Legacy Youth Leadership International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Legacy Youth Leadership (Legacy) is a nonprofit organization that is building better leaders who will build a better world. Legacy runs free leadership and mentoring programs in low-income & underserved school communities to equip young people with the skills & experience they need to become college and career ready, provide them the mentorship they need to become entrepreneurs, and develop the tools they need to succeed in the world today. Legacy's Programs teach students how to use their time, their money, their voice, and their vote so they can be leaders TODAY.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- -4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $171,014, 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
Weak: 28 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 155% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $1.4 million spent. PROVIDED OUR FREE LEADERSHIP COURSE TO 3,600 STUDENTS AT 147 HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. WORKED WITH STUDENTS TO DEVELOP CRITICAL LEADERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS. PAIRED STUDENTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED OUR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WITH ADULT MENTORS WHO INVESTED OVER 60 MENTORSHIP HOURS TO HELP THEM APPLY THE SKILLS THEY LEARNED BY COMPLETING SERVICE PROJECTS AND LAUNCH ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES. CONDUCTED AN INTENSIVE PUBLIC SPEAKING TRAINING PROGRAM FOR A SELECT 82 STUDENTS. PROVIDED AN AVERAGE OF 40 HOURS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORING TO EACH STUDENT IN OUR ADVANCED LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. CONDUCT HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SPEAKING TOURS ACROSS AMERICA TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT SOCIAL & HUMANITARIAN ISSUES.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.