Life Pieces to Masterpieces
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LIFE PIECES TO MASTERPIECES (LPTM) IS DEDICATED TO THE CREATIVE, ACADEMIC, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND CITIZENSHIP DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK BOYS AND YOUNG MEN LIVING IN WASHINGTON D.C.'S UNDERSERVED 7TH AND 8TH WARDS. FOUNDED IN 1996, LPTM PROVIDES A 'HOME AWAY FROM HOME'
- Income
- $7.5 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 26.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $187,367, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 26.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 68% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 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
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $1.2 million spent. LPTM'S AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, THE ARTS AND EDUCATION MENTORING PROGRAM (AEMP), ENGAGES EIGHTY BOYS AND YOUNG MEN AGES 3-13 (ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH PARTICIPANTS), AND 5-7 YOUNG MEN AGES 14-18 (HIGH-SCHOOL-AGED "JUNIOR MENTORS"), IN AN ARTS-BASED PROCESS THAT GUIDES THEM TO CHANNEL THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES THROUGH ACRYLIC AND FABRIC STITCHED COLLAGE PAINTINGS, ORIGINAL POETRY, PROSE, ORATORY, MOVEMENT, AND MUSIC. EACH COLORFUL, SEWN, ACRYLIC-ON-CANVAS COLLAGE ILLUSTRATES A SHARED STORY AND REFLECTS THEIR COURAGE TO CREATE THEIR OWN DESTINY - TRANSFORMING THEIR LIFE PIECES INTO MASTERPIECES. CONDUCTED FIVE DAYS A WEEK FROM 3:00 - 7:00 PM, THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES RIGOROUS HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, TUTORING, LITERACY TRAINING, AND MATH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTED BY STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FROM LOCAL UNIVERSITIES. THE RESULT IS DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF IMPROVEMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, SELF-AWARENESS, POSITIVE MALE RELATIONSHIPS, AND CIVIC AND SOCIAL ABILITY - WHICH IN TURN HELP OUR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN TO BELIEVE IN THEIR ABILITY TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR OWN LIVES, THEIR COMMUNITY AND ULTIMATELY THE WORLD THEY LIVE IN.
- $462,213 spent. LPTM'S SUMMER PROGRAM, CONNECTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE, ENGAGES NINETY BOYS AND YOUNG MEN AGES 3-13 (ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH PARTICIPANTS), AND TEN YOUNG MEN AGES 14-18 (HIGH-SCHOOL-AGED "JUNIOR MENTORS"), DAILY IN A SIX-WEEK PROGRAM FROM JULY THROUGH EARLY AUGUST, 8:00AM-4:00PM. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE STUDY OF A NEW FOREIGN COUNTRY EACH SUMMER AND INCORPORATES THREE CORE STRATEGIES: 1) IN-DEPTH MATH AND LITERACY TUTORING DESIGNED TO PREVENT SUMMER LEARNING LOSS; 2) PROMOTING CREATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION THROUGH THE STUDY OF VARIOUS ART FORMS; AND 3) DEVELOPING GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP BY DISCOVERING AND EXPLORING THE CULTURAL SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY IN DC AND FOREIGN NATIONS. CONNECTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE BUILDS ON LPTM'S SCHOOL-YEAR FOCUS OF LEARNING AND GROWTH IN A SAFE, LOVING, AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT; CAPITALIZES UPON THE UNIQUE INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN WASHINGTON, DC; AND REMINDS OUR YOUTH THAT THEY ARE GLOBAL CITIZENS.
- $175,994 spent. SATURDAY ACADEMY (SA) PROVIDES BETWEEN TEN AND FIFTEEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AGES 14-18, WITH ACADEMIC SUPPORT, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS TRAINING, BLACK MALE DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING PRACTICE TO PREPARE THEM FOR POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS. THEY ALSO TRAIN FOR AND PREPARE TO SERVE AS "JUNIOR MENTORS," SUPPORTING THEIR YOUNGER PEERS IN LPTM'S AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER CLASSROOMS. OVER NINE MONTHS, STUDENTS MEET THREE SATURDAYS PER MONTH FROM 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM FOR 90 MINUTES OF ACADEMIC TUTORING WITH COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL MENTORS, FOLLOWED BY AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS CRITICAL TO PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS. OVER THE PAST DECADE, 100% OF SA PARTICIPANTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND ENTERED COLLEGE OR OTHER POST-SECONDARY TRAINING.
- $347,248 spent. COLOR ME COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS ADVANCE OUR STRATEGY FOR DISMANTLING STRUCTURAL RACISM AND OTHER BARRIERS TO EQUITY. INFORMED BY LPTM'S NEARLY 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND CO-LED BY LPTM GRADUATES, THE HIGHLY INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS PROVIDE A SAFE, NON-JUDGMENTAL ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND IDENTITIES TO EXPLORE THE IMPLICATIONS OF RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, CULTURAL BACKGROUND AND IDENTITY, AND HOW WE SEE OURSELVES, EACH OTHER, AND THE WORLD. AT THE END OF THE WORKSHOP, PARTICIPANTS COLLABORATE TO CREATE ARTWORK IN THE LIFE PIECES ART STYLE, COMMUNICATING AN ACTION THEY WILL TAKE TO INSPIRE POSITIVE CHANGE AND A VISION OF SHARED HUMANITY IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND THE WORLD. COLOR ME COMMUNITY HAS DEVELOPED FROM A PROGRAM INTO A LIFE PIECES ENTERPRISE WHOSE CLIENTS INCLUDE THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, NATIONAL AND LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. LPTM'S COLOR ME COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS HAVE REACHED OVER 1,000 PROFESSIONALS INCLUDING ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, POLITICIANS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM OVER 55 COUNTRIES. ART BY LIFE PIECES - "CREATING ART . . . CHANGING LIVES" - LIFE PIECES TO MASTERPIECES TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE UNIQUE STYLE OF ART THAT OUR APPRENTICES COLLECTIVELY CREATE. YOUTH COLLABORATE TO DECIDE ON A LIFE EXPERIENCE TO MAKE THE TOPIC OF THEIR PAINTING AND THEN MAKE THEIR MASTERPIECE TOGETHER BY PAINTING, CUTTING, ARRANGING, AND SEWING PIECES OF CANVAS. EACH COLORFUL, SEWN, ACRYLIC-ON-SEWN-CANVAS COLLAGE ILLUSTRATES A SHARED STORY AND REFLECTS OUR YOUNG ARTISTS' COURAGE TO CREATE THEIR OWN DESTINY - TO TURN THEIR "LIFE PIECES" INTO "MASTERPIECES". LPTM APPRENTICES HAVE CREATED OVER 2,000 ARTISTIC MASTERPIECES, AND THEIR ARTWORK HAS BEEN DISPLAYED IN SUCH VENUES AS CHILDREN'S NATIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, THE WORLD BANK, NBC'S TODAY SHOW, CHICAGO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, THE DC MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ART BY LIFE PIECES CREATES A SOURCE OF EARNED REVENUE BY MAKING MANY OF THESE MASTERPIECES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE, RENTAL, AND DISPLAY. PARENT/FAMILY ENGAGEMENT - LPTM SUPPORTS PARENT/FAMILY ENGAGEMENT VIA QUARTERLY EVENTS INCLUDING PROGRAM ORIENTATIONS, "FAMILY NIGHTS," "FAMILY ART DAYS, AND YOUTH PERFORMANCE/PRESENTATIONS DURING WHICH PARENTS AND FAMILIES ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED AND HONORED. DURING THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR, NEARLY 100% OF LPTM FAMILIES ATTENDED AT LEAST ONE OF THESE EVENTS, SPEAKING TO PARENTS' POSITIVE FEELINGS ABOUT LPTM FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ALL LPTM PARENTS HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER OF NO LESS THAN FOUR LPTM STAFF MEMBERS. PARENTS/FAMILIES RECEIVE ROUTINE UPDATES ABOUT THEIR CHILD(REN)'S PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IN ADDITION TO MONTHLY PROGRAM UPDATES NEWSLETTERS, EVENT INVITATION FLYERS, AND DAILY LOGISTICAL UPDATES ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS. OUTREACH AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT - THE PARTICIPANTS AND ALUMNI OF LPTM ENGAGE IN EVENTS INCLUDING PUBLIC SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES, MUSICAL AND SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCES, AND ART EXHIBITIONS THAT SPREAD LPTM'S MISSION AND CHANGE NARRATIVE ("LPTM CHANGES HOW BLACK AND BROWN BOYS AND YOUNG MEN SEE THEMSELVES; CHANGES HOW THE WORLD SEES OUR BLACK AND BROWN BOYS AND YOUNG MEN; AND LPTM YOUNG MEN CHANGE THE WORLD'S UNDERSTANDING OF SHARED HUMANITY"). THROUGH THEIR STORYTELLING, ARTS, AND ADVOCACY, LPTM'S BOYS AND YOUNG MEN ARE THOUGHT LEADERS AS SHARE THEIR VISIONS FOR A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE WORLD AND CHANGE THE WORLD'S UNDERSTANDING OF SHARED HUMANITY. FOUR LPTM YOUTH MODERATED AND/OR SPOKE ON PANELS AT THE "YOUTH AT THE CENTER" CONFERENCE HOSTED BY MENTOR MD/DC AND FAIR SCHANCE; ONE ALUMNUS SPOKE AT THE NATIONAL MENTORING SUMMIT; ANOTHER ALUMNUS WAS ON A LOCAL PBS STATION SPEAKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN BLACK COMMUNTIES. LPTM YOUTH AND ALUMNI WERE FEATURED IN A SHORT FILM SHARING THEIR STORIES, AS WELL AS IN LOCAL NEWS MEDIA.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.