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Launching Educational Assistance Programs Forward Inc

EIN 52-2169397 · Prnc Frederck, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To serve youth from disadvantaged ethnic backgrounds by providing them with social and cultural enrichment that include seminars that foster self-esteem and academic excellence, college tours and educational support and exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math careers.

Income
$249,296
Spending
$199,437
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
13.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
0
Volunteers
21

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 88% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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.

  • 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. $100,903 spent. Scholarship - Held scholarship program at local high school and focused on a chat and chew format with all of the 30+ scholarship donors and their respective recipients. Huge success as the fellowship allowed both to learn new and exciting facts about each other. This was a free event and we were blessed with an abundance of desserts sponsored by Sams Club. Nearly 200 donors, awardees, and special guests were in attendance. Fifty-six scholarships were presented for a total of $94,000. To date, we have awarded over 500 scholarships. We continued to invest funding in our scholarship website and on-line applications tool. (www.leapforwardscholarships.org). Our major upgrade continued to be implemented with software bugs being addressed and corrected. Again over 100 scholarships were submitted through this platform. In 2025, we increased scholarship awards. All recipients received a minimum of $1,500. Thirty are pursuing STEM majors, including nursing. We were entrusted with the Calvert County Branch of the NAACP scholarship and the Menchan Memorial scholarship both awarded for the first time in 2025. We now manage thirty-seven scholarships. Throughout the year, students were informed of internship and other scholarship opportunities. We continued to take advantage of our investment in a communications and database tool (Network for Good) that has also allowed us to operate more efficiently. Increases in subscription costs have forced us to look for another alternative. We have begun to use www.zeffy.com platform which is a free platform. The tool is being used for communications with our scholars, donors and executive board.
  2. $76,533 spent. C.A.S.H. NSBE Program - Continued facilitation of the Pre-College Initiative membership (Creative and Striving Hard to Succeed (CASH)) program in collaboration with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) for 80+ underrepresented ethnic youth, exposing them to careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The youth were provided: (1) In-person STEM monthly sessions; (2) Exposure to the Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology facility and laboratories (3D printing, electrical and mechanical engineering); (3) Engagement opportunities in experiential learning; (4) Exposure to guest speakers representing diverse STEM fields; (5) Participated in STEM competition teams including FIRST LEGO robotics, KidWind (wind energy), coding, aerial drones, Ten80 race car and math competitions, and the Electric Vehicle Drag Racing program. Competition teams performed very well. Our high school FIRST Robotics team competed for the first time and earned two awards including the Gracious Professionalism Award and the Rookie Award. The aerial drone team completed two Maryland competitions and one team was selected to go to the Dragonfly District competitions in West Virginia. Five KidWind (wind energy) teams competed in competitions in Chicago, IL and two teams placed second and third. Four teams competed at the University of Maryland and again two teams placed second and third. With these wins, all teams were invited to attend the World competition in Phoenix, AZ. With a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration and Alfred Street Baptist Church, teams attended the KidWind World competition for the first time. Our Ten80 racing team received several awards: first place in racing and overall champions for the DMV area. The team was invited and participated in the National competition in Charlotte, NC. The elementary student LEGO team, the Coding Dolphins, competed in a showcase and won the Team Building award. (6) Returned to the NSBE national conference in Chicago and participated in numerous competition teams and received several awards. (7) Continued our CASH NSBE Jr. students STEM Dreams with a series of leadership presentations, motivational speakers, and hands-on activities (www.cashnsbejr.com). Utilizing staff at the SMART building and other STEM professionals, the students engaged in two long-term projects including building desktop computers and designing and building an Electric Vehicle. The computers were used to teach middle school students artificial intelligence. The EV car is still being constructed by high school students and we have not participated in the racing event yet. Our goal is to make our first race in 2027. Our elementary students continued hands-on learning via the use of various STEM kits and projects. Our first-time grant from Battelle allowed us to implement our STEM programming. With four graduating seniors, all pursued STEM majors in college. Grant funding increased. Several fundraisers (Double Good popcorn and an auction) were also held to increase revenue.
  3. $11,244 spent. LEAP Forward, MHHA Historical Exhibits, & Destined4Success Program - Continued offering educational services for disadvantaged and underrepresented ethnic youth that included the following objectives: (a) Promoted the awareness of career opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; (b) Provided access to college planning assistance; (c) Provided mentoring and tutoring services; and (d) Supported several new schools and community events with our Black History and Art exhibit in February, providing exposure to our rich African American history. Objectives were implemented by the following activities: (1) Provided cultural awareness to thousands. We displayed at Calvert High, Thomas Stone High, St. Marys Ryken, and Patuxent High School. Additionally, we exhibited at the NAACP Juneteenth celebration and Calvert Health Hospital. An extra addition included the rich history of local Calvert County residents in our Local History Makers and Local Living Legends exhibit. We conducted the essay contest at one school in 2025 and awarded cash awards. (2) Recipient of the Maryland Shine operational grant for the fourth year in a row to continue overall nonprofit operations. Funding allowed for the procurement of marketing and IT tools as well as other needs such as Zoom, a text and call system, a management system, storage, and professional services. Our Destined4Success girls' mentoring program continued for only half of the school year with diverse workshops and support. From January to June, the lunchtime mentoring program, Destined4Success, was conducted at Calvert High School for female students. Speakers included representatives from the College of Southern Maryland and the Calvert County Board of Education, including the Superintendent. Destined4Success led the schools African American History presentations by providing morning video highlights and maintained a school bulletin board to provide encouragement and motivation. The girls conducted several fundraisers for our programs as we journeyed to the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge, MD. LEAP Forward was a sponsor and active participant of the Minority Institute of Leadership and Excellence (MILE) conference. LEAP Forward Inc. was the recipient of the 2025 Calvert County NAACP Award for Community Service.

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 July 2001.

    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.

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.