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LEADING EDUCATORS INC

EIN 45-1447048 CHICAGO, IL

Browse the largest nonprofits in Illinois

Revenue 2024
$22,369,384
Expenses 2024
$21,108,120

Program services were 72.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
B90
Classification
2000
Street
220 NORTH GREEN STREET SUITE 417

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

LEADING EDUCATORS PARTNERS WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN THE CONDITIONS, TEACHING, AND LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS FURTHEST FROM OPPORTUNITY SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, LEADING EDUCATORS HAS PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CONT'D ON SCH. O) PROGRAMMING AND SYSTEMS DESIGN SERVICES TO EDUCATORS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PARTNER EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE TEACHING QUALITY; ENHANCING STUDENT LEARNING AND PROVIDING A STRONG ACADEMIC FOUNDATION FOR STUDENTS TO THRIVE IN A COMPLEX WORLD.

  • LEADING EDUCATORS PROVIDES UNMATCHED SUPPORT TO TRANSFORM INSTRUCTION, DEVELOP DYNAMIC TEACHING TEAMS AND ACCELERATE LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS. OUR CUSTOMIZED APPROACHES TO INSTRUCTIONAL IMPROVEMENTS OFFER DIRECT SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS THAT STRENGTHENS THE CONDITIONS AND LEARNING INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THEM. NATIONAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE: SCALING WHAT WORKSLEADING EDUCATORS COMPLETED A MULTI-YEAR NATIONAL RESEARCH STUDY EXAMINING THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING PRACTICES MOST STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED STUDENT OUTCOMES ACROSS SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS, THE STUDY ANALYZED MORE THAN FORTY DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS AND FOUND THAT SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTING LEADING EDUCATORS' PROFESSIONAL LEARNING APPROACH ACHIEVED MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN STUDENT LEARNING. PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS SAW GAINS EQUIVALENT TO APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS OF ADDITIONAL LEARNING, WITH MATH PERFORMANCE IMPROVING BETWEEN 8 AND 34 PERCENT AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS IMPROVING BETWEEN 12 AND 18 PERCENT RELATIVE TO COMPARABLE SCHOOLS. AI/MATHEMATIC INNOVATION INITIATIVELEADING EDUCATORS EXPANDED ITS INNOVATION WORK THROUGH A NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTING SCHOOL TEAMS EXPLORING RESPONSIBLE USES OF AI TO STRENGTHEN MATH TEACHING AND LEARNING ALIGNED TO SPECIFIC CURRICULAR MATERIALS. SELECTED PROJECTS FOCUSED ON INTEGRATING AI TOOLS INTO INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING, TEACHER COACHING, AND STUDENT LEARNING SUPPORTS. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS DEVELOPED PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR USING AI TO IMPROVE INSTRUCTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS WHILE MAINTAINING STRONG ACADEMIC STANDARDS. THE COLLABORATIVE IS HELPING EDUCATORS BUILD THE CAPACITY TO THOUGHTFULLY INTEGRATE NEW TECHNOLOGIES INTO CLASSROOM PRACTICE IN WAYS THAT ENHANCE TEACHING AND SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS.STRATEGIC STAFFING AND TEACHER LEADERSHIP INITIATIVELEADING EDUCATORS PARTNERED WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIC STAFFING MODELS DESIGNED TO EXPAND THE REACH OF EFFECTIVE EDUCATORS AND STRENGTHEN COLLABORATIVE TEACHING TEAMS. LEADING EDUCATORS SUPPORTED DISTRICTS IN REDESIGNING TEACHING ROLES, DEVELOPING TEACHER LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES, AND IMPROVING INSTRUCTIONAL COLLABORATION WITHIN SCHOOLS. THESE EFFORTS ENABLE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE MORE CONSISTENT ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION WHILE ADDRESSING EDUCATOR WORKFORCE CHALLENGES. EARLY IMPLEMENTATION HAS STRENGTHENED TEACHER COLLABORATION AND INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP, POSITIONING SCHOOLS TO ACCELERATE LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS.DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIPSLEADING EDUCATORS CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIPS WITH LARGE URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO STRENGTHEN INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY THROUGH TARGETED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL LEADERS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE SYSTEM-LEVEL ADVISING, INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING, COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOPS, AND JOB-EMBEDDED LEARNING DESIGNED TO DEEPEN EDUCATOR EXPERTISE IN HIGH-QUALITY CURRICULUM AND EFFECTIVE TEACHING PRACTICES. BY SUPPORTING EDUCATORS ACROSS SCHOOLS WITHIN A DISTRICT, LEADING EDUCATORS HELPS BUILD SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS THAT IMPROVE TEACHING AND LEARNING. THESE EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON ACCELERATING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED BY THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

    Expenses $15,320,554 · Revenue $7,186,904

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Elisa Villanueva Beard

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Kara Helander

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Sheila Brown

    STRATEGY & ADVOCACY CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Tiffany Johnson Lewis

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Nina Kontos

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Stuart Kaplan

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Aylon Samouha

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Claudy Jules

    GOVERNANCE & HUMAN CAPITAL

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Michelle Boyers

    FINANCE AND FUNDRAISING CH

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Chong-Hao Fu

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $341,249
    From this org
    $320,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,249
    Hours/week
    47

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $320,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,593
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,656
    Filer's total
    $341,249
  • Melanie Dukes

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Simone Senior

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $247,290
    From this org
    $206,265
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,025
    Hours/week
    42.25

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $206,265
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,600
    Nontaxable benefits
    $32,425
    Filer's total
    $247,290
  • Lakimbre Brown

    CHIEF OF NETWORKS

    Total calculated
    $233,214
    From this org
    $217,681
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,533
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $217,681
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,145
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,388
    Filer's total
    $233,214
  • Laura Meili

    CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $233,067
    From this org
    $211,982
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,085
    Hours/week
    43

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $211,982
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,600
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,485
    Filer's total
    $233,067
  • Javier Cortez

    DEPUTY CHIEF OF FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $216,435
    From this org
    $183,070
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,365
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $183,070
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,639
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,726
    Filer's total
    $216,435
  • Lakita McKinney

    HIGHLY PAID EMPLOYEE

    Total calculated
    $170,077
    From this org
    $162,417
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,660
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $162,417
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,509
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,151
    Filer's total
    $170,077
  • Daniel Obregon

    HIGHLY PAID EMPLOYEE

    Total calculated
    $208,824
    From this org
    $203,474
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,350
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $203,474
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,182
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,168
    Filer's total
    $208,824
  • Katherine Green Murphy

    HIGHLY PAID EMPLOYEE

    Total calculated
    $184,849
    From this org
    $152,065
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,784
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,065
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,687
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,097
    Filer's total
    $184,849
  • Marishla Winters

    HIGHLY PAID EMPLOYEE

    Total calculated
    $211,292
    From this org
    $178,161
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,131
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $178,161
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,768
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,363
    Filer's total
    $211,292
  • Albert Kim

    HIGHLY PAID EMPLOYEE

    Total calculated
    $181,838
    From this org
    $161,146
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,692
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,146
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,509
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,183
    Filer's total
    $181,838

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $22,369,384
    Expenses
    $21,108,120
    Contributions
    $14,775,112
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $25,463,449
    Expenses
    $21,793,457
    Contributions
    $14,608,950
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $15,795,278
    Expenses
    $16,304,696
    Contributions
    $7,011,945
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $33,021,639
    Expenses
    $12,817,367
    Assets (EOY)
    $29,184,327
  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $9,461,961
    Expenses
    $10,099,449
    Assets (EOY)
    $10,160,201
  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $9,979,605
    Expenses
    $11,203,042
    Assets (EOY)
    $10,799,889
  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $9,979,605
    Expenses
    $11,203,042
    Assets (EOY)
    $10,799,889
  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $12,295,578
    Expenses
    $10,848,547
    Assets (EOY)
    $10,414,178
  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $10,773,948
    Expenses
    $9,211,342
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,877,361
  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $8,795,608
    Expenses
    $8,873,665
    Assets (EOY)
    $7,552,140
  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $11,042,565
    Expenses
    $8,508,374
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,180,092
  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,448,448
    Expenses
    $6,527,875
    Assets (EOY)
    $4,783,932
  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $7,479,510
    Expenses
    $5,212,986
    Assets (EOY)
    $5,371,955

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 1 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.