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Lead San Diego Inc

EIN 95-3699122 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEAD'S PROGRAMS & EVENTS BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH PEOPLE - ENHANCING THEIR PERSONAL & ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS & THE SUCCESS OF THE REGION. ARMED WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ISSUES, PARTICIPANTS INTEGRATE QUICKLY INTO THE COMMUNITY & BECOME VIBRANT, INSPIRED, ACTIVE LEADERS WHO SERVE US ALL.

Income
$764,350
Spending
$551,281
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
25.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
0
Volunteers
32
Highest pay
$323,465, evp & coo

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

Strong: 96 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 32 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $551,281 spent. FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS, LEAD SAN DIEGO HAS SERVED AS AN INCUBATOR FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. LEAD IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE SAN DIEGO/NOTHERN BAJA CALIFORNIA REGION SOLELLY DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING ENGAGED CIVIC AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. WITH A PORTFOLIO OF UNPARALLELED PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, LEAD SAN DIEGO FILLS THE REGION'S LEADERSHIP PIPELINE BY PROVIDING BALANCED EDUCATION AND DIALOGUE ON ISSUES OF CRITICAL REGIONAL IMPORTANCE, HELPING A CROSS-SECTION OF LEADERS BECOME BETTER INFORMED AND ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN WORK THAT POSITIVELY IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH LEAD'S VARIOUS PROGRAMS, FORUMS, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP AND THE ANNUAL VISIONARY AWARDS, WHICH IS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S PREMIER LEADERSHIP RECOGNITION EVENT, LEAD PERSONALLY REACHED APPOXIMATELY 1,400 MEMBERS DURING THE YEAR. THOUSANDS MORE ARE REACHED EACH YEAR VIA LEAD SAN DIEGO'S WEBSITE AND REGULAR E-COMMUNICATIONS.

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 March 1982.

    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.