Word Is Bond

Tax-deductible

Portland, OR501(c)(3)Civil Rights & AdvocacyEIN 83-1843221

We work with young men ages 15-20 years old and DO leadership development, career exploration and public speaking.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
63¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 15 volunteers and 4 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $12K a year · 5% of revenue · last 4 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
63%
of spending
Worth a look: 63% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$79K
to officers and key staff · 20% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 56% of similar orgs
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 20% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.4 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $8K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$16K
111% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 111% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$355K
+194% vs prior year
Spent
$400K
To programs
63%
Net assets
−$2K
By yearFY2021–FY2024
Revenue
$355K
FY2024▲ +194%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$256K
FY2022$283K
FY2023$121K
FY2024$355K
Expenses
$400K
FY2024▲ +18%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$107K
FY2022$219K
FY2023$339K
FY2024$400K
Net assets
−$2K
FY2024▼ -104%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$196K
FY2022$261K
FY2023$43K
FY2024−$2K

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 2019.

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

Where the money goes

63 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 63% · $251K Management & general 29% · $116K Fundraising 8% · $33K

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

Who runs it and what they're paid

12 people listed on the 990; $79K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$78,583Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member at Large
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member at Large
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member at Large
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member at Large
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Lakayana Drury’s $79K as Executive Director is at the 56th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1031 $100K–1M civil rights & advocacy 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Lakayana Drury$78,583$68,895$65,000$58,333

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

Develops leadership, explores careers, and trains public speaking for young men aged 15-20.

Provided by the organization

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3 program services account for $229K of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2023.
01

The blackstar homecoming expedition connects ambassadors with their ancestral roots through a journey across ghana. They explore historic sites related to the transatlantic slave trade, meet with ghanaian government leaders, and experience the cultural richness of west africa, deepening their understanding of self and heritage.

$130Kprogram expense
02

Rising leaders is our flagship three-year program. In year one, participants (called ambassadors) gain foundational leadership and professional skills. In year two, they are placed in paid internships with leading portland-area businesses.

$55Kprogram expense
03

The spring leadership forum is a one-week immersion in washington, D.C., focused on public policy and college readiness. Ambassadors meet with elected officials, visit hbcus, and create a public policy proposal, which they present in D.C. And again to their local community. All travel, lodging, and meals are fully funded.

$44Kprogram expense

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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 · FY2025
1803 FundFY2025$8K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$8K

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$355K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$355K
Money outPt IX
$400K
Ln 25
Programscol B$251K
Managementcol C$116K
Fundraisingcol D$33K
Owns and owesPt X
−$2K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$14K
Total assetsLn 16$14K
LiabilitiesLn 26$16K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$355K
Total revenueLn 12$355K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$14K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$14K
Total assetsLn 16$14K
LiabilitiesLn 26$16K
Net assetsLn 32−$2K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 615
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$51K$14K
Total assetsLn 16$51K$14K
LiabilitiesLn 26$9K$16K
Net assetsLn 32$43K−$2K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$87K$44K$26K$17K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$52K$6K$37K$8K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3K$2K$957$638
Payroll taxesLn 10$12K$4K$5K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$13K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$14K$13K$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$35K$35K$173
Office expensesLn 13$7K$3K$4K$974
OccupancyLn 16$17K$9K$9K
TravelLn 17$81K$80K$1K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$235$2K
InsuranceLn 23$2K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$53K$44K$9K
All other expensesLn 24e$21K$12K$7K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$400K$251K$116K$33K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $355K$400K−$44K−$2K 990 PDF
FY2023 $121K$339K−$218K$43K 990 PDF
FY2022 $283K$219K$64K$261K 990 PDF
FY2021 $256K$107K$149K$196K 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 FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $355,218 across 3 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$355,218
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$355,218
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$355,218
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $399,582 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $43,581 · Management $26,149 · Fundraising $17,433$87,163
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $6,361 · Management $37,234 · Fundraising $8,403$51,998
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,595 · Management $957 · Fundraising $638$3,190
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $3,979 · Management $5,401 · Fundraising $2,163$11,543
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $12,850$12,850
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $12,670 · Fundraising $1,500$14,170
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $35,196 · Management $173$35,369
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,538 · Management $3,960 · Fundraising $974$7,472
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $8,602 · Management $8,602$17,204
IX-17 TravelPrograms $79,669 · Management $1,125$80,794
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $235 · Management $1,867$2,102
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $1,770$1,770
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $44,381 · Management $8,647$53,028
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $12,126 · Management $7,353 · Fundraising $1,450$20,929
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $250,933 · Management $116,088 · Fundraising $32,561$399,582
Part X · Balance sheet $14,033 assets, 6 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $51,332$14,033
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $51,332$14,033
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $8,506$15,571
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $8,506$15,571
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $42,826−$1,538
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $51,332$14,033
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$1,538 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$355,218
XI-2 Total expenses$399,582
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$44,364
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$42,826
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$1,538

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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