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Cleveland Leadership Center

EIN 34-1927317 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CLEVELAND LEADERSHIP CENTER (THE ORGANIZATION) IS TO BUILD A CONTINUUM OF CIVIC LEADERS COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITY'S EXCELLENCE BY SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THE ORGANIZATION ACHIEVES ITS MISSION BY DEVELOPING CLEVELAND'S LEADERSHIP THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES THAT CONNECT, INSPIRE AND CHALLENGE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE A POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
18
Volunteers
255
Highest pay
$164,653, exec. vp

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    40 of 40 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 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 (10)
  1. $478,844 spent. LEADERSHIP CLEVELAND (SENIOR-CAREER LEADERS): LEADERSHIP CLEVELAND EMPOWERS SENIOR-LEVEL LEADERS TO ADVANCE THEIR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND IMPACT. THEY GAIN COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, BROADEN THEIR NETWORKS, AND GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF CLEVELAND'S CIVIC SYSTEM.
  2. $243,545 spent. CLEVELAND BRIDGE BUILDERS (MID-CAREER PROFESSIONALS): CLEVELAND BRIDGE BUILDERS PREPARES MID-CAREER PROFESSIONALS FOR MEANINGFUL, FULFILLING, AND IMPACTFUL CIVIC SECTOR ENGAGEMENT THROUGH RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS, AND A LEADERSHIP ACTION PROJECT THAT PROVIDES HANDS-ON EXPERIENTIAL COLLABORATION.
  3. $81,403 spent. CIVIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (LEADERS OF ALL LEVELS): A CIVIC EDUCATION SERIES THAT RAISES CIVIC AWARENESS AND ENGAGEMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS NEW TO THE AREA OR THOSE SEEKING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CLEVELAND. PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO.
  4. $213,615 spent. LOOK UP TO CLEVELAND (HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS): A CIVIC EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, LOOK UP CONNECTS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND PROJECTS MOVING CLEVELAND FORWARD. THEY DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION SKILLS THEY CAN USE ACROSS THEIR LIVES AND HEAR ABOUT CLEVELAND'S ISSUES AND ASSETS FROM COMMUNITY EXPERTS AND ORGANIZATIONS ADVANCING OUR REGION.
  5. $155,784 spent. CAMPUS CLEVELAND (COLLEGE STUDENTS): A SUMMER PROGRAM PROVIDING COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH AN EXPANSIVE VIEW OF THE REGION'S RESOURCES AND IMMERSING THEM IN THE LOCAL PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ARENAS TO DEVELOP, ATTRACT, AND RETAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF CIVIC LEADERS.
  6. $122,147 spent. ONBOARD CLEVELAND (EARLY-CAREER PROFESSIONALS): ONBOARD CLEVELAND IS A LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE THAT ENHANCES YOUNG PROFESSIONALS' COMMUNICATION SKILLS, DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP SKILLS, STRENGTHENS WORKPLACE PRESENCE, AND CREATES AN AWARENESS OF THE CIVIC REALM. IT EQUIPS PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR WORKPLACE AND THE COMMUNITY.
  7. $287,849 spent. ADVANCED LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (EXCEPTIONAL LEADERS): AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR EXPERIENCED LEADERS TO DIVE INTO ADVANCED LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND REAL-WORLD CASE STUDIES. ALI IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE READY TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES TO BREAK FREE FROM CONVENTIONAL LEADERSHIP BOUNDARIES.
  8. LEGACY LEADERS (THOSE IN AND APPROACHING RETIREMENT): LEGACY LEADERS CONNECTS RETIREES AND NEAR-RETIREES WITH MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO LEVERAGE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY ADDRESS LOCAL CHALLENGES AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST.
  9. CLEVELAND CHAMPIONS (RISING LEADERS OF COLOR & WOMEN LEADERS): CLEVELAND CHAMPIONS AIMS TO CREATE A NEW LEADERSHIP ECOSYSTEM THAT INCREASES THE VISIBILITY AND INFLUENCE OF EMERGING LEADERS BY CONNECTING THEM WITH C-SUITE EXECUTIVES. THROUGH STRUCTURED SMALL-GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS, THEY FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH DIVERSE LEADERS ACROSS SECTORS.
  10. $450,315 spent. CLC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (ALL ALUMNI): CLC HOSTS EXPERIENCES AND EVENTS THAT BRING TOGETHER ALUMNI OF ALL PROGRAMS AND YEARS TO HIGHLIGHT ONGOING CIVIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ALUMNI PROGRAMMING FACILITATES THE BUILDING OF STRONG, INTERGENERATIONAL, DYNAMIC NETWORKS.

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 October 2000.

    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.

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