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Leadership Oakland

EIN 38-3390575 · Pontiac, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 133 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE LEADERSHIP OAKLAND MISSION IS TO DEVELOP A NETWORK OF DIVERSE AND INFLUENTIAL LEADERS BY EXPOSING THEM TO REGIONAL RESOURCES AND ISSUES AND CHALLENGING THEM TO REACH THEIR FULL PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL.

Income
$288,940
Spending
$284,431
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
3
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$82,000, executive director

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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% 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 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 133 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 80% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $136,186 spent. CORNERSTONE PROGRAM - 9-MONTH TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE. CLASS OF 48 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE CORNERSTONE PROGAM TO LEARN INFORMATION RELEVANT TO OAKLAND COUNTY AND THE DETROIT METRO REGION. THE VOLUNTEERS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN CREATING THE AGENDA FOR THE MONTHLY SESSIONS AS WELL AS SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP OAKLAND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE JUNIOR LEADERSDHIP PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES IN OAKLAND COUNTY AND METRO DETROIT REGION, AND LEARN NEW LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
  2. ALUMNI PROGRAMS - AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE CORNERSTONE PROGRAM, ALUMNI WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUING EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS. OUR ALUMNI EXCEEDS 1500 INDIVIDUALS AND PROGRAMS RUN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. LEADERSHIP OAKLAND ALUMNI PARTICIPATE IN PLANNING COMMITTEES DURING THE YEAR TO PLAN THE SESSIONS FOR THE CURRENT CLASS PARTICIPANTS. THEY ALSO VOLUNTEER TO HELP ON ALUMNI EVENTS.
  3. $63,471 spent. ACORN2OAK YOUTH GRAN PROGRAM - THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH OAKLAND COUNTY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS UP TO $1,000 TO YOUTH AGES 8-18 YEARS LIVING IN OAKLAND COUNTY. 82 GRANTS WERE AWARDED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR
  4. ALUMNI PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AFTER GRADUATING THE CORNERSTONE PROGRAM, ALUMNI WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN CONTINUING EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS AND EVENTS. OUR ALUMNI BASE EXCEEDS 1500 INDIVIDUALS. COMMUNITY EVENTS WE ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-ALUMNI FROM AROUND THE REGION, STATE OR NATION TO LEARN FROM OUR NETWORK OF EXPERTS.

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 October 13, 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 1998.

    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 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.