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Leadership Brainery, Inc.

Provided by the organization

Leadership Brainery expands access to graduate education and the specialized careers and leadership opportunities it enables for first-generation and low-income students.

Founded in Boston in 2018, Leadership Brainery expands access to master's and doctoral degrees and the careers and leadership opportunities they enable for first-generation and low-income students.

Our work follows two strategic pillars. Through Focus on the Core to Serve More, our Ambassador Fellowship provides admissions coaching, test preparation, professional connections, and up to $10,000 in transition assistance upon enrollment as a graduate. Through Share What We Know, we offer free digital tools, resources, and training for students and the professionals who support them.

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  • Email
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  • Mailing address266a Beacon Street Garden Level, Boston, MA 02116
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
48¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$180K paid to officers and key staff.
Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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
4 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $113K a year · 12% of revenue · last 4 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 4 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
48%
of spending
Concern: 48% of spending went to programs; under 50%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$180K
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.9 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $40K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$253K
34% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 34% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.3M
+17% vs prior year
Spent
$1.3M
To programs
48%
Net assets
$490K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.3M
FY2025▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$192K
FY2022$617K
FY2023$873K
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.3M
Expenses
$1.3M
FY2025▲ +22%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021Not on file
FY2022$440K
FY2023$663K
FY2024$1.0M
FY2025$1.3M
Net assets
$490K
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$36K
FY2022$240K
FY2023$450K
FY2024$479K
FY2025$490K

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. Exemption reinstated (2020-11-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 2020. Legal name: Leadership Brainery INC.

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

Where the money goes

48 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 48% · $618K Management & general 26% · $327K Fundraising 26% · $336K

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

Who runs it and what they're paid

7 people listed on the 990; $180K paid to officers and key staff.

1 update from the organization
Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII · includes 1 update from the organization
Director of Development Co Founder
$90,000Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director Co Founder
$90,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Current as of Sep 2026 from Dana Colarocco, who claimed this org

Board Chair

Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jonathan Allen’s $90K as Director of Development Co Founder is at the 25th 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Jonathan Allen$90,000$89,308$71,654$45,032—
Derrick Young JR$90,000$89,308$71,654$45,032$22,900

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 Brainery INC 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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Supports students and members through fellowships, summits, platforms, and relief efforts.

Updates from the organization

Questions for Leadership Brainery, Inc.

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

1 program · $618K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The Organization supported students and members through national ambassador fellowship program, national impact summit, dear future colleague platform, and student relief efforts.

$618Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$40K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $3K · 2024–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$3,236

By the numbers

Org confirmed 0 of 10 linesconfirmednot yet

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$97K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Money outPt IX
$1.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$618K
Managementcol C$327K
Fundraisingcol D$336K
Owns and owesPt X
$490K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$309K
Total assetsLn 16$743K
LiabilitiesLn 26$253K
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$97K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Total revenueLn 12$1.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$309K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$309K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7K
Other assetsLn 15$238K
Total assetsLn 16$743K
LiabilitiesLn 26$253K
Net assetsLn 32$490K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$394K$309K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5K$7K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$13K$7K
Total assetsLn 16$646K$743K
LiabilitiesLn 26$167K$253K
Net assetsLn 32$479K$490K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$15K$15K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$180K$119K$25K$36K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$429K$149K$121K$159K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$24K$11K$6K$8K
Payroll taxesLn 10$82K$36K$20K$26K
Accounting feesLn 11c$29K$29K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$39K$39K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$99K$43K$24K$32K
Information technologyLn 14$80K$38K$20K$22K
OccupancyLn 16$125K$58K$29K$38K
TravelLn 17$12K$4K$2K$6K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$5K$5K
InsuranceLn 23$3K$1K$813$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$53K$34K$12K$7K
All other expensesLn 24e$104K$70K$33K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.3M$618K$327K$336K

Filing history

Provided by the organization
YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.3M$1.3M$11K$490K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.1M$1.0M$53K$479K 990 PDF
FY2023 $873K$663K$210K$450K 990 PDF
FY2022 $617K$440K$177K$240K 990 PDF
FY2021 $192K$36K 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 $1,291,416 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $891,347$1,192,463
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $208,935$97,131
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $734$1,822
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $251$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,101,267$1,291,416
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$15,156
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $558,300$715,428
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $489,792$549,457
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,048,092$1,280,041
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $53,175$11,375
Part VI · Governance 5 of 7 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,291,416 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$69,312
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,123,151
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,192,463
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $97,131$97,131
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,822$1,822
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $97,131 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,822$1,291,416
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,280,041 across 15 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $15,156$15,156
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $118,800 · Management $25,200 · Fundraising $36,000$180,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $149,196 · Management $120,980 · Fundraising $158,906$429,082
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $10,586 · Management $5,774 · Fundraising $7,698$24,058
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $36,207 · Management $19,749 · Fundraising $26,332$82,288
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $29,146$29,146
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $39,212$39,212
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $43,400 · Management $23,673 · Fundraising $31,564$98,637
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $38,266 · Management $19,781 · Fundraising $21,621$79,668
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $57,680 · Management $28,702 · Fundraising $38,270$124,652
IX-17 TravelPrograms $4,294 · Management $2,342 · Fundraising $5,666$12,302
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $5,243$5,243
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,490 · Management $813 · Fundraising $1,084$3,387
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $33,665 · Management $12,430 · Fundraising $7,182$53,277
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $69,584 · Management $32,965 · Fundraising $1,384$103,933
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $617,536 · Management $326,798 · Fundraising $335,707$1,280,041
Part X · Balance sheet $742,989 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $394,183$309,073
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $35,000$156,828
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $12,484$24,966
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $12,518$7,276
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $4,899$6,564
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $134,849$238,282
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $646,433$742,989
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $14,819$36,629
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $112,439$215,872
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $167,320$252,501
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $479,113$350,488
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$140,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $479,113$490,488
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $646,433$742,989
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $490,488 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,291,416
XI-2 Total expenses$1,280,041
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$11,375
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$479,113
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$490,488

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

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