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Lalela Project Inc

EIN 27-0341475 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LALELA PROJECT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL ARTS FOR YOUTH FROM UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES TO SPARK CREATIVE THINKING AND AWAKEN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.

Income
$774,361
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
4
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$105,387, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 15 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $741,381 spent. LALELA PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL ARTS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH TO SPARK CREATIVE THINKING AND AWAKEN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT. THROUGH LALELA'S ARTS CURRICULUM AND CRITICAL MESSAGING COMPONENT, WE IGNITE IMAGINATION AND TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO MAP AND MANIFEST THEIR DREAMS AND GOALS, LAUNCHING THE POSSIBILITY OF A DIFFERENT FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN THE WESTERN CAPE AND GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA, AND IN BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE, LALELA PROVIDES ARTS EDUCATION TO CHILDREN GRADES ONE THROUGH TWELVE IN A SAFE SPACE DURING AFTER-SCHOOL AND HOLIDAY PERIODS; HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE A CLEAR PATH THAT IS OFTEN CLUTTERED WITH THE HAZARDS OF EXTREME POVERTY.LALELA'S REVENUE CONSISTS PRIMARILY OF CONTRIBUTIONS. IT OPERATES PROGRAMS IN AFRICA AND ITS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES ARE LOCATED IN NEW YORK, NY. THE WORD "LALELA", WHICH IN ZULU MEANS "TO LISTEN," IS AT THE HEART OF WHAT LALELA PROJECT STRIVES TO DO. BY "LISTENING" TO CHILDREN THROUGH ARTWORK AND MUSIC, WE CAN LEARN ABOUT THEIR CHALLENGES AND DREAMS, AND WE CAN, IN TURN, PROVIDE CRITICAL MESSAGING AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL. BY ACTIVATING WHOLE-BRAIN CREATIVE THINKING, WE AIM TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO DREAM ABOUT A DIFFERENT FUTURE AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO MANIFEST THEIR DREAMS.THE GOALS OF LALELA PROJECT'S PROGRAMS ARE TO 1) LISTEN TO AND IDENTIFY KEY CHALLENGES IN CHILDREN'S LIVES; 2) PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL, A TIME DURING WHICH CHILDREN ARE OFTEN WITHOUT PARENTAL SUPERVISION; 3) PROVIDE RELEVANT CRITICAL MESSAGING THROUGH AN INTERACTIVE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND INNOVATIVE ARTS CURRICULUM, TOUCHING ON ISSUES, SUCH AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE, VIOLENCE, GANGS, AND HEALTH; 4) PROVIDE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO EXPRESS EMOTIONS; 5) USE ART AND MUSIC TO CULTIVATE IMAGINATION AND "OUT-OF-THE-BOX" THINKING SO THAT CHILDREN CAN ENVISION CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES; 6) INTRODUCE AND ENCOURAGE ART AND MUSIC EXPERIENCES AS A TOOL FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES AS A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR AND ENVIRONMENTS, AND AS A PRACTICAL APPLICATION FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH; AND 7) TRAIN EDUCATORS TO USE ART AND MUSIC TO HELP CHILDREN ENGAGE IN AGE-APPROPRIATE, IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND TO EMPOWER STUDENTS WITH THE TOOLS OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION.WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF ARTS EDUCATION TO ADVANCE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND TO BUILD THE CHARACTER AND LIFE-SKILLS NEEDED FOR MORE MEANINGFUL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 October 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.