Project Lead The Way Inc
Project Lead The Way Inc. experiences significant revenue growth amidst inconsistent asset reporting and periods of deficit spending.
EIN: 141816385 · Indianapolis, IN · NTEE: B90 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $97.3M |
| Total Expenses | $67.2M |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $100 |
| Transparency Score | 65/100 |
Is Project Lead The Way Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Project Lead The Way Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Project Lead The Way Inc
Project Lead The Way Inc (EIN: 141816385) is a nonprofit organization based in Indianapolis, IN, classified under NTEE code B90. The organization reported total revenue of $97.3M and total assets of $0 according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Project Lead The Way Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Project Lead The Way Inc is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 26 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2019). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 18.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $55.4M |
| Total Expenses | $67.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-11,814,037 |
| Total Assets | $0 |
| Net Assets | $0 |
| Operating Margin | -21.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 0.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2019, Project Lead The Way Inc reported a deficit of $11.8M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 0.0 months of operating reserves (limited).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2011–2019), Project Lead The Way Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +12.3% | +38.5% | -100.0% |
| 2018 | +13.5% | +20.6% | +4.9% |
| 2017 | +28.3% | +4.3% | +19.0% |
| 2016 | -11.0% | +28.2% | -11.2% |
| 2015 | +12.0% | +40.0% | +26.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2000 |
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 Project Lead The Way Inc with a Mission Score of 65 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: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Project Lead The Way Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $11.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all nine filings, despite the organization's substantial revenue growth to nearly $100 million, is highly unusual and suggests a potential reporting anomaly or an atypical compensation structure that lacks transparency.
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 Project Lead The Way Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Inconsistent asset reporting, with $0 assets in the latest filing after reporting tens of millions in prior years.
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size.
- Periods of significant deficit spending, such as in 2019 where expenses exceeded revenue by over $11 million.
- Lack of detailed breakdown for program, administrative, and fundraising expenses in the provided data.
- Significant fluctuations in revenue and expenses without clear explanations in the summary data.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Project Lead The Way Inc:
- Demonstrated significant revenue growth, from $14.5 million in 2011 to $97.2 million in the latest filing.
- Long filing history (9 filings) indicating established operations.
- Focus on education (NTEE Code B90) suggests a clear mission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Project Lead The Way Inc
Is Project Lead The Way Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Project Lead The Way Inc (EIN: 141816385) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 5 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Project Lead The Way Inc spend its money?
Project Lead The Way Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Project Lead The Way Inc tax-deductible?
Project Lead The Way Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 141816385). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Project Lead The Way Inc CEO make?
Project Lead The Way Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $100 annually. The organization reported $97.3M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Project Lead The Way Inc's spending goes to programs?
Project Lead The Way Inc directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Project Lead The Way Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 65/100 (Good), Project Lead The Way Inc is above average for NTEE category B90 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Project Lead The Way Inc located?
Project Lead The Way Inc is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and files with the IRS under EIN 141816385. It is classified under NTEE code B90.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Project Lead The Way Inc have?
Project Lead The Way Inc has 9 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 $97.3M in total revenue.
Why are assets reported as $0 in the latest filing, despite being in the tens of millions in prior years?
The latest filing for Project Lead The Way Inc. shows $0 in assets, which is a significant departure from previous filings where assets were reported as high as $54.3 million in 2018. This discrepancy requires clarification to understand the organization's current financial position.
How does Project Lead The Way Inc. manage to report 0% officer compensation across all filings?
Reporting 0% officer compensation for an organization with nearly $100 million in revenue is highly unusual. This could indicate that compensation is reported under different categories, or that the organization has a unique, and potentially less transparent, executive compensation structure.
What is the detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided data does not offer a detailed breakdown of expenses beyond total expenses. Understanding these categories is crucial for assessing the organization's spending efficiency and how much of its budget directly supports its mission.
What caused the significant increase in revenue from $55.3 million in 2019 to $97.2 million in the latest period?
The organization experienced a substantial revenue jump of over $40 million between the 2019 filing and the latest period. Identifying the sources of this growth (e.g., grants, contributions, program service revenue) would provide insight into its financial sustainability.
How does the organization manage periods of deficit spending, such as in 2019 where expenses exceeded revenue by over $11 million?
In 2019, Project Lead The Way Inc. reported expenses of $67.1 million against revenues of $55.3 million, indicating a significant deficit. Understanding how these deficits are covered and managed is important for assessing financial stability.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Project Lead The Way Inc showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2019), Project Lead The Way Inc's revenue has grown by 279.3%, moving from $14.6M to $55.4M. Total assets decreased by 100% over the same period, from $16.6M to $0. Total functional expenses rose by 322.6%, from $15.9M to $67.2M. In its most recent filing year (2019), Project Lead The Way Inc reported a deficit of $11.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55.4M | $67.2M | $0 | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $49.3M | $48.5M | $54.3M | $25.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $43.4M | $40.2M | $51.8M | $23.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $33.8M | $38.6M | $43.5M | $18.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $38.0M | $30.1M | $49.0M | $19.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $34.0M | $21.5M | $38.9M | $16.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $12.4M | $17.2M | $23.6M | $14.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $16.8M | $14.1M | $20.0M | $5.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $14.6M | $15.9M | $16.6M | $4.8M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2019: Revenue of $55.4M, expenses of $67.2M, and assets of $0 (revenue +12.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $49.3M, expenses of $48.5M, and assets of $54.3M (revenue +13.5% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $43.4M, expenses of $40.2M, and assets of $51.8M (revenue +28.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $33.8M, expenses of $38.6M, and assets of $43.5M (revenue -11.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $38.0M, expenses of $30.1M, and assets of $49.0M (revenue +12.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $34.0M, expenses of $21.5M, and assets of $38.9M (revenue +175.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $12.4M, expenses of $17.2M, and assets of $23.6M (revenue -26.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $16.8M, expenses of $14.1M, and assets of $20.0M (revenue +15.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $14.6M, expenses of $15.9M, and assets of $16.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Project Lead The Way Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Project Lead The Way 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.