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Knoxville Leadership Foundation

EIN 62-1574495 · Knoxville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$8.0 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
65
Volunteers
1,839
Highest pay
$233,420, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $2.5 million spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT KNOXWORX IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM THAT FOCUSES ON AN INDIVIDUAL BY CREATING A CUSTOM DESIGNED EMPLOYMENT PROCESS. WE ASSESS PARTICIPANTS, DESIGNING A PATHWAY THAT INCORPORATES THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AS WE WALK TOWARD SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT. KNOXWORX SERVES AT-RISK YOUNG ADULTS / ADULTS THAT ARE JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVED, HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS, LOW-INCOME OR TRANSITIONING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY FROM EITHER JAIL OR PRISON. IN 2024, 224 PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED EDUCATION AND CAREER SUPPORT SERVICES AND 224 PARTICIPANTS WERE ASSISTED WITH JOB SERVICES. OUR YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM TRAINED 42 PARTICIPANTS IN HBI CONSTRUCTION TRAINING OR CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS.
  2. $1.5 million spent. MENTORING INITIATIVES AMACHI KNOXVILLE IS THE PASSIONATE RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH A PARENT(S), OR PARENTAL FIGURE IN PRISON AND OTHER AT-RISK YOUTH. WE ASSIST THEM IN ACHIEVING THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL BY ENGAGING THEM IN CONSISTENT AND COMMITTED MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE OF FAITH. 389 YOUTH WERE MENTORED BY 309 MENTORS IN THE 2024 PROGRAM.
  3. $315,804 spent. COMPASSION COALITION JOINED KLF IN 2018 TO INFORM, EQUIP, AND CONNECT CHURCHES, INDIVIDUALS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IN 2024, COMPASSION COALITION INFORMED BY DISTRIBUTING A WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER TO OVER 2,490 SUBSCRIBERS RESULTING IN 92.75% OF COMMUNITY NEEDS BEING MET. COMPASSION COALITION EQUIPPED CHURCHES THROUGH A SERIES OF BENEVOLENCE TRAINING WORKSHOPS. 21 TRAININGS WERE ATTENDED BY 618 INDIVIDUALS. COMPASSION COALITION CONNECTED TO CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH CONNECTION POINT, A CALL CENTER. IN 2024, CONNECTION POINT RESPONDED TO 3,095 CALLS. IN TOTAL, 2,158 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED. THE COALITION HOUSED AND PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR 13 YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE AND 14 FAMILIES GRADUATED FROM 1 GETTING AHEAD CLASS.
  4. $524,418 spent. THE REGAS BUILDING WAS PURCHASED AND DEVELOPED TO BE A COLLABORATIVE TRAINING CENTER FOR NONPROFIT ENTITIES. IN 2024, 8 ENTITIES LEASED SPACE IN THE BUILDING. FURTHER, 146 TRAINING EVENTS FOR NONPROFIT ENTITIES WERE HELD WITH 8,731 ATTENDEES.
  5. $536,432 spent. PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES RELATED TO VARIOUS ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUSPROGRAMS THROUGHOUT 2024.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 1994.

    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.