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Institute for Zen Leadership

EIN 45-4956464 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To combine Zen meditation and leadership training in order to develop wiser, more resilient leaders who can create healing and thriving in their relationships, organizations, and society. To foster Zen training and develop further instructors of Zen Leadership.

Income
$158,745
Spending
$165,949
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
2
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$47,999, president and treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $35,465 spent. In 2025, the Institute delivered 5 multi-day leadership programs serving 61 people including the ZL Leadership curriculum and a masterclass. We offered 31 full or partial scholarships to these programs, having a total value of $9820.49. The programs were delivered online. All programs were open enrollment. Additionally, IZL faculty presented at 9 other programs for the IZL alumni with an estimate of 108 attendees. We partnered with the California Institute of Integral Studies in delivering a program on Resonance and Zen Leadership. We also developed an online Learning Management System to better support our programs and alumni. We formed a Teaching Committee of 21 IZL instructors to work with them more closely on how they can be points of growth for the Institute. The Institute's President continued to raise visibility for IZL's programs as a regular contributor to Forbes.com with a reach of tens of thousands and as guest faculty or speaker in non-IZL events.
  2. $47,287 spent. The FEBI mind-body personality instrument was used throughout our programs, and IZL has supported over 200 certified coaches, selling 651 FEBI licenses. In addition, 11 new FEBI coaches were certified. We have offered 5 partial scholarships with a total amount of $1040. We also piloted a FEBI practice group that worked with FEBI coaches on extensions to FEBI and making it their signature tool.
  3. $35,465 spent. In 2025, the Institute delivered 2 Healthy Embodied Agile Leadership (HEAL) programs serving 11 medical doctors. One of the programs was online while the other was in-person. We have offered 5 partial scholarships with a total of $2549. Our HEAL Director also founded the Open Field Health Collaborative for bringing HEAL training to facilitating new models of medical practice and community health.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Leadership Institute (Arlington, VA), EIN 51-0235174. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.