Porter-Leath
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EMPOWERING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE A HEALTHY, OPTIMAL AND INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLE.
- Income
- $29.6 million
- Spending
- $31.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 55%
- Employees
- 431
- Volunteers
- 660
- Highest pay
- $275,307, president
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
Fair: 59 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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.
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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)
- $14.5 million spent. PRESCHOOL - BUILDS KINDERGARTEN READINESS SKILLS FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-5 THROUGH THE PROVISION OF HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, FAMILY SUPPORT, HEALTH/NUTRITIONAL SERVICES AND RIGOROUS TEACHER DEVELOPMENT WHICH PREPARE CHILDREN FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING SUCCESS. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE HEAD START (AGES 3 AND 4), EARLY HEAD START (AGES PRENATAL TO 3), AND PORTER-LEATH PRESCHOOL (AGES BIRTH TO 4).
- $2.0 million spent. EARLY SUCCESS COALITION - PROMOTES SHARED, EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES PROVEN TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS.
- $1.9 million spent. CONNECTIONS - PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED PLACEMENT AND COUNSELING SERVICES THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
- $8.7 million spent. CORNERSTONE - PROVIDES CERTIFIED PARENT EDUCATORS TO EQUIP MOMS AND DADS WITH THE PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL TOOLS TO HAVE HEALTHY BABIES AND TO PROMOTE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN THE BEST START IN LIFE. AS PREGNANT AND PARENTING FAMILIES REACH THEIR POTENTIAL, THEY PROMOTE STRONGER FAMILIES IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.GENERATIONS - RECRUITS, TRAINS AND PLACES SENIOR CITIZEN MENTORS IN COMMUNITY-BASED SITES WHICH BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHILDREN, ADULTS AND THE SENIORS WHO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN EACH OTHER'S LIVES ENCOURAGING HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITIES.BOOKS FROM BIRTH - PROVIDES A BOOK EACH MONTH BY MAIL TO OVER 36,000 CHILDREN IN SHELBY COUNTY FROM BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE WHICH CREATES LITERACY CONNECTIONS FOR FAMILIES, INSPIRES NURTURING BONDS BETWEEN CAREGIVERS AND CHILDREN AND LASTING, POSITIVE OUTCOMES THAT EXTEND BEYOND EARLY CHILDHOOD.NEXT MEMPHIS - A SHARED SERVICE PROGRAM MODEL THAT HELPS INDEPENDENT CHILDCARE PROVIDERS REDUCE COSTS AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES, SO THAT THEY CAN DIRECT MORE OF THEIR ATTENTION AND RESOURCES TO THE CLASSROOM AND FAMILIES.
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 1951.
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.