New Memphis Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NEW MEMPHIS FORGES A PROSPEROUS AND VITAL NEW MEMPHIS BY DEVELOPING, ACTIVATING AND RETAINING TALENT IN ORDER TO MOVE MEMPHIS FORWARD BY DELIVERING PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER AND INSPIRE INDIVIDUALS TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE STRENGTHS OF OUR CITY.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 14.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 1,000
- Highest pay
- $204,901, ceo
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: 96 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 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 (4)
- $336,632 spent. THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INTENSIVE IS A THREE-AND-A-HALF DAY TRAINING EXPERIENCE DELIVERED TWO TIMES A YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FRANKLIN & WHITE. MORE THAN 1,200 EXECUTIVE-LEVEL BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS HAVE COMPLETED THIS PROGRAM WHICH EMPOWERS ESTABLISHED LEADERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND USE THEIR STRENGTHS TO MOVE MEMPHIS FORWARD. EVERY YEAR THIS GROWING NUMBER OF LEADERS REPRESENTS THE DRIVING FORCE OF NEW MEMPHIS INSTITUTE: THE GREATEST CATALYST OF POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION IN ANY COMMUNITY IS STRONG AND ENGAGED LEADERS. THESE LEADERS SPEND COMMUNITY TIME SERVING ON BOARDS AND COMMITTEES BASED ON REFERRALS MADE BY NEW MEMPHIS INSTITUTE; ADVISING THE FELLOWS ON THEIR COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECTS; ENGAGING AND PRESENTING AT THE CELEBRATE WHAT'S RIGHT LUNCHEONS; AND WORKING TO DEVELOP & ACTIVATE TOP TALENT TO MEMPHIS (OVER 3,000 PERSONS BENEFITED).
- $337,478 spent. THE FELLOWS PROGRAM IS A 10-MONTH ENGAGEMENT THAT GIVES HIGH-PERFORMING, MID-CAREER LEADERS THE TOOLS, EXPERIENCES AND CONNECTIONS NEEDED TO BECOME CHANGE AGENTS, INCLUSIVE LEADERS AND QUALIFIED CITY AMBASSADORS. CORE TO THE CURRICULUM IS THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECTS (CAP) DESIGNED TO BUILD CAPACITY OF EXISTING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THERE ARE ALMOST 200 CAPS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED TO DATE. (1,100 PERSONS BENEFITED).
- $288,721 spent. EMBARK WAS DEVELOPED TO EQUIP PROMISING EARLY PROFESSIONALS WITH THE TRAINING TO SET A COURSE FOR THEIR CAREER AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH OTHERS READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY (1,400 PERSONS BENEFITED).
- $1.7 million spent. ALL OTHER REMAINING PROGRAM SERVICES
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
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 November 6, 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 December 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 February 1986.
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 November 4, 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.