2026-07-08T12:51:27-05:00 2025-08-31 131655065 LUTZ AND CARR CPAS LLP 551 FIFTH AVENUE SUITE 400 NEW YORK NY 10176 990 2024-09-01 331071771 LEADERSHIP ENTERPRISE FOR A DIVERSE AMERICA LEAD 6465823608 121 WEST 36TH STREET 207 NEW YORK NY 10018 DAVID GARZA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6465823608 2026-07-07 1 1 JENNIFER COATES P02247728 2126972299 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z DAVID GARZA 121 WEST 36TH STREET 207 NEW YORK NY 10018 3998398 0 X LEDASCHOLARS.ORG X 2003 NY SEE SCHEDULE O 22 22 70 35 0 0 3803585 3862045 0 0 89 -242 16476 50 3820150 3861853 0 0 0 0 1994405 2130313 0 0 507119 808267 762935 2802672 2893248 1017478 968605 1996978 2744152 171978 226547 1825000 2517605 X LEADERSHIP ENTERPRISE FOR A DIVERSE AMERICA (LEDA) EMPOWERS A COMMUNITY OF EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG LEADERS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED BACKGROUNDS BY SUPPORTING THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS IN ORDER TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE COUNTRY. 0 0 1673343 LEDA SCHOLARS PROGRAMSUMMER INSTITUTE:IN FY2025, THE LEDA SUMMER INSTITUTE CONTINUED TO BUILD ON THE EXPANSION ESTABLISHED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR BY HOSTED SCHOLARS ON TWO CAMPUSES. FOR FY2025, SCHOLARS SPENT THREE WEEKS IN RESIDENCE AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY AND TWO WEEKS IN RESIDENCE AT YALE UNIVERSITY. LEDA WORKED IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH BOTH PRINCETON AND YALE STAFF TO ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOLARS WOULD BE ABLE TO TRANSITION CAMPUSES WITH THE LEAST DISRUPTION POSSIBLE, AND FEEDBACK FROM PRIOR COHORTS INDICATED THAT BOTH THE TRANSITION AND THEOPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE TWO CAMPUSES WERE AN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE. LEDA STAFF ALSO ADAPTED THE FIVE-WEEK SUMMER INSTITUTE CURRICULUM TO ACCOMMODATE THE CHANGE IN VENUE FOR THE FINAL TWO WEEKS OF THE PROGRAM.ONE OF THE PRIMARY ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR THE ASPECTS OF LEADERSHIP SUMMER INSTITUTE IS A SURVEY CONDUCTED AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM. THE SURVEY ADMINISTERED DURING THE GRANT PERIOD SHOWS IMPROVEMENT ACROSS NEARLY ALL CATEGORIES; IN THE CONTEXT OF A REDUCTION IN PROGRAM TIME DUE TO THE CAMPUS TRANSITION, THESE RESULTS SUGGEST THAT CURRICULUM UPDATES HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE. THE SURVEY INDICATED THAT 100% OF SCHOLARS ARE CONFIDENTTHAT LEDA'S PROGRAMMING WILL HELP THEM HAVE A GREATER POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITIES. 99% ALSO CONFIRMED THAT LEDA CLASSES IMPROVED THEIR WRITING SKILLS, AND 90% FURTHER AGREED THAT LEDA HELPED THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS AT SELECTIVE COLLEGES. 100% STATED THAT LEDA'S COLLEGE GUIDANCE SERVICES HAD EXPANDED THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE INSTITUTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM. ADDITIONALLY, 99% OF SCHOLARS WOULD RECOMMEND LEDA TO OTHER STUDENTS, AND 100% OF SCHOLARS FELT FULLY HEARD AND SUPPORTED BY LEDA STAFF THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.RECRUITMENT & ADMISSIONS:OUR RECRUITMENT & ADMISSIONS TEAM LAUNCHED THE 2024-2025 LEDA APPLICATION INSEPTEMBER 2024 AND BUILT ON THE ROBUST VIRTUAL OUTREACH NETWORK IT HAD PUT INTO PLACE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. ULTIMATELY, THIS LED TO 1,361 COMPLETE APPLICATIONS BY THE END OF THE RECRUITMENT PHASE IN MID-DECEMBER.COHORT 21 SCHOLARS COME FROM 36 U.S. STATES AND TERRITORIES. 80% OF THEM WILL BE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS. 60% IDENTIFY AS FEMALE AND 40% AS MALE. COHORT 21'S HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AN AVERAGE INCOME OF $$39,575.43, AND SPEAK A TOTAL OF 29 DISTINCT LANGUAGES. 10% OF COHORT 21 APPLICANTS COME FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES.COLLEGE GUIDANCE:IN THE FALL OF 2024, THE COLLEGE GUIDANCE TEAM BEGAN SUPPORTING SCHOLARS DURING THE MOST ACTIVE PHASE OF THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS, BUILDING ON THE SKILLS AND CONTENT KNOWLEDGE THAT LEDA COHORT 20 DEVELOPED DURING THE 2024 ASPECTS OF LEADERSHIP SUMMER INSTITUTE. SCHOLARS SUBMITTED 177 EARLY DECISION OR EARLY ACTION APPLICATIONS. SOME OF THE MOST HIGHLY REPRESENTED COLLEGES INCLUDE YALE (15 EARLY APPLICANTS), USC (13 EARLY APPLICANTS) AND STANFORD (10 APPLICANTS). ULTIMATELY, 61% OF COHORT 20 WAS ADMITTED TO AT LEAST ONE IVY-+ UNIVERSITY. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 5% OVER OUR RATES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. 87% WERE ADMITTED TO AT LEAST ONE TOP 60 UNIVERSITY. ADDITIONALLY, OUR YALE PARTNERSHIP HAS HAD AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT: AMONG COHORT 20 SCHOLARS, WE HAD 61 LEDA SCHOLARS APPLY TO YALE (NEARLY TWICE AS MANY AS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR), AND WE HAD 37 SCHOLARS ACCEPTED. THIS REPRESENTS A 61% ADMIT RATE. 27 LEDA SCHOLARS FROM COHORT 20 ULTIMATELY MATRICULATED AT YALE.AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE COLLEGE GUIDANCE TEAM TO EVALUATE THEIR ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS, 100% OF COHORT 20 MATRICULATED AT A COLLEGE THAT THEY DETERMINED WOULD BEST FIT THEIR NEEDS.COLLEGE SUCCESS:DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, LEDA'S COLLEGE SUCCESS STAFF CONDUCTED REGULAR CHECK-INS WITH UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS, COMPLETING 434 MEETINGS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. 87% OF NEW FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS OPTED INTO THE LEDA PEER MENTOR PROGRAM FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. THESE STUDENTS WERE PAIRED WITH OLDER LEDA STUDENTS, WITH AN EMPHASIS PLACED ON PROVIDING ONE MENTEE PER MENTOR AND PAIRING STUDENTS ON THE SAME CAMPUS. PEER MENTORS CONDUCTED 230 PEER-MENTOR CHECK-INS DURING THE YEAR. AS IN THE PAST, COLLEGE SUCCESS STAFF ALSO PROVIDED SPECIALIZED SUPPORT FOR GRADUATING SENIORS, HELPING THEM PLAN FOR EITHER GRADUATE SCHOOL OR ENTERING THE WORKFORCE, WITH REFERRALS TO LEDA'S CAREER AND ALUMNI SERVICES TEAM AND LOCAL CAMPUS RESOURCES AS APPROPRIATE.THE COLLEGE SUCCESS TEAM ALSO CONDUCTED CAMPUS VISITS, WHICH INCLUDED INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR SCHOLARS AT 14 COLLEGES, INTERACTING WITH NEARLY 200 STUDENTS IN TOTAL. THE TEAM WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN COORDINATING SCHOLARS WHO ATTENDED LEDA-SPONSORED EVENTS, SUCH AS OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATION IN MAY 2025. 348649 LEDA CAREER AND ALUMNI SERVICESCAREER INSTITUTE:THE LEDA CAREER FELLOWS PROGRAM PREPARES HIGH-ACHIEVING, UNDER-RESOURCED UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS - LEDA CAREER FELLOWS - FOR FUTURE LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL PURSUITS, INCLUDING A DEEPER AND MORE TARGETED FOCUS ON CAREER COACHING, CAREER EXPLORATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CAREER READINESS.THE 2025 LEDA CAREER INSTITUTE RETURNED TO NYU SCHOOL OF LAW AND RAN FROM AUGUST 4 THROUGH AUGUST 8. LEDA WELCOMED 100 NEW CAREER FELLOWS, 66 OF WHOM WERE SECOND YEAR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND 34 OF WHOM WERE THIRD YEAR STUDENTS. 98% OF OUR 2025 FELLOWS IDENTIFY AS BLACK, INDIGENOUS, OR PEOPLE OF COLOR.THE CAREER INSTITUTE ALSO WELCOMED 13 EMPLOYER PARTNERS THAT, TOGETHER WITH LEDA STAFF, PROVIDED PROGRAMMING IN CAREER EXPLORATION AND PROFESSIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT.LEDA LEGAL:THE ADVANTAGE TESTING FOUNDATION IS A FOUNDING PARTNER OF LEDA AND ALSO RUNS TRIALS, THE NATION'S MOST SELECTIVE FULL-SCHOLARSHIP PRE-LAW PROGRAM. IT HAS DEVELOPED EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE LAUNCHING GROUNDBREAKING INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO HELP UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS GAIN ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE FOUNDATION SERVES AS AN ONGOING PARTNER FOR LEDA LEGAL AND PROVIDES EXPERT PREPARATION FOR THE LSAT, A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF LAW SCHOOL APPLICATIONS.IN ADDITION, LEDA LEGAL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE PREPARATION FOR LAW SCHOOL, INCLUDING RIGOROUS LSAT PREPARATION PROVIDED BY ADVANTAGE TESTING AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM LEDA IN DEVELOPING THEIR APPLICATIONS. LAW SCHOOL PARTNERS, INCLUDING NYU SCHOOL OF LAW, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, AND YALE LAW SCHOOL, LEAD WORKSHOPS AND ACADEMIC- AND CAREER-FOCUSED PANELS FOR THE COHORT THROUGHOUT THE EIGHT-MONTH PROGRAM.FOR 2025, LEDA LEGAL ENROLLED MORE STUDENTS THAN EVER - 32, 88% OF WHOM COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. 2021992 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 28 0 1 70 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 22 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 NY NJ X THE ORGANIZATION 6465823608 121 WEST 36TH STREET 207 NEW YORK NY 10018 JESSE FURMAN CO-CHAIR (AS OF MAR 2025) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 TREVOR MORRISON CO-CHAIR (AS OF MAR 2025) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ILANA GOLDMAN CHAIR (TO MAR 2025) 8.00 X X 0 0 935 ERIC MENDEZ TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 TIERRA LUCAS SECRETARY 1.00 X 0 0 0 WEMIMO ABBEY TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 AARON ABOAGYE TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 EDEN ABRAHAMS TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 JESSIE BETTS-DREYFUSS TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 SENDER COHEN TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 ALEXANDRA ENGLER TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANDREW FISHER TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 FREDERICK FOGEL TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 LUCY FRIEDMAN TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 GUSTAVO GONZALEZ TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 YELKA KAMARA TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 PIOTR KAMINSKI TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 SHULAMIT LEVIANT TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 MATTHEW PARODI TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 CRISTINA PIERETTI TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN ROBERTS TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 LEX SUVANTO TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 BRETT ZBAR TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID GARZA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 198289 0 6743 CLAIRE GALLAGHER SR. DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT 40.00 X 166500 0 4614 TARA GELLENE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS 40.00 X 129705 0 4858 494494 0 17150 3 0 1 0 0 977039 2885006 65 3862045 70 70 14688 15000 -312 -312 -312 121545 977039 121545 0 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 50 50 50 3861853 0 0 -192 207502 102784 21717 83001 1542787 1188397 76763 277627 40195 32119 998 7078 172340 127372 9575 35393 167489 123786 9306 34397 91349 91349 95755 45419 36351 13985 104734 30911 60895 12928 7303 348 6955 65346 49287 6298 9761 4500 3350 238 912 60922 45350 3219 12353 STUDENT HOUSING/TRAVEL 217931 217128 21 782 PAYROLL SERVICES/FEES 43205 15020 24094 4091 STUDENT SUPPORT 25100 24849 251 SPECIAL EVENT 14560 14560 32230 15872 16358 2893248 2021992 364137 507119 522667 394054 175889 175960 1274485 2136178 23937 26259 16201 4500 0 11701 1996978 2744152 171978 226547 171978 226547 X 1255000 969347 570000 1548258 1825000 2517605 1996978 2744152 X 968605 -276000 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 2021804 2504224 2110647 3527585 3862045 14026305 2021804 2504224 2110647 3527585 3862045 14026305 2310022 11716283 474 406 310 89 70 1349 5680 7982 18520 16476 50 48708 14076362 0.83230 0.88370 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 16201 4500 11701 11701 5254247 1392394 1392394 3861853 0 3861853 4285642 1392394 1392394 2893248 0 2893248 ANNUAL GALA 1098584 977039 121545 91555 29990 1098584 977039 121545 91555 29990 121545 0 X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DAVID GARZA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 198289 0 0 0 0 0 5972 0 771 0 205032 0 0 0 CLAIRE GALLAGHER SR. DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT 166500 0 0 0 0 0 4614 0 0 0 171114 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1 LEADERSHIP ENTERPRISE FOR A DIVERSE AMERICA (LEDA) EMPOWERS A COMMUNITY OF EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG LEADERS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED BACKGROUNDS BY SUPPORTING THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS IN ORDER TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE COUNTRY. LEDA BELIEVES THAT SELECTIVE COLLEGES ARE NOT ONLY A GATEWAY TO OPPORTUNITY, BUT A NEXUS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP IN EVERY FIELD. BY HELPING TALENTED STUDENTS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED BACKGROUNDS ACCESS THESE INSTITUTIONS AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN THEIR CAREERS AND BEYOND, LEDA SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT THIS COUNTRY'S LEADERSHIP IS TRULY REFLECTIVE OF ITS CITIZENRY. LEDA'S VISION IS TO BUILD AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE AMERICA WHERE LEADERSHIP REFLECTS, CELEBRATES, AND SUPPORTS DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND IS THEN APPROVED BY LEDA'S AUDIT COMMITTEE PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C LEDA HAS SET IN PLACE EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS THAT ALLOW STAFF TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION TO MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT TO COMMMUNICATE ORGINIZATIONAL POLICIES. THESE MECHANISMS INCLUDE: REGULAR STAFF MEETINGS, REGULAR MEETINGS BETWEEN STAFF AND IMMEDIATE SUPERVISORS, AND ANNUAL EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. EACH LEDA EMPLOYEE RECEIVES A PERSONNEL MANUAL WHEN THEY BEGIN EMPLOYMENT. THE MANUAL EMPHASIZES LEDA'S CORE VALUES (EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, COMMUNITY) AND OUTLINES THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPECTATIONS FOR CONDUCT. LEDA'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVES, AND SENIOR STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN THE ORGANIZATION'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ANNUALLY, AND ARE EXPECTED TO DISCLOSE ANY CONFLICTS AS THEY MAY ARISE. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALSO MONITORS PROPOSED OR ONGOING TRANSACTIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR CONFLICTS OR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS. SENIOR STAFF WOULD DISCLOSE ANY RELEVANT TRANSACTIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD MEMBERS WOULD DISCLOSE ANY RELEVANT TRANSACTIONS TO THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OR THE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. WHEN A CONFLICT INVOLVES A DECISION-MAKER, THE PERSON WITH THE CONFLICT ("INTERESTED PARTY") MUST FULLY DISCLOSE THE CONFLICT TO ALL OTHER DECISION-MAKERS, AND MAY NOT BE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION OF WHAT ACTION TO TAKE, BUT MAY SERVE AS A RESOURCE TO PROVIDE OTHER DECISION-MAKERS WITH NEEDED INFORMATION. IN CASES IN WHICH THE CONFLICT WAS REFERRED TO THE FULL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, THE FACT THAT A CONFLICT WAS REFERRED AND MANAGED, AS WELL AS THE OUTCOME, MUST BE REPORTED, WHERE APPLICABLE, TO OTHER APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE(S) OF THE BOARD. THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE(S), IF APPLICABLE, MUST REPORT THE FACT THAT THE CONFLICT WAS MANAGED TO THE FULL BOARD AND THE REPORT MUST BE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF A BOARD MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A AT THE TIME OF HIS HIRE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION WAS DETERMINED BY A COMPENSATION COMMITTEE BASED ON SALARY DATA FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OF SIMILAR SCOPE AN SIZE. ANNUALLY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION IS REVIEWED BY THE HR AND FINANCE COMMITTEES, AND IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS PART OF THE APPROVAL OF LEDA'S ANNUAL BUDGET. THIS APPROVAL IS DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES TO THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THESE DOCUMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: REVERSAL OF PRIOR YEAR EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT REVENUE -276,000.