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21st Century Leaders Inc

EIN 58-1820875 · Decatur, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

21ST CENTURY LEADERS CONNECTS, TRANSFORMS, AND INSPIRES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS GEORGIA TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, AND ULTIMATELY THE WORKFORCE.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
8
Volunteers
601
Highest pay
$120,751, executive di

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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. $1.1 million spent. SUMMER RESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES 21ST CENTURY LEADERS' SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES ARE ONE-WEEK RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTES ON COLLEGE AND CORPORATE CAMPUSES FOCUSED ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER EXPLORATION ACROSS INDUSTRY SECTORS. OUR FOUR SUMMER INSTITUTES IMPACTED 286 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM 163 HIGH SCHOOLS AND 45 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE IN 2025. 94% OF STUDENTS REPORTED THAT THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SEEK OUT OR CONTINUE SEEKING OUT LEADERSHIP ROLES, 56% OF STUDENTS SAID THEY DISCOVERED A NEW CAREER FIELD OF INTEREST AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAM, AND 43% OF STUDENTS SAID IT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME SEEING SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE THEM IN A CAREER OR POSITION THEY WANT TO BE IN.
  2. $168,460 spent. SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAMS 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR WE SERVED OVER 3,000 STUDENTS WITH 730 LIVE TRAINING EVENTS, PROGRAMS, AND EXPERIENCES FOR THE YEAR WITH 96% OF STUDENTS SAY THEIR CONFIDENCE AS A LEADER INCREASED THROUGH 21ST CENTURY LEADERS. OUR ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM, LEADERSHIP CONNECT SAW A RECORD ENROLLMENT OF OVER 3,100 STUDENTS WITH 96% ENROLLED RECEIVING FREE ACCESS. 28 STUDENTS AND 14 MBA COACHES PARTICIPATED IN THE INAUGURAL COHORT OF OUR LEADERSHIP CONNECT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAPSTONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EMORY'S GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL WHERE STUDENTS CAN EARN A LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE FROM GOIZUETA, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND. OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY BASED 21 CLUBS SUPPORTED OVER 1,000 STUDENTS ACROSS 31 CLUBS AND WE PROVIDED OVER 50,000 IN POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS. SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAMS 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR WE SERVED OVER 3,000 STUDENTS WITH 730 LIVE TRAINING EVENTS, PROGRAMS, AND EXPERIENCES FOR THE YEAR WITH 96% OF STUDENTS SAY THEIR CONFIDENCE AS A LEADER INCREASED THROUGH 21ST CENTURY LEADERS. OUR ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM, LEADERSHIP CONNECT SAW A RECORD ENROLLMENT OF OVER 3,100 STUDENTS WITH 96% ENROLLED RECEIVING FREE ACCESS. 28 STUDENTS AND 14 MBA COACHES PARTICIPATED IN THE INAUGURAL COHORT OF OUR LEADERSHIP CONNECT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAPSTONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EMORY'S GOIZUETA BUSINESS SCHOOL WHERE STUDENTS CAN EARN A LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE FROM GOIZUETA, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND. OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY BASED 21 CLUBS SUPPORTED OVER 1,000 STUDENTS ACROSS 31 CLUBS AND WE PROVIDED OVER 50,000 IN POST-SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS.
  3. $204,110 spent. HOMEWORK CENTERS THE HOMEWORK CENTER PROGRAM, MANAGED BY 21ST CENTURY LEADERS THROUGH SCANA ENERGY, ESTABLISHED AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS IN GEORGIA TITLE 1 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR UP TO FOUR YEARS AT EACH SCHOOL. IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR AN AVERAGE OF 292 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED AND ATTENDED FOR 476 DAYS ACROSS THE TEN HOMEWORK CENTERS. 93% OF STUDENTS AGREE THAT THEY GET TO LEARN MORE THINGS AT THE HOMEWORK CENTER AND THAT THEY DO BETTER IN SCHOOL, AND 86% OF PARENTS AGREE THAT SINCE ATTENDING THE SCANA ENERGY HOMEWORK CENTER, THEIR CHILD IS DOING BETTER ON SCHOOLWORK. PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS REPORTED IMPROVED GRADES AND GAINS IN TEST SCORES AMONG HOMEWORK CENTER STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN MATH AND READING.

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 March 1989.

    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.