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Memphis Leadership Foundation Inc

EIN 58-1715927 · Memphis, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak9 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 27% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO EQUIP AND EMPOWER GRASSROOTS URBAN LEADERS TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN MEMPHIS.

Income
$929,344
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
27%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
20
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$105,846, founder

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 9 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 65% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    27% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $74,595 spent. CHRIST FELLOWSHIP ("CF") EXISTS TO FOSTER POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE LIFE OF AT RISK YOUTH BY GOING WHERE KIDS ARE, BUILDING POSITIVE CHRIST CENTERED RELATIONSHIPS, VOLUNTEERING IN SCHOOLS, PROVIDING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND ENGAGING THEM IN VARIOUS ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE KINGDOM OF GOD AGAINST THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD BY LOVING GOD, EMBODYING GOD'S LOVE FOR EACH-OTHER AND PROCLAIMING GOD'S LOVE TO THE WORLD IN WORD AND DEED
  2. $70,157 spent. HEART TO HEART ("H2H")H2H IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTH VILLAGES TO PROVIDE AN ON-SITE COORDINATOR FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL LIFE PROGRAM. MORE THAN 350 YOUTH IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN WEEKLY CHAPEL, BIBLE STUDY AND WORSHIP SERVICES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL PASTORAL TRAINING.
  3. $173,085 spent. OTHER GENERAL MINISTRIES PROVIDING DISCIPLESHIP OF CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES TO VARIOUS GROUPS OF AT RISK URBAN YOUTH AND ADULTS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC MINISTRIES: GLOBAL FRIENDS MEMPHIS ("GFM") GFM IS AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO SEEK TO JOURNEY TOGETHER IN FAITH AND FRIENDSHIP AS A REGISTERED ORGANIZATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS. THE MINISTRY WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FAMILY IN MEMPHIS AS WELL AS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE FAITH. EXCEL LEADERSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ("EXCEL") EXCEL IS A LEADERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM FOR INNER CITY YOUTH. STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FROM UNION UNIVERSITY, BETHEL UNIVERSITY OR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY TO HELP DEFRAY EDUCATION COSTS AND ARE GIVEN A MENTOR FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION. VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE STUDENTS ARE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THEIR FAMILIES.LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ("LD") LD OFFERS TWO SEPARATE YEAR-LONG TRAINING WORKSHOPS TO URBAN MINISTRY LEADERS AND PASTORS: (1) URBAN ARROW TEACHES LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING. (2) TRANSFORMATIONAL GIVING TEACHES BIBLICAL FUNDRAISING AND EQUIPS WITH VARIOUS STRATEGIES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 June 1987.

    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.