Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management's mission is to bring the real world to business education and leadership development.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $7.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 13.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 119
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $337,450, sr vp center for leadership
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 145% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 56% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 June 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 (2)
- $3.0 million spent. LAKE FOREST CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP (C4L) IS A PART OF LAKE FOREST GRADUATE SCHOOL WHICH PROVIDES INTERRELATED FORMAL CLASSROOM BUSINESS EDUCATION INSTRUCTION IN THE FORM OF CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS AND SHORT-TERM WORKSHOPS IN SUBJECTS SUCH AS STRATEGIC EXECUTION, FINANCE, COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, NEGOTIATIONS, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, MANAGING CHANGE, AND SALES. C4L PROVIDES THESE PROGRAMS TO CORPORATIONS, PRIMARILY IN THE CHICAGO AREA. C4L DEVELOPS CURRICULA, WHICH WHEN DELIVERED THROUGH FORMAL CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, ENABLE EMPLOYEES OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TO BROADEN THEIR BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE, AND TO HELP THEM MOVE FROM INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR TO ORGANIZATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY TAILORING CURRICULA, CONTENT, AND PROGRAMS TO MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CORPORATIONS.
- $2.3 million spent. LAKE FOREST GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT COMBINES TRADITIONAL AND LEADING-EDGE ACADEMICS WITH A PRACTITIONER FACULTY THAT PROVIDES A DYNAMIC CONNECTION WITH THE REAL WORLD OF BUSINESS. THIS DISTINCTIVE APPROACH RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO THE RESULTS-ORIENTED DEMANDS OF TODAY'S BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WHILE SATISFYING ACADEMIC RIGOR. OUR FACULTY MEMBERS OFFER DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND REPRESENT A WIDE ARRAY OF ORGANIZATIONS, INDUSTRIES, AND FUNCTIONS. THEY BLEND SOLID BUSINESS THEORY WITH PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, SO STUDENTS RECEIVE A HANDS-ON EDUCATION THAT IS UNMATCHED. ALL OF OUR FACULTY MEMBERS HAVE EXTENSIVE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE SUBJECT AREAS THEY TEACH. BUILDING ON THE SKILLS STUDENTS BRING TO THE PROGRAM, OUR COURSES SHARPEN THEIR ANALYTICAL ABILITIES BY COMBINING COURSE WORK WITH DAY-TO-DAY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES. OUR GENERAL MBA PROGRAM OFFERS A BROAD KNOWLEDGE BASE IN EVERY AREA NEEDED FOR SUCCESS IN TODAY'S BUSINESS WORLD. INTERACTIVE AND PERSONAL, OUR FACULTY MEMBERS INCORPORATE A WIDE RANGE OF TEACHING METHODOLOGIES, INCLUDING FACILITATED DISCUSSION ON ISSUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FACING MANAGEMENT TODAY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1969.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.