Lionheart Childrens Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
LIONHEART CHILDREN'S ACADEMY BELIEVES IN STRONG FOUNDATIONS, AND THE LAYING OF THOSE FOUNDATIONS STARTS EARLY. OUR TEAM IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A PLACE WHERE OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS WILL EXPERIENCE LOVE, SECURITY, AND JOY WHILE ENGAGING IN UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND DEVELOP. THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES AND UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD YEARS, AND IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP THE SOCIAL, COGNITIVE, AND PHYSICAL SKILLS THEY'LL NEED AS THEY PROGRESS THROUGH THEIR EDUCATION USING A HOLISTIC APPROACH DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN ACCOMPLISH THEIR FUTURE GOALS. THIS PURPOSEFUL AND HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION ENSURES THAT THE CHILD HAS A STRONG AND HEALTHY FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING AND FOR LIFE.
- Income
- $33.4 million
- Spending
- $39.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 1,053
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $345,076, director/fdr
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
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 104% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (religion, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $36.0 million spent. LIONHEART CHILDREN'S ACADEMY PROVIDES TWENTY EARLY-CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN FROM INFANCY TO TWELVE YEARS OLD DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD CHILDREN'S SKILL SETS, THEIR CONFIDENCE, AND SELF-ESTEEM. LIONHEART'S CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE CHILD THROUGH SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT. THE ACADEMY PROVIDES PARENTS WITH FLEXIBLE OPTIONS, EXCELLENT CARE, AND PEACE OF MIND SO THEY CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN THEIR WORKPLACE.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.
The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 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.