Leadership Akron
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF LEADERSHIP AKRON IS TO INSPIRE, STRENGTHEN, AND EMPOWER LEADERS. OUR PURPOSE IS TO UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF LEADERS AND SERVE AS A CATALYST THAT DRIVES THEM TO CREATE A GREATER AKRON.
- Income
- $925,814
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $159,169, president
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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 89% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
7 of 7Has a 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
- $256,007 spent. SIGNATURE PROGRAM (FKA FLAGSHIP PROGRAM) - THE LEADERSHIP AKRON PROGRAM BEGINS IN AUGUST WITH A TOUR AND SPIRITED OPENING RETREAT. IN THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOW, THE CLASS IS IMMERSED IN EXPERIENCES THAT ADDRESS SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. EACH PROGRAM DAY GIVES THE CLASS A HANDS-ON LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT FIELD, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM LEADERS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND THE KEY ISSUES THEY ARE ADDRESSING, AND FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS FROM PROVIDERS AND CUSTOMERS. EACH DAY-LONG EXPERIENCE IS DESIGNED BY LEADERSHIP AKRON ALUMNI WHO HAVE EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF INTEREST FOR THAT DAY. IN ADDITION TO EACH MONTH'S DAY-LONG SEMINAR, SHORT SITE VISITS TO UNIQUE LOCATIONS PROVIDE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOPIC AT HAND. LEADERSHIP AKRON PRESENTS AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY FOR LEADERS TO SEE BEYOND THEIR OWN SPHERES.
- $124,661 spent. JUNIOR LEADERSHIP AKRON - PATTERNED AFTER THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, TO HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS. TO FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND PREPARE THEM FOR FUTURE LEADERSHIP.
- $124,792 spent. CLI - LEADERSHIP AKRON HAS PARTNERED WITH MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN AKRON TO CUSTOM DESIGN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS THAT ALIGN WITH EACH ORGANIZATION'S CULTURE, COMPETENCIES, AND STRATEGIC FOCUS.
- $267,403 spent. INSIGHT AKRON - ONE FULL-DAY COMMUNITY ORIENTATION FOR SENIOR EXECUTIVES WHO ARE NEW TO AKRON THROUGH SITE VISITS, PRESENTATIONS AND ACTIVITIES.N.E.X.T. - LEADERSHIP AKRON PROVIDES SENIOR COMMUNITY LEADERS AT OR NEAR RETIREMENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE PERSONAL STRENGTHS AND THEIR POTENTIAL FOR INDIVIDUAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE AKRON COMMUNITY.DIVERSITY ON BOARD - LEADERSHIP AKRON DEVELOPS DIVERSE TALENT FOR SERVICE ON LOCAL NONPROFIT BOARDS THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION.
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 July 1999.
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.