Legal Education Access Pipeline Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of LEAP is to diversify the legal profession by preparing underrepresented students to become successful law school applicants, lawyers, and agents of social change.
- Income
- $412,521
- Spending
- $304,388
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 15.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 135
- Highest pay
- $22,650, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 57% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
- $233,300 spent. For the year ended December 31, 2024 the organization operated the following programs:MentoringFellows in the LEAP program are paired with a current law student and a practicing attorney for the duration of the fellowship. Fellows connect with their mentors at least once a month. Mentors offer valuable insights from their own experiences, connect Fellows with resources and opportunities, and provide encouragement throughout the fellowship. Attorney mentors illuminate what it is like to work in the field, while student mentors shed light on the law school application process and law school experience.Workshops and Skills-development:Eight monthly, all day Saturday Academies include a comprehensive curriculum to prepare Fellows to excel in their law school applications, in law school, and as lawyers. These workshops are hosted at Loyola Law School and the curriculum includes:*Understanding and successfully completing each element of a law school application*Professionalism and excelling in law school*Building core lawyering skills*Panels and talks from law professionals from diverse professional settingsSocial Justice ProgrammingThe curriculum for the LEAP Fellowship was designed through a social justice lens. Each monthly Saturday Academy includes a program on the social justice applications of a law degree. LEAP targets changemakers who see the law as a tool for social justice and aims to provide our Fellows with the necessary skills to do this critically needed work.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.