Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Education Leaders of Color Inc

EIN 81-2253548 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CATALYZE THE ACADEMIC AND ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR BY HARNESSING THE POWER OF OUR MULTI-RACIAL, MULTI-SECTOR, AND VALUES-ALIGNED MEMBERSHIP NETWORK.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
26 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
10
Volunteers
763
Highest pay
$322,045, executive in residence

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 92% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (4)
  1. $2.1 million spent. NETWORK: EDLOC RECRUITS AND SELECTS LEADERS OF COLOR IN KEY DECISION-MAKING ROLES TO JOIN OUR MULTIRACIAL, MULTI-SECTOR NETWORK, BUILDING COLLECTIVE POWER AND EXPANDING MEMBERS' PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS AND SOCIAL CAPITAL. ONCE MEMBERS JOIN, EDLOC OFFERS YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING TO STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP, FOSTER BELONGING, AND SUPPORT MEMBERS' IMPACT ACROSS SECTORS. OUR NATIONAL CONVENING, WHICH CONSISTENTLY SELLS OUT AND DREW OVER 500 PARTICIPANTS IN 2024, REMAINS A FLAGSHIP EXPERIENCE. IT BRINGS MEMBERS TOGETHER TO DEEPEN KNOWLEDGE OF OUR POLICY PLATFORM, ENGAGE IN PEER LEARNING, AND ALIGN AROUND SHARED VALUES AND PRIORITIES. THE CONVENING FILLS A CRITICAL GAP IN THE FIELD BY CREATING SPACE FOR VALUES-ALIGNED, DIVERSE LEADERS IN EDUCATION AND RELATED FIELDS. IN ADDITION, MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN CURATED PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING BOOK TALK TALKS, REGIONAL GATHERINGS MEMBER-LED EVENTS AND POLICY-FOCUSED FORUMS THAT CENTER THE LEADERSHIP AND LIVED EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. THESE SPACES GROW AND CONNECT THE MEMBERSHIP, ELEVATE SHARED VALUES, BUILD SKILLS, BRIDGE RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, AND ALIGN ON OUR GOALS AND PRIORITIES.
  2. $1.8 million spent. IN 2024, EDLOC AWARDED $175,000 IN GRANTS TO CAMPAIGN FOR OUR SHARED FUTURE AND BECAME THE HOME OF THIS TIME-BOUND NATIONAL INITIATIVE, WHICH WORKS TO SHIFT THE PUBLIC NARRATIVE AND CENTER THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN BY BUILDING GRASSROOTS SUPPORT TO STOP HARMFUL POLICIES LIKE BOOK BANS AND CURRICULUM CENSORSHIP. THE SOCIAL STUDIES ACCELERATOR IS AN ONGOING INITIATIVE THAT ADVANCES THE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF HIGH-QUALITY, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULA IN SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS NATIONWIDE. THROUGH A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH RECONSTRUCTIONUS, EDLOC HELPS EXPAND ACCESS TO CULTURALLY AFFIRMING COURSES AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, ENSURING THEY SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN WHAT AND HOW THEY LEARN.
  3. $429,036 spent. POLICY & ADVOCACY: EDLOC ACTIVATES THE COLLECTIVE VOICE OF ITS MEMBERS TO ADVANCE BOLD, EQUITY-DRIVEN POLICY SOLUTIONS. THROUGH REGIONAL NETWORKS AND AFFINITY GROUPS, EDLOC MEMBERS CONVENE TO STRATEGIZE AROUND ADVANCING POLICIES THAT PROTECT AND SUPPORT STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES, WHILE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT STRENGTHEN CROSS-SECTOR, MULTIRACIAL COALITIONS. IN 2024, AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, MEMBERS ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH POLICYMAKERS DURING ADVOCACY DAY EVENTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND IN THEIR HOME DISTRICTS TO ELEVATE PRIORITIES THAT REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
  4. $136,570 spent. GRANTMAKING: THE BOULDER FUND GRANTS SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES OF INNOVATIVE AND DIVERSE LEADERS WORKING TO ADVANCE EDLOC'S VALUES AND POLICY PRIORITIES. THE FUND IS INTEGRAL TO EDLOC'S STRATEGY OF ADVANCING VALUES-ALIGNED LEADERS OF COLOR COMMITTED TO DEMONSTRATING THE IMPACT OF CROSS-SECTOR APPROACHES. EDLOC INVESTS IN LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TAKING VALUE-ALIGNED APPROACHES TO SOLVING THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES IN EDUCATION AND ARE INSPIRED BY BEING PART OF A NETWORK THAT COLLECTIVELY SEEKS TO BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT GRANT SUPPORT, EDLOC PROVIDES COACHING AND THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP TO GRANTEES. THE GRANT RECIPIENTS LEAD ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING LIFE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 2016.

    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 November 4, 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.