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School Leader Lab

EIN 82-1581985 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SCHOOL LEADER LAB SUPPORTS SCHOOLS AND THEIR NETWORKS IN SUSTAINING AND GROWING HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS THROUGH ONE OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS: LEADERS. SCHOOL LEADER LAB PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP BENCH BY DEVELOPING EXCEPTIONAL TEAMS MADE UP OF DIVERSE LEADERS REFLECTIVE OF ITS COMMUNITY'S STUDENTS AND BY BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
23.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
6
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$242,503, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 June 30, 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 (8)
  1. $605,658 spent. SCHOOL LEADER COHORT (SLC): SCHOOL LEADER COHORT IS OUR 18-MONTH COHORT FOR DC-BASED PRINCIPALS, VICE PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, DEANS, INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, OR AN EQUIVALENT ROLE. SLC DEVELOPS EXCEPTIONAL PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS SO THAT THEY INSPIRE STAFF, DISRUPT RACISM, AND CHAMPION RIGOROUS LEARNING. EXECUTIVE LEADER COHORT (EDEX): EXECUTIVE LEADER COHORT (EDEX) IS OUR NINE-MONTH, CROSS-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR LEADERS IN MANAGING, DIRECTOR, HEAD, AND CHIEF-LEVEL ROLES AND ACCOMPLISHED PRINCIPALS WHO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSITION INTO EXECUTIVE-LEVEL LEADERSHIP IN THE NEXT 1-3 YEARS. EDEX DEVELOPS HIGH-PERFORMING AND DIVERSE SYSTEMS LEADERS WITH THE KEY SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO LEAD STRONG TEAMS IN CHIEF-LEVEL EXECUTIVE ROLES. TEACHER LEADER COHORT (TLC): TEACHER LEADER COHORT IS OUR NINE-MONTH, CROSS-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT DEVELOPS TRANSFORMATIONAL CLASSROOM-BASED LEADERS SO THAT THEY EXERCISE LEADERSHIP ON THE TEAMS THEY LEAD WHILE REMAINING IMPACTFUL WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE GROUPS OF STUDENTS.
  2. $138,632 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND THEIR NETWORKS IN SUSTAINING AND GROWING HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS THROUGH ONE OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS: LEADERS. THE PROGRAM STRENGTHENS SCHOOLS INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP BENCH BY DEVELOPING EXCEPTIONAL TEAMS MADE UP OF DIVERSE LEADERS REFLECTIVE OF ITS COMMUNITY'S STUDENTS AND BY BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $122,447 spent. DELTASTRONG: PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY FOR PRINCIPALS CONVENES PRINCIPALS AND ASPIRING PRINCIPALS IN THE GREATER DELTA-AREA TO BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER TO SUSTAIN AND THRIVE IN THEIR ROLES AND PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL VISITS FOCUSED ON BEST PRACTICES TO IMPLEMENT AT THEIR SCHOOLS.
  4. $117,439 spent. 4: AP LEADERSHIP IS OUR 10-MONTH COHORT THAT DEVELOPS DCPS ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WHO ARE IN THEIR SECOND YEAR AND BEYOND.
  5. $93,455 spent. 5: 160 School Leader PLC with TFA DC (DC PLC)
  6. $77,429 spent. 6: DC SCHOOL LEADER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY CONVENES DC-AREA CHARTER AND DISTRICT PRINCIPALS MONTHLY TO BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER TO SUSTAIN AND THRIVE IN THEIR ROLES AND PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL VISITS FOCUSED ON BEST PRACTICES TO IMPLEMENT AT THEIR SCHOOLS.
  7. $46,925 spent. 7: Total for 190 Special Projects
  8. $18,101 spent. 8:115 Richmond Public Schools (RPS)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.