Lead With Character Inc
Lead With Character Inc experiences recent revenue growth but faces a significant deficit in its latest fiscal period.
EIN: 200877571 · Charlotte, NC · NTEE: A80 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $253K |
| Total Expenses | $221K |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $65K |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Lead With Character Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Lead With Character Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Lead With Character Inc
Lead With Character Inc (EIN: 200877571) is a nonprofit organization based in Charlotte, NC, classified under NTEE code A80. The organization reported total revenue of $253K and total assets of $102K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Lead With Character Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Lead With Character Inc is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 21 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 8.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $163K |
| Total Expenses | $221K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-58,509 |
| Total Assets | $65K |
| Net Assets | $65K |
| Operating Margin | -35.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 3.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Lead With Character Inc reported a deficit of $59K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 3.5 months of operating reserves (adequate).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Lead With Character Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -24.3% | +63.3% | -47.5% |
| 2022 | +205.9% | +93.0% | +183.4% |
| 2021 | +72.3% | +86.6% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | +9.4% | +24.3% | +8.0% |
| 2019 | -2.4% | -3.8% | +21.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2005 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Lead With Character Inc with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Lead With Character Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $59K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that the organization's leadership is either unpaid or compensated through non-officer roles, which is a strong positive for donor confidence and resource allocation to programs.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Lead With Character Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Significant deficit in the latest fiscal period (202312: Expenses $221,444 vs. Revenue $162,935)
- Decrease in assets from $123,192 in 2022 to $64,683 in 2023, indicating a draw on reserves.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Lead With Character Inc:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating a lean and mission-focused leadership.
- No reported liabilities across all available filings, suggesting strong financial management and solvency.
- Demonstrated ability to grow revenue significantly in recent years, peaking at $215,367 in 2022.
- Positive asset growth trend prior to the 2023 decline, from $5,703 in 2015 to $123,192 in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lead With Character Inc
Is Lead With Character Inc a legitimate charity?
Lead With Character Inc (EIN: 200877571) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in North Carolina. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $253K. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Lead With Character Inc spend its money?
Lead With Character Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Lead With Character Inc tax-deductible?
Lead With Character Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200877571). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Lead With Character Inc's spending goes to programs?
Lead With Character Inc directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Lead With Character Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 75/100 (Good), Lead With Character Inc is above average for NTEE category A80 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Lead With Character Inc located?
Lead With Character Inc is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and files with the IRS under EIN 200877571. It is classified under NTEE code A80.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Lead With Character Inc have?
Lead With Character Inc has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $253K in total revenue.
What caused the significant increase in expenses relative to revenue in the 2023 fiscal period?
The 2023 filing shows expenses of $221,444 against revenue of $162,935, resulting in a deficit. Understanding the nature of these increased expenses is crucial for assessing financial health.
How does Lead With Character Inc manage to operate with 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests a volunteer-led executive team or compensation structured in a way that isn't reported as officer compensation on the 990, which is a notable operational model.
What are the specific program activities that account for the majority of the organization's spending?
While the data indicates a strong program focus, specific details on the nature and impact of these programs would provide a clearer picture of the organization's effectiveness.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Lead With Character Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Lead With Character Inc's revenue has grown by 161.2%, moving from $62K to $163K. Total assets increased by 277.2% over the same period, from $17K to $65K. Total functional expenses rose by 335.7%, from $51K to $221K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Lead With Character Inc reported a deficit of $59K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $163K | $221K | $65K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $215K | $136K | $123K | $0 | — | — |
| 2021 | $70K | $70K | $43K | $0 | — | — |
| 2020 | $41K | $38K | $43K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $37K | $30K | $40K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $38K | $31K | $33K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $62K | $43K | $26K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $68K | $66K | $8K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $62K | $71K | $6K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $31K | $37K | $14K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $52K | $50K | $20K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $47K | $45K | $19K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $62K | $51K | $17K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $163K, expenses of $221K, and assets of $65K (revenue -24.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $215K, expenses of $136K, and assets of $123K (revenue +205.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $70K, expenses of $70K, and assets of $43K (revenue +72.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $41K, expenses of $38K, and assets of $43K (revenue +9.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $37K, expenses of $30K, and assets of $40K (revenue -2.4% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $38K, expenses of $31K, and assets of $33K (revenue -38.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $62K, expenses of $43K, and assets of $26K (revenue -8.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $68K, expenses of $66K, and assets of $8K (revenue +8.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $62K, expenses of $71K, and assets of $6K (revenue +101.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $31K, expenses of $37K, and assets of $14K (revenue -40.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $52K, expenses of $50K, and assets of $20K (revenue +10.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $47K, expenses of $45K, and assets of $19K (revenue -24.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $62K, expenses of $51K, and assets of $17K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Lead With Character Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Lead With Character Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.