2025-07-14T15:51:30-05:00 2024-08-31 131655065 LUTZ AND CARR CPAS LLP 551 FIFTH AVENUE SUITE 400 NEW YORK NY 10176 990 2023-09-01 331071771 LEADERSHIP ENTERPRISE FOR A DIVERSE AMERICA LEAD 6465823608 121 WEST 36TH STREET 207 NEW YORK NY 10018 DAVID GARZA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6465823608 2025-07-10 1 0 JENNIFER COATES P02247728 2126972299 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z DAVID GARZA 121 WEST 36TH STREET 207 NEW YORK NY 10018 3934357 0 X LEDASCHOLARS.ORG X 2003 NY SEE SCHEDULE O 18 16 71 35 0 0 2110647 3803585 0 0 -12556 89 18520 16476 2116611 3820150 0 0 0 0 2067642 1994405 0 0 551879 1047277 808267 3114919 2802672 -998308 1017478 1096556 1996978 289034 171978 807522 1825000 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 1542141 LEDA SCHOLARS PROGRAMSUMMER INSTITUTE:THIS YEAR'S SUMMER INSTITUTE WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE PROGRAM TOOK PLACE ON TWO CAMPUSES, WITH THE FINAL WEEK HOSTED AT YALE. 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 COHORT 20 INDICATED THAT BOTH THE TRANSITION AND THE OPPORTUNITY 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 WEEK OF THE PROGRAM. (CONT'D ON SCH O)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 CONFIDENT THAT 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 2023-2024 LEDA APPLICATION IN SEPTEMBER 2023 AND BUILT ON THE ROBUST VIRTUAL OUTREACH NETWORK IT HAD PUT INTO PLACE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. ULTIMATELY, THIS LED TO 1,115 COMPLETE APPLICATIONS BY THE END OF THE RECRUITMENT PHASE IN MID-DECEMBER. COHORT 20 SCHOLARS COME FROM 40 U.S. STATES AND TERRITORIES, INCLUDING WASHINGTON D.C. AND OUR FIRST SCHOLARS FROM AMERICAN SAMOA AND VERMONT. 77% OF THEM WILL BE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS. 58% IDENTIFY AS FEMALE AND 42% AS MALE. COHORT 20'S HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AN AVERAGE INCOME OF $41,559 (MEDIAN $38,223), AND 67% SPEAK A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE AT HOME, REPRESENTING 17 DISTINCT LANGUAGES. 19% OF COHORT 20 SCHOLARS WERE BORN OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. COLLEGE GUIDANCE:IN THE FALL OF 2023, 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 19 DEVELOPED DURING THE 2023 ASPECTS OF LEADERSHIP SUMMER INSTITUTE. 70 SCHOLARS PARTICIPATED IN THE EARLY ADMISSIONS PROCESS, AND 48 WERE ADMITTED. SOME OF THE MOST HIGHLY REPRESENTED COLLEGES INCLUDE STANFORD (10 ADMITTED) AND YALE (NINE ADMITTED). ADDITIONAL COLLEGES WHERE LEDA SCHOLARS WERE ADMITTED EARLY INCLUDE BROWN, CORNELL, GEORGETOWN, HARVARD, MIT, PRINCETON, UGA, UNC CHAPEL HILL, UVA, AND WAKE FOREST. THESE EARLY ADMISSIONS OUTCOMES ARE COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF PRIOR YEARS (60 EARLY APPLICANTS AND 35 ADMITTED IN THE 2022-2023 CYCLE), THOUGH ALSO CONTINUING A MULTI-YEAR TREND OF AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARS WHO CHOOSE TO APPLY EARLY. THE PROCESS CONCLUDED IN THE SPRING, WITH LEDA'S COLLEGE GUIDANCE TEAM HELPING COHORT 19 SCHOLARS EVALUATE THEIR ADMISSION OFFERS AND FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES. 98% OF COHORT 19 SCHOLARS WERE ADMITTED TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE TOP 100 COLLEGES IN THE U.S., INCLUDING 57% WHO WERE ADMITTED TO AN IVY, STANFORD, OR MIT. AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE COLLEGE GUIDANCE TEAM TO EVALUATE THEIR ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL AID OPTIONS, 100% OF COHORT 19 MATRICULATED AT A COLLEGE THAT THEY DETERMINED WOULD BEST FIT THEIR NEEDS, INCLUDING 90% WHO ULTIMATELY CHOSE TO ATTEND A TOP-100 INSTITUTION. COLLEGE SUCCESS:DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, LEDA'S COLLEGE SUCCESS STAFF CONDUCTED REGULAR CHECK-INS WITH UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS, COMPLETING 435 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 297 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 20TH ANNIVERSARY ANNUAL CELEBRATION IN MAY 2024. 348843 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 2024 LEDA CAREER INSTITUTE RETURNED TO NYU SCHOOL OF LAW AND RAN FROM AUGUST 6 THROUGH AUGUST 10. LEDA WELCOMED 91 NEW CAREER FELLOWS, WHO REPRESENTED 42 COLLEGES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. 97% OF OUR 2024 FELLOWS IDENTIFY AS BLACK, INDIGENOUS, OR PEOPLE OF COLOR. (CONT'D ON SCH O)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. DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD: - 90% PARTICIPANTS REPORTED AN INCREASED LSAT SCORE; - 90% CHOSE TO TAKE THE LSAT MORE THAN ONCE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THEIR HIGHEST POSSIBLE SCORE; - 100% CONTINUED STUDYING FOR THE LSAT ON THEIR OWN USING MATERIALS AND STRATEGIES GAINED THROUGH LEDA LEGAL EVEN AFTER OUR FORMAL LSAT MODULE WAS COMPLETED. AT THE END OF THE LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS, PARTICIPANTS WERE ADMITTED TO 13 PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING COLUMBIA, GEORGETOWN. 1890984 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 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 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 26 0 1 71 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 18 16 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 DAVID GARZA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X X 179110 0 16590 ILANA GOLDMAN CHAIR / INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 8.00 X X 31154 0 935 ERIC MENDEZ TREASURER 3.00 X X 0 0 0 EDEN ABRAHAMS TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 LAWRENCE BASCOM TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANDERS BRAG TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 SENDER COHEN TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 JORDAN DICKSON 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 JESSE FURMAN 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 CRISTINA PIERETTI TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN ROBERTS TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 ELIZABETH SALINAS TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 LEX SUVANTO TRUSTEE 1.00 X 0 0 0 TARA GELLENE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS 40.00 X 114177 0 11175 324441 0 28700 2 0 1 0 0 1328957 2474628 38079 3803585 89 89 114207 1328957 114207 0 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 16476 16476 16476 3820150 0 0 16565 209008 71156 54280 83572 1419202 1083386 37836 297980 33894 24082 1297 8515 165930 108547 11943 45440 166371 117810 10233 38328 90442 90442 108048 72949 480 34619 98145 22797 60375 14973 51737 42572 3724 5441 81865 58163 4569 19133 STUDENT HOUSING/TRAVEL 265787 265787 PAYROLL SERVICES/FEES 31725 31725 BAD DEBT EXPENSE 28949 28949 STUDENT SUPPORT 13634 13634 37935 10101 23956 3878 2802672 1890984 359809 551879 51913 522667 575801 175889 467133 1274485 1709 23937 1096556 1996978 289034 171978 289034 171978 X 313338 1255000 494184 570000 807522 1825000 1096556 1996978 1017478 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 3993331 2021804 2504224 2110647 3803585 14433591 3993331 2021804 2504224 2110647 3803585 14433591 1616184 12817407 704 474 406 310 89 1983 20767 5680 7982 18520 16476 69425 14504999 0.88370 0.84690 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 5205826 1385676 1385676 3820150 0 3820150 4188348 1385676 1385676 2802672 0 2802672 ANNUAL GALA 1443164 1328957 114207 110317 3890 1443164 1328957 114207 110317 3890 114207 0 X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DAVID GARZA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 179110 0 0 0 0 0 5700 0 10890 0 195700 0 0 0 X 2 37321 FAIR MARKET VALUE X SUPPLIES 1 758 FAIR MARKET VALUE 0 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.