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Abide and Lead

EIN 83-1886950 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ABIDE AND LEAD'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE, EQUIP, AND CONNECT LEADERS THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES, LIKE-MINDED RELATIONSHIPS, AND SHARED WISDOM.

Income
$154,751
Spending
$209,510
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
0
Volunteers
40

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 134% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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.

  • 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. $163,520 spent. THE ORGANIZATION'S HERITAGE FORUM PROGRAM REACHED 108 INDIVIDUALS BY HOSTING THREE FAITH-BASED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THESE EVENTS ARE DESIGNED TO EQUIP ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING LEADERS TO LIVE WITH PURPOSE AND CREATE A LASTING IMPACT. THROUGH RETREAT-BASED EXPERIENCES, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS TEACHING SESSIONS, GUIDED REFLECTION, AND PEER ENGAGEMENT TO HELP PARTICIPANTS CLARIFY THEIR PERSONAL MISSION, LEADERSHIP DIRECTION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES. ONE OF THE PROGRAMS ALSO ENGAGES SPOUSES TO STRENGTHEN MARRIAGES AND DEVELOP SHARED FAMILY VISION, VALUES, AND LEGACY PLANNING. AS A RESULT, PARTICIPANTS ARE BETTER PREPARED TO LEAD WITH INTENTION, STRENGTHEN THEIR FAMILIES, AND CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $16,415 spent. IN 2025, HERITAGE FORUM TRANSFORMED INTO ABIDE & LEAD. AN ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO CULTIVATE A COMMUNITY OF BUSINESS LEADERS WHO ABIDE IN CHRIST AND LEAD FOR ETERNAL IMPACT. WE INSPIRE, EQUIP, AND CONNECT LEADERS THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES, LIKE-MINDED RELATIONSHIPS, AND SHARED WISDOM. LAUNCHING IN 2025, WE HELPED HOST APPROXIMATELY 320 PARTICIPANTS AT THE FACTOR FORUM AND THE HIGHLANDS COLLEGE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. THESE TWO LEADERSHIP INTENSIVES FOCUS ON PERSONAL, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND BUSINESS LEADERSHIP, HELPING PARTICIPANTS LEAD MORE EFFECTIVELY IN THEIR FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, AND SPHERES OF INFLUENCE.
  3. $23,412 spent. IN 2025, WE LAUNCHED A PODCAST CALLED IMPACT CEO. THE IMPACT CEO PODCAST IS A KEY PROGRAM OF ABIDE & LEAD THAT EQUIPS FAITH-DRIVEN CEOS AND BUSINESS LEADERS TO INTEGRATE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES INTO THEIR LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, THE PODCAST PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED EPISODES FEATURING CONVERSATIONS WITH EXPERIENCED LEADERS ON STEWARDSHIP, CULTURE, AND KINGDOM-MINDED LEADERSHIP. THIS PROGRAM EXTENDS THE ORGANIZATION'S REACH BEYOND IN-PERSON GATHERINGS BY PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE, ONGOING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. AS A RESULT, IT HAS STRENGTHENED ENGAGEMENT WITH A GROWING AUDIENCE AND ADVANCED THE MISSION OF EQUIPPING LEADERS TO STEWARD THEIR INFLUENCE FOR LASTING, KINGDOM IMPACT.

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 October 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.

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