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Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation

EIN 74-2489854 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BETTER LEADERS CREATE A BETTER COLORADO. THROUGH IMMERSIVE PROGRAMS, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND LIFELONG CONNECTION, THE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION HELPS PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES UNLOCK THEIR POTENTIAL AND USE IT TO DRIVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE. WE DEVELOP PASSIONATE LEADERS WITH THE RIGHT SKILLS TO MAKE COLORADO A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERY COLORADAN.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
15 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
9
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$419,117, officer

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

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 42 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 August 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 (5)
  1. $660,958 spent. LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE: LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE IS AN ANNUAL CITY-TO-CITY EXCHANGE THAT BRINGS DENVER'S PROMINENT BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE INNOVATIONS AND BEST PRACTICES OF ANOTHER CITY FACING RELEVANT BUSINESS AND POLICY ISSUES WHILE STRENGTHENING THE COLLECTIVE VISION AND COLLABORATION IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 878,150 AND EXPENSES OF 660,958 FOR A PROGRAM NET OF 217,192.
  2. $210,643 spent. B:CIVIC PROVIDES COMPANIES OF ALL TYPES AND SIZES THE INFORMATION, INSIGHT AND A NETWORK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO BE CIVIC-MINDED WHILE MEETING BUSINESS GOALS. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 303,159. THERE WERE PROGRAM EXPENSES OF 210,643 WITH ADDITIONAL EXPENSES COVERING FUNDRAISING OF 47,849 AND MG&A OF 21,562. TOTAL NET REVENUE FOR B:CIVIC WAS 23,105.
  3. $201,306 spent. LEADERSHIP DENVER IS AN 11-MONTH PROGRAM FOR ACTIVE LEADERS FOCUSED ON ASSUMING CIVIC LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE DENVER METRO COMMUNITY. LEADERSHIP DENVER IS A BALANCE OF IN-DEPTH ISSUES SEMINARS, RETREATS, AND A GROUP COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 269,275 AND EXPENSES OF 201,306 FOR A PROGRAM NET OF 67,969.
  4. $544,008 spent. LEADERSHIP DENVER, ACCESS DENVER, LEADERSHIP ALUMNI NETWORK, LEADERSHIP FELLOWS, COLORADO LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE,COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PREPARE AND CONNECT LEADERS FROM THE BUSINESS AND CIVIC COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN COLORADO'S FUTURE. IMPACT DENVER BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHILE INTRODUCING THEM TO TOPICS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE REGION. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 188,794 AND EXPENSES OF 150,826 FOR A PROGRAM NET OF 37,968. ACCESS DENVER EXPOSES SENIOR-LEVEL DENVER EXECUTIVES TO THE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE AND CRITICAL ISSUES OF THE DENVER AREA, PROVIDING AN EXCLUSIVE TWO- DAY INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY'S BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LANDSCAPE. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 64,320 AND EXPENSES OF 79,976 FOR A PROGRAM NET LOSS OF (15,656). LEADERSHIP ALUMNI NETWORK TIES TOGETHER OVER 5,000 ALUMNI OF THE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS, WHO REPRESENT THE DENVER METRO REGION'S BUSINESS, CIVIC, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 2,500 AND EXPENSES OF 47,476 FOR A PROGRAM LOSS OF (44,976). LEADERSHIP FELLOWS HELPS LEADERS WITH A DEEP COMMITMENT TO COLORADO TO FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS SO THEY CAN INCREASE THEIR BUSINESS AND CIVIC IMPACT. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 55,762 AND EXPENSES OF 57,512 FOR A PROGRAM NET LOSS OF (1,750). THE COLORADO LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE DEVELOPS THE NEXT GENERATION OF COLORADO'S LEADERS THROUGH A CONSORTIUM OF LEADERSHIP EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTIONS ACROSS COLORADO. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL PROGRAM REVENUE TOTALED 0, AND EXPENSES OF 18,899 FOR A PROGRAM NET LOSS OF (18,899). COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM REVENUE TOTALED 0, AND EXPENSES TOTALED 37,119, FOR A NET LOSS OF (37,119). INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO OTHER PROGRAMS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, OTHER PROGRAMS GENERATED REVENUE TOTALING 0 AND EXPENSES OF 152,200, FOR PROGRAM LOSSES OF (152,200).
  5. LEADERSHIP DENVER, ACCESS DENVER, LEADERSHIP ALUMNI NETWORK, LEADERSHIP FELLOWS, COLORADO LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE,COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PREPARE AND CONNECT LEADERS FROM THE BUSINESS AND CIVIC COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN COLORADO'S FUTURE. IMPACT DENVER BUILDS CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHILE INTRODUCING THEM TO TOPICS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE REGION. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 188,794 AND EXPENSES OF 150,826 FOR A PROGRAM NET OF 37,968. ACCESS DENVER EXPOSES SENIOR-LEVEL DENVER EXECUTIVES TO THE INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE AND CRITICAL ISSUES OF THE DENVER AREA, PROVIDING AN EXCLUSIVE TWO- DAY INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY'S BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LANDSCAPE. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 64,320 AND EXPENSES OF 79,976 FOR A PROGRAM NET LOSS OF (15,656). LEADERSHIP ALUMNI NETWORK TIES TOGETHER OVER 5,000 ALUMNI OF THE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS, WHO REPRESENT THE DENVER METRO REGION'S BUSINESS, CIVIC, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 2,500 AND EXPENSES OF 47,476 FOR A PROGRAM LOSS OF (44,976). LEADERSHIP FELLOWS HELPS LEADERS WITH A DEEP COMMITMENT TO COLORADO TO FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS SO THEY CAN INCREASE THEIR BUSINESS AND CIVIC IMPACT. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL REVENUE OF 55,762 AND EXPENSES OF 57,512 FOR A PROGRAM NET LOSS OF (1,750). THE COLORADO LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE DEVELOPS THE NEXT GENERATION OF COLORADO'S LEADERS THROUGH A CONSORTIUM OF LEADERSHIP EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTIONS ACROSS COLORADO. INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THIS PROGRAM GENERATED TOTAL PROGRAM REVENUE TOTALED 0, AND EXPENSES OF 18,899 FOR A PROGRAM NET LOSS OF (18,899). COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM REVENUE TOTALED 0, AND EXPENSES TOTALED 37,119, FOR A NET LOSS OF (37,119). INCLUSIVE OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO OTHER PROGRAMS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, OTHER PROGRAMS GENERATED REVENUE TOTALING 0 AND EXPENSES OF 152,200, FOR PROGRAM LOSSES OF (152,200).

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 May 1988.

    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.