Nonprofit · EIN 55-0850279
BE A LEADER FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · PHOENIX, AZ 85013
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $2,555,638 | $1,925,230 | $630,408 | $6,589,881 | $266,622 | $6,323,259 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $2,048,661 | $1,702,632 | $346,029 | $5,701,310 | $145,695 | $5,555,615 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,723,752 | $1,663,258 | $60,494 | $5,256,622 | $171,661 | $5,084,961 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $2,328,294
- of which government grants
- $52,498
- Program service revenue
- $55,991
- Investment income
- $167,199
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $33,293
- Net income from fundraising events
- $4,154
- Other revenue
- $4,154
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $43,700
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $165,000
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,046,330
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,329,490
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $2,603
- Accounting fees
- $45,000
- Occupancy
- $59,326
- Travel
- $41,085
- Program services (functional)
- $1,476,935
- Management and general (functional)
- $223,787
- Fundraising (functional)
- $224,508
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $5,701,310
- Total assets, end of year
- $6,589,881
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $266,622
- Net assets, end of year
- $6,323,259
- Publicly traded securities
- $3,148,933
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $5,243,262
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $1,079,997
- Gross receipts
- $3,060,234
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 155
- Year formed
- 2002
- State of legal domicile
- AZ
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOILO J FELIX | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $165,000 |
| Sharon Irwin Foulon | Chief Adv. Officer | 40 | $115,000 |
| MELISSA B TRUJILLO | CHAIR/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| CHRIS BUSTAMANTE | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| BENITO ALMANZA | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LON BABBY | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TIM DESOTO | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TRAVIS PACHECO | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROB TAYLOR | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| GLENN WIKE | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 10 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOILO J FELIX | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $155,000 |
| Sharon Irwin Foulon | Chief Adv. Officer | 40 | $115,000 |
| MELISSA B TRUJILLO | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| CHRIS BUSTAMANTE | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KATHRYN BAKER | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| BENITO ALMANZA | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LON BABBY | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TIM DESOTO | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TRAVIS PACHECO | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROB TAYLOR | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 10 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soilo J Felix | President & CEO Officer | 40 | $154,915 |
| Melissa B Trujillo | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Kathryn Baker | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Michael Trejo | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Tim DeSoto | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Steven Ortega | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Lori Taitano | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Lon Babby | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Christine Burton | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Chris Bustamante | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 300 W CLARENDON AVE STE 460, PHOENIX, AZ 85013-3475
- In care of
- % SOILO J FELIX
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- SOILO J FELIX, 300 W CLARENDON AVE STE 460, PHOENIX, AZ 85013
- Signed the 990
- SOILO J FELIX, President & CEO
- Phone
- (602) 758-8000
- Website
- WWW.BEALEADER.ORG
- Return prepared by
- Linked Accounting LLP
Mission
Be A Leader's mission is to empower students to access, navigate, and succeed in college.
Program accomplishments
- Our vision is that every student has the skills, tools, and opportunities to achieve their life goals. Guided by our mission to empower students to access, navigate, and succeed in postsecondary education, Be A Leader Foundation provides college access, postsecondary transition, and college success services, now reaching well over 14,000 students a year. Our theory of change rests on the belief that providing students with guidance, mentorship, access to resources, and empowerment meaningfully enhances their chances of pursuing postsecondary education. Our students carry tremendous potential, but often lack the external support and resources needed to complete the college-going equation. Caring adults are central to how we close that gap our volunteers serve as mentors who help guide college-going conversations with students, while senior boot camp coaches play a crucial role in helping seniors meet critical deadlines throughout their final year.Expenses $1,476,935 · grants $43,700 · revenue $55,991
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 55-0850279
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2004
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Public and societal benefit (W70)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $6,589,881
- Income (IRS master file)
- $3,060,234
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $2,555,638 | $1,925,230 | $6,589,881 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $2,048,661 | $1,702,632 | $5,701,310 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,723,752 | $1,663,258 | $5,256,622 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $2,172,543 | $1,500,307 | $4,955,810 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2017 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 55-0850279).
Questions about BE A LEADER FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of BE A LEADER FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of BE A LEADER FOUNDATION is 55-0850279.
- Is BE A LEADER FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2004.
- Are donations to BE A LEADER FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does BE A LEADER FOUNDATION file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of BE A LEADER FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did BE A LEADER FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of BE A LEADER FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names SOILO J FELIX.
- Who are the officers and directors of BE A LEADER FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 10 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $165,000 (SOILO J FELIX, President & CEO).
- How much revenue does BE A LEADER FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,555,638, expenses of $1,925,230 and total assets of $6,589,881 at year end.
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