Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Lead Africa

EIN 83-1204471 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEAD Edus mission is to establish, support, and grow programs that empower a generation of ethical, empathetic, and entrepreneurial leaders. We develop leaders through a holistic combination of education, sports, and leadership training delivered by locally-led LEAD Hubs.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
4
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$121,613, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 62% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 227% 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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 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

    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, 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. LEAD Hubs: LEAD Edu supports a network of independently run LEAD Hubs that combine high-quality education, elite sport training, and leadership development to empower youth in underserved communities. In 2025, LEAD Edu provided grants totaling $ 1,111,075 to two partner organizations. Funds are disbursed according to an annual budget approved by a local governing Board. These grants supported operating expenses, academic and football programming, teaching and coaching staff, nutrition, infrastructure improvements, extracurricular activities, and capital projects. In 2025, for capital projects we continued construction of a boy and staff dormitory in Liberia. Grants: LEAD Monrovia Football Academy (Liberia) $961,768 LEAD Morocco $99,980 This total also includes $49,327 in donated sports equipment.
  2. $40,373 spent. LEAD Global Network: LEAD Edu supported 8 alumni from LEAD Hubs to pursue secondary and post-secondary education opportunities in the United States by covering essential incidental costs such as visa processing, airfare, technology, and living adjustment expenses. All students were selected through a competitive internal review process and received full scholarships from their host institutions. For most, this marked the first time they had traveled internationally. LEAD Edu also supported 11 alumni from LEAD Hubs to pursue post-secondary education at local universities in Liberia. These investments ensure that high-potential young leaders can access life-changing educational opportunities and continue their leadership development globally, advancing our mission to equip youth to lead in their communities and beyond. Amount: $27,981 (Global Youth Network - secondary) $12,392 (University support, both in the U.S. and Liberia) Total: $40,373
  3. $36,764 spent. LEAD Learning: LEAD Edu launched a pilot to adapt Harvard EASEL Labs SEL Kernels to the Moroccan context and our LEAD Learning leadership framework. This contextualized program, renamed as Waves of Leadership in Morocco, builds critical leadership skills such as self-regulation, empathy, and goal-setting through play-based learning and is poised for scale through the public sector in 2030. Since 2015, we have adapted the leadership course taught at our Liberian and Moroccan Hubs to meet the needs of the worlds youth more broadly focusing our lessons on innovation, empathy, perseverance and more. LEAD Learning has delivered its flagship leadership course to more than 135,000 children through a combination of in person delivery and low cost mobile technology. Amount: $36,764

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 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 December 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 April 2019.

    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.