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Center for Creative Leadership

EIN 23-7079591 · Greensboro, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 334 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$133.6 million
Spending
$136.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
540
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$760,407, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 334 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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 March 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 (6)
  1. $4.0 million spent. W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION IS AN INNOVATIVE FELLOWSHIP FOR LEADERS TO CONNECT, GROW, AND LEAD TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE 18-MONTH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM OFFERS HANDS-ON TRAINING, PERSONALIZED COACHING, COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT, AND PRACTICAL PROJECT EXPERIENCE. IT BRINGS TOGETHER 80 INSPIRING LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND SOVEREIGN TRIBES, WITH FOUR COHORTS OF FELLOWS FROM WKKF'S PRIORITY PLACES OF MICHIGAN, MISSISSIPPI, NEW MEXICO, AND NEW ORLEANS, AS WELL AS ONE NATIONAL U.S. COHORT. OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR AND A HALF, FELLOWS DEEPEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR NAVIGATING TODAY'S CHALLENGES AND LEARNING TO AUTHENTICALLY ENGAGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, FELLOWS BECOME PART OF A VAST NETWORK OF 1700 PLUS ALUMNI.
  2. $2.0 million spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (LDP): LDP IS CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP'S ("CCL") FLAGSHIP EXECUTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM AND IS ATTENDED BY MORE EXECUTIVES WORLDWIDE THAN ANY SIMILAR TYPE PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS OF THE PROGRAM TEND TO BE MIDDLE TO SENIOR LEVEL EXECUTIVES FROM THE PRIVATE, MILITARY, EDUCATION, AND NONPROFIT SECTORS. THE PROGRAM GIVES PARTICIPANTS THE OPTION OF LIVE-ONLINE OR ON-SITE INSTRUCTION SURROUNDED BY INTENSE PRE AND POST WORK ASSIGNMENTS. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST THE PARTICIPANT IN INCREASING HIS OR HER LEADERSHIP CAPACITY THROUGH A FEEDBACK INTENSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025, 986 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED THE LDP PROGRAM.
  3. $1.3 million spent. LEADING FOR ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT (LOI): LOI IS ONE OF THE CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP'S PREMIER EXECUTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS, DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR SENIOR LEADERS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUSINESS UNITS, DIVISIONS, OR ORGANIZATIONAL FUNCTIONS. THE PROGRAM EQUIPS PARTICIPANTS TO BALANCE SHORT-TERM TACTICAL DEMANDS WITH LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, ENHANCING THEIR ABILITY TO LEAD ACROSS BOUNDARIES AND SHAPE ENTERPRISE-WIDE OUTCOMES. THROUGH IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN A DYNAMIC, PEER-BASED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, LEADERS LEAVE THE PROGRAM WITH THE SKILLS AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO BE MORE STRATEGICALLY EFFECTIVE WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025, 472 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED THE LOI PROGRAM.
  4. $1.1 million spent. LEADERSHIP AT THE PEAK (LAP)
  5. $531,496 spent. MAXIMIZING LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL (MLP)
  6. $110.3 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS PREVIOUSY LISTED, CCL ALSO OFFERS NUMEROUS ADDITIONAL FACE TO FACE AND VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT SECTORS. CCL STRIVES TO MAKE OUR PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY. EACH YEAR, CCL IDENTIFIES SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION WHO DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO AFFORD CCL PROGRAMS WITHOUT SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THOSE AUDIENCES ARE GENERALLY INDIVIDUALS FROM THE NONPROFIT OR EDUCATION SECTORS, YOUTH OR INDIVIDUALS FROM DISADVANTAGED REGIONS AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. CCL THEN PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THESE AUDIENCES THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, THIRD-PARTY FUNDING OR BELOW MARKET PRICED FEES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 October 1970.

    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.