Passes our checks

Foundation for Leadership California

EIN 68-0149768 · Sacramento, CA

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

What it says it does

LEADERSHIP CALIFORNIA'S MISSION IS TO CATALYZE DISTINGUISHED WOMEN LEADERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA TO SCALE THEIR IMPACT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 100 out of 100.

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 80 out of 100.

Independent board
25 of 25
14 of 14 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
0 of 10
Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$365,773 spent. LEADERSHIP CALIFORNIA'S MISSION IS TO CATALYZE DISTINGUISHED WOMEN. WOMEN FROM SUCCESS TO SIGNIFICANCE. OUR CORE PROGRAM IS THE CALIFORNIA ISSUES AND TRENDS (CIT). MORE THAN 2,000 WOMEN LEADERS FROM AROUND THE STATE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN OUR PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CALIFORNIA ISSUES AND TRENDS, BROADEN THEIR CONNECTIONS, BOOST THEIR INFLUENCE, AND BE INSPIRED TO ACT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, LEADERSHIP CALIFORNIA PROVIDES THE CRITICAL FOUNDATION AND EXPERIENCES TO HELP WOMEN POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR WORKPLACES AND COMMUNITIES. WE SEEK TO EXPAND THE UNDERSTANDING, CONNECTIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN LEADERS, BOTH WHILE THEY ARE IN OUR PROGRAMS AND BEYOND, RECOGNIZING THAT THE COMMITMENT TO LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE CONTINUES LONG AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM. LEADERSHIP CALIFORNIA IS A NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN, 501(C)(3) FOUNDATION WITH A GOVERNING BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND DEDICATED STAFF. THE POWER OF US 2025 TOOK PLACE ON APRIL 28, 2025 TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THREE TRIBAL WOMEN LEADERS IN CALIFORNIA: CATALINA CHACON (COUNCILWOMAN, PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS; VICE CHAIRWOMAN, TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS), LORELLE ROSS (PAST VICE CHAIRWOMAN, GRATON RANCHERIA), AND LYNN VALBUENA (CHAIRWOMAN, SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS; CHAIRWOMAN, TRIBAL ALLIANCE OF SOVEREIGN INDIAN NATIONS).

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.