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Lead Academy

EIN 27-0264738 · Greenville, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PREPARE ALL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN TRADITIONAL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS, FOR LIFE-LONG SUCCESS THROUGH A STRUCTURED, CARING ENVIRONMENT OF HIGH ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS; TO EDUCATE SERVANT LEADERS THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP EACH STUDENT IN SEVEN KEY AREAS: LEADERSHIP, SCHOLARSHIP, CHARACTER, TEAMWORK, CREATIVITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND IDENTITY.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
-25.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 93%
Employees
70
Volunteers
0

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 94% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $4.0 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OLEAD ACADEMY IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING WELL-ROUNDED STUDENT LEADERS THROUGH RIGOROUS ACADEMICS, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. ROOTED IN OUR CORE VALUES, BE NICE. WORK HARD. SERVE WELL. HAVE FUN., WE CULTIVATE STUDENTS WHO EMBODY OUR HABITS OF LEADERSHIP: EMPATHY, PERSEVERANCE, INTEGRITY, AND CURIOSITY (EPIC). THROUGH ACTIVE, ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES, STUDENTS BUILD COMMUNICATION, CRITICAL THINKING, RESILIENCE, AND COLLABORATION SKILLS WHILE LEARNING TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITY. LEAD ACADEMY SERVES STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE AND WELCOMES LEARNERS OF ALL ACADEMIC LEVELS, INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATION AND GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS. OUR INTENTIONALLY SMALL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS CARING ADULTS TO KNOW STUDENTS PERSONALLY AND SUPPORT THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.DURING THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR, LEAD ACADEMY EXPANDED STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES BY LAUNCHING A NEW K-3 DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY CLASS SERVING STUDENTS WITH HIGH NEEDS AND A VARIETY OF DISABILITIES, CURRENTLY SUPPORTING FOUR STUDENTS. THE SCHOOL ALSO CONDUCTED MORE THAN 10 EVALUATIONS TO HELP ENSURE STUDENTS RECEIVED THE ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS ACROSS EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS. SERVICE LEARNING REMAINS A CORE PART OF THE LEAD EXPERIENCE, WITH STUDENTS COMPLETING 3,402 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS FOR APPROXIMATELY 196 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING GREENVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY, SOUTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S THEATRE, HARVEST HOPE, CONESTEE NATURE PRESERVE, GREER RELIEF, AND RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE.STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF ATHLETICS AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING CROSS COUNTRY, VOLLEYBALL, CHEERLEADING, BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, DRAMA CLUB, ROBOTICS CLUB, CHESS CLUB, LIBRARY CLUB, AND BLUSH, A MENTORING GROUP FOR 6TH-8TH GRADE GIRLS FOCUSED ON SELF-CONFIDENCE, SISTERHOOD, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. THIS YEAR, THE ROBOTICS TEAM EARNED MULTIPLE AWARDS AND ADVANCED TO REGIONALS, WHILE THE CHESS CLUB BROUGHT HOME MULTIPLE TROPHIES THROUGH COMPETITION PARTICIPATION. STUDENTS IN LIBRARY CLUB ALSO HELPED OPERATE THE SCHOOL LIBRARY DURING MORNING HOURS, DEVELOPING RESPONSIBILITY AND LEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. AS A TUITION-FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, LEAD ACADEMY PROUDLY PROVIDES FREE BREAKFAST, FREE LUNCH, AND FREE AFTER-SCHOOL CARE AND CLUBS FOR ALL STUDENTS.

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 November 6, 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 September 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 November 4, 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.