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Latino Education Advancement Foundation

EIN 82-3057074 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC INCOMES FOR ALL CURRENTLY SOCIO-ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED LATINX STUDENTS AND OTHER STUDENTS OF COLOR. BY PROVIDING SERVICES AND ADVOCACY, THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION ATTAINMENT AND CAREER MOBILITY, AND TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH PREDOMINANTLY IN EAST SAN JOSE.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
-26.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 66%
Employees
19
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$163,390, 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

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    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 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 (2)
  1. $1.8 million spent. LEAF CENTER FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS (LCCS):THE LEAF CENTER FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS (LCCS) OFFERS A STRUCTURED APPROACH TO INCREASING COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION FOR FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS OF COLOR. LCCS PROVIDES ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR LATINX STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN EAST SAN JOSE ENROLLING IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR TRADE AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS. IN BRIEF, LCCS MENTORS, GUIDE, AND EMPOWER FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO (1) BUILD A COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE, (2) CONFIDENTLY NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE ENROLLMENT PROCESS, (3) PERSIST THROUGH COLLEGE, AND (4) GRADUATE WITH A CLEAR CAREER PATHWAY. LEAF'S LCCS PROGRAMMING HAS SERVED OVER 900 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SINCE 2021, INCLUDING OVER 800 LEAF SCHOLARS, NEARLY 100 MENTORS, AND OVER 500 FAMILIES (96% OF LEAF'S SCHOLARS ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS). TO DATE, LEAF HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER $1,600,000 TO HELP STUDENTS MEET THOSE NEEDS. SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE GONE DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS, MENTORS, AND FAMILIES, AND HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPACTFUL IN KEEPING THEM ENGAGED AND ENROLLED IN COLLEGE. THIS HAS ENABLED THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES:-81% OF STUDENTS IN LEAF'S PERSIST IN COLLEGE (ENROLL FORM YEAR TO YEAR).-OF THESE, 50% ARE ENROLLED IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR TRADE SCHOOL/CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, 50% ARE IN 4-YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAMS. LEAF ADVOCACY:LEAF ADVOCACY AIMS TO SUPPORT THE SPREAD OF UNDERREPRESENTED LATINX VOICES TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM'S DISPARATE IMPACT THAT OUR COMMUNITY IN EAST SAN JOS FACES. THIS WORK IS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING A COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS CULTURE IN SAN JOS VIA FOUR CORE COMPONENTS: (1) ENGAGEMENT OF EASTSIDE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN A PARTICIPATORY PROCESS TO PROMOTE PARENT AND STUDENT VOICES; (2) IMPROVEMENT OF CORE SUBJECT PROFICIENCY OF EASTSIDE STUDENTS LEADING TO AN INCREASE IN LATINX GRADUATES WHO PASS A-G COURSEWORK; (3) PROVIDE A COLLEGE AND CAREER-ALIGNED READINESS PROGRAM TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT AND PERSISTENCE IN TWO-YEAR COLLEGES AND FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES; AND (4) ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE FUNDS FOR EAST SAN JOSE SCHOOLS TO BE ON PAR OR ABOVE THE HIGHEST PER-PUPIL ALLOCATION IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
  2. $1.6 million spent. RENTAL OPERATIONS (LEAF) -AS PART OF LEAF'S COMMITMENT TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF SUPPORTING TFHE-OPERATED SCHOOLS AND ADVANCING INITIATIVES THAT SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS IN EAST SAN JOSE, LEAF'S RENTAL OPERATIONS ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A STABLE AND ACCOMMODATING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOLS SITUATED ON OUR PREMISES. THESE INSTITUTIONS INCLUDE THE ROBERTO CRUZ LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (RCLA) AND LATINO COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY (LCPA). IN ADDITION TO THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS, OUR PROPERTY HOSTS THE VOICES COLLEGE-BOUND LANGUAGE ACADEMICS, SITUATED WITHIN A MODULAR VILLAGE, AND ACCOMMODATES A SATELLITE FACILITY FOR SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY. THESE EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO THE VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, IN RETURN, COMPENSATE LEAF FOR THEIR USE OF OUR FACILITIES.

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 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 June 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 September 2019.

    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.