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Memphis Lift Parent Institute

EIN 82-2560581 · Memphis, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BUILD WIDESPREAD DEMAND FOR HIGH QUALITY SCHOOLS AND RADICAL CHANGES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION TO DISRUPT SYSTEMATIC EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITY THROGH CHOICE AND HEALTHY COMPETITION.

Income
$797,510
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
12
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$123,500, executive director

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 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $257,505 spent. PUBLIC ADVOCATE FELLOWSHIP PROVIDES 100 PARENTS ANNUALLY FROM ALL OVER THE CITY WITH THE EDUCATION AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT EDUCATION IN MEMPHIS. THE COURSE IS 10 WEEKS LONG WITH A CURRICULUM THAT BECOMES MORE COMPELLING AND COMPREHENSIVE WITH EACH COHORT.
  2. $152,597 spent. THE SURGE TEAM IS THE MEMPHIS LIFT'S TEAM OF PARENT ORGANIZERS. THE SURGE TEAM DEVOTES THEMSELVES TO MEETING AND EDUCATING PARENTS WHERE THEY ARE-AT THEIR DOORS, AT A SCHOOL PICK UP LINE OR AT CHURCH-AND BUILDS THAT INITIAL CONVERSATION INTO A RELATIONSHIP THAT CAN BE LEVERAGED TO MAKE THE VOICE OF PARENTS EVEN GREATER IN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MEMPHIS SCHOOLS. FROM CANVASSING TO HOSTING SPEAKER SERIES TO RALLYING PARENTS ON QUICK TURNAROUNDS TO MAKE THEIR PRESENCE KNOWN AT THE LEGISLATURE IN NASHVILLE, THE SURGE TEAM IS CONSTANTLY IN THE ORGANIZING BUSINESS.
  3. $75,087 spent. CHOICE COUNSELING HELPS BUILD AWARENESS IN PRIORITY SCHOOL COMMUNITIES THAT PARENTS HAVE EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS AND PROVIDES PARENTS WITH THE RESOURCES AND EDUCATION THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX EDUCATION SYSTEM AND MAKE THE BEST EDUCATIONAL CHOICE FOR THEIR CHILD. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING RESOURCES AND EDUCATION, CHOICE COUNSELING OFFERS THE MUCH NEEDED SOUNDING BOARD TO MANY PARENTS.
  4. $156,252 spent. SPECIAL EDUCATION - THE MEMPHIS LIFT SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (SPED) TEAM IS HERE TO HELP FAMILIES WHEN SCHOOLS OFTEN DON'T MEET THE INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) OR 504. PARENTS GET FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY AND HAVE UNPRODUCTIVE MEETINGS WITH PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF. WE TEACH, SUPPORT AND GUIDE PARENTS TO SHOW THEM HOW TO MOVE FROM EMOTION TO ADVOCACY SO YOUR CHILD CAN SUCCEED. SPED HELPS ANY PARENT WHO BELIEVES THEIR CHILD MAY NEED TO BE TESTED FOR SERVICES, HAS A CHILD WHO ALREADY CARRIES A DOCUMENT (IEP OR 504), AND/OR SUPPORTS A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

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 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 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 May 2018.

    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.