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Leveling the Playing Field Inc

EIN 45-2682632 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD GIVES UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPATION. WE DO THIS THROUGH THE DONATION OF USED AND EXCESS SPORTING EQUIPMENT TO PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS SERVING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES.OUR DONATIONS ALLOW PROGRAMS TO ALLOCATE FUNDS SAVED BY LOWERING REGISTRATION FEES, EXPANDING THEIR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS, ENHANCING THEIR EXISTING ATHLETIC PROGRAM AND/OR DEVELOPING NEW ONES.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
40
Volunteers
1,743
Highest pay
$156,546, executive 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 80% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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. $5.3 million spent. COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM:THE MAJORITY OF THE EQUIPMENT IN OUR WAREHOUSE IS A RESULT OF OUR COLLECTION PROGRAM THAT BRINGS IN DONATED SPORTING GOODS FROM INDIVIDUAL DONORS. BELOW ARE THE MAIN AVENUES THAT EQUIPMENT REACHED OUR WAREHOUSE THROUGH THE COLLECTION PROGRAM:-EVERYDAY PEOPLE COME TO OUR WAREHOUSE TO DROP OFF EQUIPMENT FROM THEIR HOME. IT RANGES FROM A BAG OF GEAR TO A FULL SUV FULL OF EQUIPMENT.-WE RUN COLLECTION DRIVES DURING MOST WEEKENDS IN THE FALL & SPRING. WE PARTNER WITH SPORTS LEAGUES, TOURNAMENTS, SCHOOL EVENTS, NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS WHERE WE FEEL WE CAN BRING IN A LOT OF DONATED EQUIPMENT.-WE HAVE A LARGE VOLUNTEER COLLECTION PROGRAM WHERE THE COMMUNITY RUNS THEIR OWN DRIVES TO BENEFIT OUR MISSION. THESE OFTEN INCLUDE EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS AND MITZVAH PROJECTS.-WE HAVE BINS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AT LOCAL PARKS, ICE RINKS, SPORTS GOODS STORES, FITNESS CENTERS AND OTHER VENUES.WE ALSO RECEIVE EQUIPMENT FROM MANUFACTURERS SUCH AS UNDER ARMOUR AND STX. THESE ARE TYPICALLY ITEMS THE COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TO LIQUIDATE AND WRITE OFF. IN ADDITION TO THE MANUFACTURERS AND SOME SPORTS GOODS STORES LIQUIDATING TO US, WE ALSO RECEIVE EQUIPMENT FROM PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS AND COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. VOLUNTEERS WORK IN THE WAREHOUSE TO COLLECT, SORT, AND INVENTORY THE DONATIONS. MOST OF THESE VOLUNTEERS ARE IN MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WE ALSO REGULARLY SEE CORPORATE GROUPS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. IN A NON-COVID YEAR, WE WILL SEE ABOUT 1,000 VOLUNTEERS PER YEAR IN THE WAREHOUSE. ON AVERAGE THE BREAKDOWN OF WHERE DISTRIBUTED ITEMS ARE DONATED LOOKS LIKE 50% SCHOOLS, 35% YOUTH DEVELOPMENT/AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND 15% PURE SPORTS TEAMS AND LEAGUES. TO RECEIVE EQUIPMENT FROM US, PROGRAMS HAVE TO SUBMIT AN EQUIPMENT REQUEST FORM AND THEN CONDUCT EITHER A SITE VISIT OR INTERVIEW WITH OUR STAFF. ONCE APPROVED, WE INVITE PROGRAMS TO VISIT OUR WAREHOUSE AS MANY TIMES AS THEY NEED WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO REAPPLY. SOME PROGRAMS COME ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR AND OTHERS WE SEE LITERALLY EVERY FEW WEEKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.CERTAIN SURPLUS ITEMS OR ITEMS THAT ARE NOT SIZE APPROPRIATE FOR THE KIDS WE SERVE ARE SOLD ONLINE OR DIRECTLY TO A SPORTING GOODS CONSIGNMENT STORE SUCH AS PLAY-IT-AGAIN SPORTS. WE CALL WITH THE GEAR 4 GOOD PROGRAM, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A STANDALONE PROGRAM, IT'S ALL PART OF THE COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SPROTS EQUIPMENT.

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 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 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 March 2013.

    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.