The mission of Leadership Akron is to inspire, strengthen, and empower leaders. Our purpose is to unlock the potential of leaders and serve as a catalyst that drives them to create a greater Akron.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 100 volunteers and 15 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $42K a year · 6% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$136K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
17
named funders · $314K
Looks good: 17 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$183K
89% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 89% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$926K
+30% vs prior year
Spent
$1.0M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$22K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$926K
FY2025▲ +30%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$688K
FY2021$626K
FY2022$818K
FY2023$776K
FY2024$714K
FY2025$926K
Expenses
$1.0M
FY2025▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$693K
FY2021$665K
FY2022$760K
FY2023$797K
FY2024$871K
FY2025$1.0M
Net assets
$22K
FY2025▼ -78%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$210K
FY2021$232K
FY2022$242K
FY2023$244K
FY2024$102K
FY2025$22K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 1999.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $773K Management & general 11% · $114K Fundraising 13% · $129K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

21 people listed on the 990; $136K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$136,385Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Justin Hilton’s $136K as President is at the 94th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Justin Hilton$136,385$134,706$70,477———
Barry Dunaway———$110,461$133,015$132,000

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Leadership Akron executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowers leaders to strengthen and inspire Akron's future.

Questions for Leadership Akron

Tap to ask. Leadership Akron sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Leadership Akron answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $505K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Signature Program (fka Flagship Program)

The leadership akron program begins in august with a tour and spirited opening retreat. In the months that follow, the class is immersed in experiences that address specific aspects of our community.

$256Kprogram expense
02

Cli

Leadership akron has partnered with major employers in akron to custom design community leadership programs that align with each organization's culture, competencies, and strategic focus.

$125Kprogram expense
03

Junior Leadership Akron

Patterned after the flagship program, to high school juniors. To foster a sense of community awareness and prepare them for future leadership.

$125Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 17 funders →
Grants paid · 24 grants · $143K · 2019–2024
The Vincent HouseOH · FY2024$14,166
Access INCOH · FY2024$14,166
Shanti Community Farms INCOH · FY2022$10,000
YepawOH · FY2021$10,000
Truly Reaching YouOH · FY2021$4,000
Lets Grow Akron INCOH · FY2021$2,000
Project Grad AkronOH · FY2020$6,000
Truly Reaching YouOH · FY2020$3,500
See all 24 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$926K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$604K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$339K
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Money outPt IX
$1.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$773K
Managementcol C$114K
Fundraisingcol D$129K
Owns and owesPt X
$22K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$109K
Total assetsLn 16$205K
LiabilitiesLn 26$183K
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$604K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$74K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$339K
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$1K
Total revenueLn 12$926K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$109K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$109K
Accounts receivableLn 4$26K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$28K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$42K
Total assetsLn 16$205K
LiabilitiesLn 26$183K
Net assetsLn 32$22K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 515
VolunteersI 6100
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$1K
Share of the $42K endowmentSch D 1g2.9%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$42K$111K$249K$1.5M$1.7M
Given inLn 1b$30
SpentLn 1d–1f$80K$162K$1.3M$21K$20K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$113K$109K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$111K$42K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$497$0
Total assetsLn 16$251K$205K
LiabilitiesLn 26$148K$183K
Net assetsLn 32$102K$22K
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$57K$57K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$167K$117K$20K$30K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$361K$256K$42K$63K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$10K$7K$1K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$18K$12K$2K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$37K$26K$4K$7K
Accounting feesLn 11c$30K$8K$20K$3K
Investment management feesLn 11f$1K$1K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$912$912
Advertising and promotionLn 12$70K$63K$7K
Office expensesLn 13$25K$18K$3K$4K
Information technologyLn 14$5K$5K$513
OccupancyLn 16$49K$42K$2K$5K
TravelLn 17$457$366$46$45
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$23K$6K$15K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$497$422$25$50
InsuranceLn 23$5K$4K$647$971
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$137K$137K
All other expensesLn 24e$17K$14K$883$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.0M$773K$114K$129K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Feb 16, 2026 $926K$1.0M−$90K$22K 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Feb 11, 2025 $714K$871K−$157K$102K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Feb 7, 2024 $776K$797K−$21K$244K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Feb 9, 2023 $818K$760K$59K$242K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Mar 29, 2022 $626K$665K−$39K$232K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Feb 10, 2021 $688K$693K−$5K$210K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $925,814 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $471,934$603,564
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $267,615$339,393
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $7,944$1,328
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$33,367−$18,471
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $714,126$925,814
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $33,795$56,817
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $459,402$593,299
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $378,050$365,291
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $871,247$1,015,407
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$157,121−$89,593
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $925,814 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $12,222 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$20,000
VIII-1b Membership dues$15,730
VIII-1c Fundraising events$73,702
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$494,132
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$603,564
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $327,171$327,171
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,524$2,524
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$1,196−$1,196
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$19,327−$19,327
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $856$856
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $339,393 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$17,143$925,814
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,015,407 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $56,817$56,817
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $117,226 · Management $20,096 · Fundraising $30,144$167,466
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $256,217 · Management $41,894 · Fundraising $62,842$360,953
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $7,253 · Management $1,243 · Fundraising $1,865$10,361
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $12,306 · Management $2,109 · Fundraising $3,164$17,579
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $25,858 · Management $4,433 · Fundraising $6,649$36,940
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $7,500 · Management $19,683 · Fundraising $3,000$30,183
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $1,206$1,206
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $912$912
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $63,341 · Fundraising $6,921$70,262
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $18,253 · Management $3,027 · Fundraising $3,667$24,947
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,618 · Fundraising $513$5,131
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $41,679 · Management $2,452 · Fundraising $4,903$49,034
IX-17 TravelPrograms $366 · Management $46 · Fundraising $45$457
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,741 · Management $14,927 · Fundraising $2,295$22,963
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $422 · Management $25 · Fundraising $50$497
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,774 · Management $647 · Fundraising $971$5,392
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $137,234$137,234
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $14,258 · Management $883 · Fundraising $1,932$17,073
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $772,863 · Management $113,583 · Fundraising $128,961$1,015,407
Part X · Balance sheet $204,700 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $113,335$109,425
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $18,400$26,155
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,542$27,552
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $497$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $110,841$41,568
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $250,615$204,700
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $25,531$31,141
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $81,480$78,016
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $41,295$73,466
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $148,306$182,623
X-29 Capital stock or trust principalStart of year $0$0
X-30 Paid-in or capital surplusStart of year $0$0
X-31 Retained earnings or endowmentStart of year $102,309$22,077
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $102,309$22,077
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $250,615$204,700
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $22,077 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$925,814
XI-2 Total expenses$1,015,407
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$89,593
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$102,309
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$9,361
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$22,077

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.