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City Leadership

EIN 46-4337862 · Memphis, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CITY LEADERSHIP'S MISSION IS TO RECRUIT, DEVELOP, AND CATALYZE LEADERS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY OF MEMPHIS. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE LEADERSHIP CAPITAL AND POTENTIAL OF MEMPHIS. CITY LEADERSHIP STRIVES TO RECRUIT TALENTED INDIVIDUALS TO MEMPHIS, TO DEVELOP LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN MEMPHIS, AND TO ACCELERATE (I.E. CATALYZE) COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
33
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$221,848, executive director

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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    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

    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, 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. UNDER ITS RECRUIT PROGRAM, CITY LEADERSHIP SEEKS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT FOR MEMPHIS,ESPECIALLY ITS NONPROFIT SECTOR, PRIMARILY THROUGH ITS 901 CAMPAIGNS: CHOOSE901, TEACH901, SERVE901 AND CHOOSE901 ALUMNI. THESE PROGRAMS MARKET MEMPHIS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY HIGHLIGHTING VARIOUS VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN MEMPHIS AND HOW TO INVEST IN AND ENJOY THE CITY. APPROXIMATELY 5000 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AS WELL AS OVER 40 ORGANIZATIONS BENEFITED.
  2. $300,303 spent. UNDER ITS DEVELOP PROGRAM, CITY LEADERSHIP CONSULTS AND WORKS WITH ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND LEADERS FROM EVERY FIELD: BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, ARTISTS, AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR POTENTIAL INDIVIDUALLY AND TOGETHER. CITY OFFERS EXPERTISE TO THESE GROUPS IN STRATEGIC PLANNING, RESEARCH, MULTIMEDIA, FUNDRAISING, BRANDING, TECHNOLOGY, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND TALENT ACQUISITION. IN 2020, GIVE901, LLC BECAME A PART OF CITY'S DEVELOP PROGRAM TO INCLUDE A NETWORK OF CITY-BUILDERS CREATING OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMPHIS KIDS THROUGH INNOVATIVE EDUCATION SOLUTIONS. FUNDS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATE GIFTS GO DIRECTLY TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS, TEACHER TRAINING, AND AFTER-SCHOOL MENTORING PROGRAMS. APPROXIMATELY 2700 RECIPIENTS.

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 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 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 July 2014.

    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.