Live It Learn It
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LILI partners with public schools and cultural institutions to create and deliver experiential learning opportunities for students in order to increase their self-efficacy, build on their intrinsic motivation, and support their scholarly achievements.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $103,876, co-executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 2513 of 13 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 August 31, 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)
- $920,914 spent. Live It Learn It (LILI) envisions a day when all learners feel empowered and motivated to engage with the world. We work alongside students, educators, and community partners to build meaningful connections between students in Washington, DCs Title I schools and the museums, landmarks, and historic sites that reflect the richness of their city. We recognize that due to systemic inequities, students in under-resourced communities have had unequal access to out-of-classroom learning opportunities that deepen academic engagement and foster a sense of belonging. In partnership with schools and cultural institutions, we expand access to immersive, place-based learning experiences that connect students to their communities and make classroom learning more relevant. Live It Learn It served approximately 1,809 DC students during the 202425 school year. Since 2005, LILI has served more than 28,000 2nd5th grade students and their teachers in Washington, DCs Title I schools through experiential learning that connects students with local historical, cultural, and environmental sites. Our model centers on facilitating thoughtfully designed field experiences that are directly connected to classroom learning. Teachers select from a menu of options to best support their curriculum and respond to their students strengths and interests. Each grade levels options include units in the arts, humanities, and STEM, developed in collaboration with educators and partners and aligned with DCPS curriculum. In FY25, Live It Learn It piloted Bridge the Gap, a DC Council-funded initiative designed to deepen partnerships with schools and respond more directly to priorities identified by educators and students. Through this pilot, LILI collaborated with school communities to co-design experiential programming that integrates sustained, in-class learning with field-based experiences. Bridge the Gap expands access to experiential learning while strengthening continuity between classroom instruction and out-of-school opportunities, with a focus on fostering belonging, reinforcing academic skills, and building meaningful connections to students communities. Early implementation has provided valuable insights into how more sustained and responsive programming can support student learning and engagement, and these learnings will inform future program development and potential expansion. Through these experiences, students build background knowledge, strengthen confidence as learners, and deepen their sense of belonging within the broader DC community. Our approach is designed to be accessible and engaging for all students, regardless of prior knowledge, language background, or reading level. Our program demonstrates impact on students literacy development and self-efficacy, while supporting meaningful connections to place during a critical phase of child development. Approximately 91% of our students are Black and Brown. More than 60% attend schools east of the Anacostia River. Our partner schools in Wards 1 and 4 serve large numbers of students (4053% of the school population) who are classified as English Language Learners. In Washington, DC, schools and cultural institutions recognize LILI as a trusted partner in experiential learning. Our model is designed to support meaningful engagement with cultural spaces and encourage continued exploration; after participating in a LILI experience, 83% of students report wanting to return to the site, and 90% express interest in learning more about the subject they explored.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 November 6, 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 August 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 September 2005.
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 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.