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Global School Leaders

EIN 81-4387783 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN BY TRAINING AND PREPARING SCHOOL LEADERS, TEACHERS, AND OTHER EDUCATORS.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
2
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$137,500, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 67% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $1.9 million spent. GLOBAL SCHOOL LEADERS (GSL) IS REDEFINING WHAT POWERFUL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CAN DO FOR EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:GLOBAL SCHOOL LEADERS IS REDEFINING WHAT POWERFUL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CAN DO FOR EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, RESEARCH, REGIONAL COLLABORATION, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA, AND ASIA. IN 2025, GSL ADVANCED A GLOBAL AGENDA FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AT A SYSTEMIC LEVER FOR IMPROVING LEARNING OUTCOMES. GSL EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENTS, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND REGIONAL NETWORKS TO SUPPORT CONTEXTUALIZED SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND GENDER-EQUITABLE LEADERSHIP. IN GHANA, GSL CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF LEADERSHIP FOR LEARNING, A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP PRACTICES AND IMPROVE TEACHING AND LEARNING OUTCOMES. IN SIERRA LEONE, GSL CONTINUED SUPPORTING PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY; WHILE IN GUATEMALA, GSL ADVANCED SYSTEMS-LEVEL WORK THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, A NATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS, AND A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SCHOOL LEADER SURVEY.AT THE REGIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVELS, GSL STRENGTHENED COLLABORATION AND POLICY DIALOGUE THROUGH THE LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN HUB, THE SOUTHEAST ASIA SCHOOL LEADERSHIP HUB, AND THE GLOBAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP. GSL WORKED ALONGSIDE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING, UNESCO, UNICEF, ARNEC, ACSL, AND SEAMES TO STRENGTHEN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP SYSTEMS AND ELEVATE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP IN GLOBAL EDUCATION DISCUSSIONS. ADDITIONALLY, GSL CONTINUES TO STUDY HOW BEST TO SUPPORT SCHOOL LEADERS THROUGH STUDIES, SURVEYS, AND CONVENINGS. IN 2025, THE ANNUAL GSL PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING OF LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOLS ("PULS") SURVEY FOCUSED ON SCHOOL LEADERS' EXPERIENCES WITH FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACROSS THE GLOBAL SOUTH AND RECEIVED 12,453 RESPONSES FROM 16 COUNTRIES ACROSS AFRICA, ASIA, AND LATIN AMERICA.GSL ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED ITS WORK ON GENDER-EQUITABLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP. IN 2025, GSL SUPPORTED NINE NEW PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON GENDER ACROSS THE GLOBAL SOUTH, INCLUDING FIVE ORGANIZATIONS SELECTED FOR THE FIRST COHORT OF THE GENDER-EQUITABLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ("GESL") ALLIANCE. GSL SUPPORTED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER-EQUITABLE LEADERSHIP PRACTICES ACROSS 110 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN INDIA, REACHED MORE THAN 1,000 SCHOOL LEADERS THROUGH GENDER AND LEADERSHIP RESEARCH IN GHANA AND KENYA, DIRECTLY SUPPORTED 48 WOMEN SCHOOL LEADERS THROUGH SHELEADS, AND CONTRIBUTED TO FOUR GLOBAL CONVENINGS AND PUBLICATIONS AMPLIFYING WOMEN LEADERS' VOICES ACROSS REGIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 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 November 2017.

    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.