIT) PROGRAM (AGES 13-15), AND A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (AGES 16-24). LEAP IS NEW HAVEN'S LARGEST EMPLOYER WITH WELL OVER 200 YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING FOR LEAP EACH YEAR. BY EMPLOYING YOUTH AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE, LEAP ACTIVELY SERVES NEW HAVEN'S AT-RISK YOUTH POPULATION. OVER 1,000 CHILDREN AGES 7-12 ATTEND LEAP AFTER SCHOOL MONDAY-THURSDAY (WITH SATURDAY PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE AS WELL) PER YEAR. TAUGHT AND MENTORED BY HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENT COUNSELORS, CHILDREN RECEIVE HOMEWORK HELP AS WELL AS INSTRUCTION THROUGH A LITERACY-BASED CURRICULUM. IN ADDITION, THE CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF ENRICHMENT "RESOURCES" SUCH AS SWIMMING, COMPUTER EDUCATION AND CODING, HEALTHY COOKING, DANCE, TENNIS, GARDENING, PAINTING AND CHESS. YOUTH AGES 13-15 ARE ENROLLED IN OUR LEADERS IN TRAINING (LIT) PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING TUTORING AND HOMEWORK HELP, THIS PROGRAM IS GEARED TOWARD PROVIDING WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO FOSTER SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL GROWTH. LITS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN RESOURCES GEARED TOWARD TEACHING LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS COOKING, SWIMMING, THEATER AND DANCE. LITS IMPLEMENT A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT EACH SEMESTER IN ORDER TO DEVELOP ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND FOSTER A MINDSET OF COMMUNITY BETTERMENT. LASTLY, IN LINE WITH LEAP'S MENTORING MODEL, LITS ARE TASKED WITH MENTORING AND TEACHING YOUNGER CHILDREN UNDER SUPERVISION OF OLDER COUNSELORS. OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AGES 16 - 24 WHO SERVE AS OUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR COUNSELORS. THESE STUDENTS ARE EMPLOYED TO MENTOR AND TEACH YOUNGER CHILDREN. COUNSELORS AT LEAP LEARN THE SKILLS THAT MAKE THEM CAREER-READY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY LEARNING HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE MENTORS AND EDUCATORS. THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS INCLUDING RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEW SKILSS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, PUBLIC SPEAKING AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 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 August 2025.

    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.