Leading for Children

Tax-deductible

South Orange, NJ501(c)(3)EducationEIN 81-2398176Revenue $1.1M in FY2025

On file with the IRSleadingforchildren.org71 S Orange Ave, 07079-1715 · South Orange, NJTax-exempt since Oct 2016Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Leading for Children is a nonprofit organization working in communities across the country to provide the best early learning experiences for young Children while creating environments where educators thrive. The organization supports every educator regardless of the role, to become the leader Children need. The organization helps stakeholders develop the trust, shared purpose, and commitment that is imperative for success in early learning.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 6 volunteers and 10 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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $84K a year · 6% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 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
$156K
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 67% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $107K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$46K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.1M
-15% vs prior year
Spent
$1.1M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$702K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2025▼ -15%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.5M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.3M
FY2025$1.1M
Expenses
$1.1M
FY2025▼ -16%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$1.1M
Net assets
$702K
FY2025▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$363K
FY2021$572K
FY2022$556K
FY2023$672K
FY2024$683K
FY2025$702K

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

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 2016.

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% · $802K Management & general 17% · $177K Fundraising 7% · $73K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990; $156K 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
Executive Director
$156,000Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Nicole T Parks’s $156K as Executive Director is at the 67th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M 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 · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Judy Jablon—$182,552$185,667$228,833$214,583$210,000
Nicole T Parks$156,000$129,140—$122,157$106,000—
Gretchen Henderson—$125,937$123,500$129,708$106,260—
Nichole T Parks——$126,720———
Joelle Wheatley———$114,903——
Monica a Mccarthy-Aton————$110,917—
Abasi Clark——$100,973———

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.

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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

Improves early learning experiences for children by supporting and developing educators.

Questions for Leading for Children

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $802K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Children's optimal development relies on positive relationships with adults. Leading for children fosters leadership development among all adults in the child's ecosystem, strengthens relationships for collective problem-solving, and builds agency and equity in communities.

$802Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 6 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$937K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$122K
Investment incomeLn 3$13K
Money outPt IX
$1.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$802K
Managementcol C$177K
Fundraisingcol D$73K
Owns and owesPt X
$702K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$693K
Total assetsLn 16$748K
LiabilitiesLn 26$46K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$122K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$937K
Investment incomeLn 3$13K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$394K
SavingsLn 2$299K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$693K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$17K
Total assetsLn 16$748K
LiabilitiesLn 26$46K
Net assetsLn 32$702K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
VolunteersI 66
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$448K$693K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$29K$17K
Total assetsLn 16$713K$748K
LiabilitiesLn 26$31K$46K
Net assetsLn 32$683K$702K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$163K$140K$21K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$424K$367K$51K$7K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$27K$23K$3K$419
Payroll taxesLn 10$56K$46K$10K$719
Legal feesLn 11b$10K$10K
Accounting feesLn 11c$64K$64K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$60K$60K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$146K$143K$4K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$148$148
Office expensesLn 13$25K$20K$4K$343
Information technologyLn 14$6K$6K$786$99
TravelLn 17$39K$33K$6K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$12K$10K$288$2K
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$16K$14K$329$699
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.1M$802K$177K$73K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.1M$1.1M$19K$702K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.3M$1.2M$10K$683K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.5M$1.4M$117K$672K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.3M$1.3M−$16K$556K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.7M$1.5M$209K$572K 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.5M$1.4M$163K$363K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,071,887 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $247,237$121,565
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,008,893$936,949
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$13,373
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,256,130$1,071,887
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $851,563$670,852
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $47,050$60,000
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $347,135$321,613
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,245,748$1,052,465
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $10,382$19,422
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $1,071,887 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$121,565
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$121,565
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $936,949$936,949
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $13,373$13,373
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $936,949 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $13,373$1,071,887
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,052,465 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $140,478 · Management $20,506 · Fundraising $2,473$163,457
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $367,040 · Management $50,789 · Fundraising $6,539$424,368
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $23,464 · Management $3,315 · Fundraising $419$27,198
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $45,575 · Management $9,535 · Fundraising $719$55,829
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $10,012$10,012
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $63,906$63,906
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $60,000$60,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $142,507 · Management $3,875$146,382
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $148$148
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $20,377 · Management $4,307 · Fundraising $343$25,027
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $5,595 · Management $786 · Fundraising $99$6,480
IX-17 TravelPrograms $32,868 · Management $5,807$38,675
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $9,592 · Management $288 · Fundraising $1,952$11,832
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $3,644$3,644
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $14,479 · Management $329 · Fundraising $699$15,507
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $801,975 · Management $177,247 · Fundraising $73,243$1,052,465
Part X · Balance sheet $748,184 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $161,699$394,157
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $285,846$299,219
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $234,003$31,125
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $3,338$6,919
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $28,596$16,764
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $713,482$748,184
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $30,621$43,801
X-19 Deferred revenue$2,100
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $30,621$45,901
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $682,861$693,283
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$9,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $682,861$702,283
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $713,482$748,184
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $702,283 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,071,887
XI-2 Total expenses$1,052,465
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$19,422
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$682,861
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$702,283

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

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