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Billie Sutton Leadership Institute

EIN 83-4471383 · Burke, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATIONS PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE: CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES THE NON-PARTISAN BILLIE SUTTON LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IS DEDICATED TO INSPIRING AND PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS TO BUILD A STRONGER SOUTH DAKOTA AND MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES AND WORKPLACES THROUGH SERVICE TO OTHERS.

Income
$148,377
Spending
$144,510
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Highest pay
$102,527, executive di

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $83,760 spent. SEE SCHEDULE O
  2. $36,649 spent. EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING SEMINAR DISCUSSION GROUPS, FORUMS, PANELS, AND LECTURES ARE UTILIZED TO CARRY OUT TWO MULTIPLE-DAY IN-PERSON LEADERSHIP TRAINING SEMINARS AS PART OF THE INSTITUTE'S PROGRAMMING. EDUCATION IS ADVANCED THROUGH THE GATHERING OF 17 PARTICIPANTS FOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. THE 2025 LEADERSHIP TRAINING SEMINAR DATES WERE MAY 16 18, 2025 AND OCTOBER 3 5, 2025. HUNDREDS OF SOUTH DAKOTANS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS GAINED BY THE PARTICIPANTS AT THESE SEMINARS.
  3. $24,101 spent. EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMING & PRESENTATIONS PROGRAM SERVICES ACCOMPLISHMENT WERE ACHIEVED BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMING AND PRESENTATIONS. SCIENCE AND EDUCATION ARE ADVANCED BY THE TRAINING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS. TECHNOLOGY WAS UTILIZED TO PROVIDE A COURSE OF INSTRUCTION BY CORRESPONDENCE AMONG PARTICIPANTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. MORE THAN 7 SPEAKERS PRESENTED VIRTUALLY AND TAUGHT 33 PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE. ELEVEN EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS WERE CONDUCTED THROUGH DIGITAL VIDEO CONFERENCES HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Leadership Institute (Arlington, VA), EIN 51-0235174. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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