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Leadership Southern Maryland

EIN 26-2989381 · California, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 46% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

LEADERSHIP SOUTHERN MARYLAND EDUCATES AND INSPIRES A DIVERSE GROUP OF CURRENT AND EMERGING LEADERS, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY NEEDS OF CALVERT, CHARLES, AND ST. MARY'S COUNTIES IN MARYLAND.

Income
$381,264
Spending
$392,975
Spent on programs
46%
Reserves
9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
4
Highest pay
$118,281, executive di

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    46% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $47,691 spent. LEADERS FROM THREE SOUTHERN MARYLAND COUNTIES PARTICIPATED IN A 9-MONTH PROGRAM FOCUSED ON ISSUES FACING THE REGION AS A WHOLE. THESE LEADERS REPRESENTED BUSINESSES, NONPROF|T ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATION, AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR. LEADERS MET MONTHLY IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION FOR A SERIES OF CLASSES AND HANDSON EXPERIENCE THAT HIGHLIGHTED LOCAL AND REGIONAL ISSUES. PERSPECTIVES WERE BROADENED ON A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES FACING THE REGION INCLUDING EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES, PUBLIC SAFETY, ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY, ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MULTICULTURALISM.
  2. LEADERSHIP SOUTHERN MARYLAND EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM (LEAP) PROVIDES A SERIES OF SIX "EXPERIENCES," TO FACILITATE, FOSTER, AND REFIND YOUR INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP UNDERSTANDING AND ABILITIES VIA STRUCTURED COURSE CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON SELF-DISCOVERY, TEAMWORK, AND NETWORKING.
  3. $132,816 spent. N/A

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

  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 June 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 March 2009.

    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.