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Women Leading Ed

EIN 99-0436915 · Matthews, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GOAL OF WOMEN LEADING ED (WLE) IS TO BE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED NETWORK COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING AND ADVANCING FEMALE EDUCATION LEADERSHIP THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH WOMEN AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR LEADERSHIP JOURNEYS. OUR MISSION IS TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN A STRONG PIPELINE OF WOMEN LEADERS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL/GROUP COACHING, COHORT-BASED LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS, PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK BUILDING, CRISIS SUPPORT, AND PRACTICAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD WOMEN'S SKILLS AND RESILIENCY TO SUSTAIN LONG-TERM IN THE SECTOR. WLE'S VISION IS THAT THOSE WHO LEAD SCHOOL SYSTEMS REPRESENT THE COMMUNITIES AND SYSTEMS THEY SERVE AND THAT OUR SYSTEMS ARE REBUILT AND REDESIGNED TO MATCH THE CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR GENERATION. WLE ENDEAVORS TO ELEVATE THE LEADERSHIP, VOICES AND INFLUENCE OF WOMEN EDUCATION AND TO LEADING MORE INCLUSIVE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION. ITS PURPOSE IS TO IDENTIFY, STRENGTHEN, AND SUSTAIN DIVERSE, HIGH-POTENTIAL WOMAN EDUCATION LEADERS.

Income
$772,504
Spending
$285,524
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
20.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
2
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$56,417, executive director

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 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $259,021 spent. THE GOAL OF WOMEN LEADING ED (WLE) IS TO BE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED NETWORK COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING AND ADVANCING FEMALE EDUCATION LEADERSHIP THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH WOMEN AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR LEADERSHIP JOURNEYS. OUR MISSION IS TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN A STRONG PIPELINE OF WOMEN LEADERS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COACHING, COHORT-BASED LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS, PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK BUILDING, CRISIS SUPPORT, AND PRACTICAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD WOMEN'S SKILLS AND RESILIENCY TO SUSTAIN LONG-TERM IN THE SECTOR. WLE'S VISION IS THAT THOSE WHO LEAD SCHOOL SYSTEMS REPRESENT THE COMMUNITIES AND SYSTEMS THEY SERVE AND THAT OUR SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO MATCH THE CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR GENERATION. WLE ENDEAVORS TO ELEVATE THE LEADERSHIP, VOICES AND INFLUENCE OF WOMEN EDUCATION AND TO LEADING MORE INTENTIONAL EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION. ITS PURPOSE IS TO IDENTIFY, STRENGTHEN, AND SUSTAIN HIGH-POTENTIAL WOMAN EDUCATION LEADERS.NUMEROUS EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS EXIST, BUT ALMOST NONE HAVE BEEN CREATED BY AND FOR WOMEN LEADERS. WLE SEEKS TO CHANGE THIS BY PROVIDING A SAFE, CONFIDENTIAL, AND SUPPORTIVE NETWORK OF WOMEN EDUCATION LEADERS THAT PROVIDES DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY AND HELP THE WOMEN IN THE NETWORK SECURE AND RETAIN THE TOP ROLE OF DISTRICTS AND STATES IN OUR NATION.WLE PROVIDES LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE INTENTIONAL FOCUS OF SUPPORTING WOMEN IN EDUCATION. WLE SURVEYS WOMEN TO IDENTIFY THE AREAS MOST TOP OF MIND AS THEY NAVIGATE BECOMING, AND SUSTAINING AS, LEADERS. IN PARTICULAR, WLE RESEARCHES AND PROVIDES PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTING THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR DURING THEIR LEADERSHIP JOURNEY AND THEIR RISE TO THE SUPERINTENDENCY.AMONG WLE PROGRAMMING ARE A VARIETY OF COACHING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING: INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COACHING, INCLUDING SUPPORT ENTERING AND ADVANCING IN SEARCHES, AND BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR LONG-TERM IMPACT; MONTHLY VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND ACCESS TO EXPERTS, INCLUDING CURRENT AND FORMER WOMEN SUPERINTENDENTS; AND FACILITATED PEER NETWORKING WITHIN AND ACROSS COHORTS AND PRACTICAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD SKILLS AND RESILIENCE AS WOMEN GO FOR THE TOP JOBS AND SUSTAIN IN THEM FOR THE LONG-RUN. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF WLE'S TIME IS SPENT ON PROGRAMMING.INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COACHING, INCLUDING SUPPORT ENTERING AND ADVANCING IN SEARCHES AND BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR LONG TERM IMPACT. HELD VIRTUALLY AND AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, FUNDED BY GRANTS, DONATIONS AND FEES.MONTHLY VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND ACCESS TO EXPERTS, INCLUDING CURRENT AND FORMER WOMEN SUPERINTENDENTS. HELD VIRTUALLY, FUNDED BY GRANTS AND DONATIONS.FACILITATED PEER NETWORKING WITHIN AND ACROSS OUR EVER-EXPANDING COHORTS. HELD VIRTUALLY AND AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, FUNDED BY GRANTS AND DONATIONS.PRACTICAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD SKILLS AND RESILIENCE AS WOMEN GO FOR THE TOP JOBS AND SUSTAIN IN THEM FOR THE LONG-RUN. HELD VIRTUALLY AND AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, FUNDED BY GRANTS, DONATIONS AND FEES.ANNUAL SUMMIT NATIONAL NETWORK OF FEMALE SUPERINTENDENTS AND THOSE LEADERS WHO ASPIRE TO LAND THE TOP CEO ROLES IN DISTRICTS AND STATES FOR THREE DAYS OF EMPOWERING SPEAKER SESSIONS, NETWORKING WITH PEERS, COLLECTIVE AGENDA SETTING AND LEADERSHIP COACHING. INCLUDING EXECUTIVE COACHING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS. HELD IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, FUNDED BY DONATIONS AND FEES.

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

  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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 June 2024.

    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 November 4, 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.