↑ parent cluster · ·
research dossier →

BE A LEADER FOUNDATION

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 550850279 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE W70 · Public & Societal Benefit · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.bealeader.org
revenue
$2.2M
expenses
$1.5M
net assets
$4.8M
employees
25
volunteers
100
program ratio
81%
mission · from form 990

BE A LEADER'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE PREPARED FOR AND SUCCEED IN HIGHER EDUCATION BY EMPOWERING THEM WITH TOOLS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT, TRANSFORMING LIVES AND CREATING LIFE-LONG OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Be A Leader Foundation is an Arizona-based nonprofit that empowers underserved middle school, high school, and college students to pursue and succeed in higher education. They provide tools, leadership skills, and consistent support through a pipeline of programs focused on college access, postsecondary transition, and college success. The organization was founded in 2002 and primarily operates in Arizona.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $44K
    WORKSHOPS - BALF'S THEORY OF CHANGE RESTS ON THE BELIEF THAT PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH GUIDANCE, MENTORSHIP, ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND EMPOWERMENT ENHANCES THEIR CHANCES OF PURSUING A HIGHER EDUCATION. OUR STUDENTS HAVE ALL THE POTENTIAL TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY AND PURSUE A POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION BUT ARE MANY TIMES LACKING THE EXTERNAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO FINISH THE COLLEGE-GOING EQUATION. SUPPORT FROM CARING ADULTS IS A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT TO OUR SERVICES AND HELPING OUR STUDENTS SUCCEED. OUR VOLUNTEERS SERVE AS MENTORS AT EACH WORKSHOP TO HELP GUIDE THE COLLEGE-GOING CONVERSATION WITH STUDENTS. FOR OUR SENIORS, SENIOR BOOT CAMP COACHES PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN HELPING OUR STUDENTS MEET CRITICAL SENIOR YEAR DEADLINES.
named programs · 9 · from sources

what they call their work

Arizona Meta Network for School Improvement
A program that is part of the organization's pipeline of comprehensive programs impacting students from middle school through college.
Be A Leader Institute Elementary (7th Grade)
Monthly workshops for 7th graders focused on creating a positive environment and nurturing community through college-going curriculum and self-esteem development.
Be A Leader Institute High School
Monthly workshops for high school students providing tools and knowledge to become college bound, focused, and prepared.
Career Guest Speakers
Professionals engage with students to provide a deeper understanding of careers in various sectors, offering real-world insights.
Career Roundtables
Professionals participate in an event where students rotate to speak with them about their careers, academic paths, and professional journeys.
Professional Shadow Week
Provides students with the opportunity to experience a "day in the life of" various professions, including business, architecture, law, medicine, engineering, and government.
Senior Boot Camp (SBC) Coaches Program
Provides individualized coaching to high school seniors during their transition to college, assisting with the college and scholarship application process.
Taking Steps Towards College Success
An annual event where volunteers assist with registration, event setup, bus check-in, and crowd control to support students in their college journey.
Valedictorian Club (8th Grade)
Monthly workshops for 8th-grade students to guide them in developing leadership and academic skills for college success.
activities · 3 clusters

what they do

  • Charity Golf Tournament 2 activities
    • Community Technology Center Establishment
      Helped raise $1,000,000 to establish the Roosevelt Community Technology Center in 1996.
    • Community capacity building
      Supported the establishment of the Roosevelt Community Technology Center in 1996 by helping to raise $1,000,000, demonstrating early community infrastructure development efforts.
  • College and Career Readiness Coaching 2 activities
    • Senior Boot Camp Coaches Program
      Operates a Senior Boot Camp Coaches Program, providing individualized coaching to high school seniors during their transition to college through one-on-one interactions at workshops.
    • Senior transition coaching program
      Operates a Senior Boot Camp Coaches Program that provides individualized coaching to high school seniors through one-on-one interactions during workshops to support their transition to college.
  • Uncategorized 6 activities
    • Career Exploration Programs
      Organizes Career Roundtables and provides Career Guest Speaker opportunities for students to explore various career possibilities and gain real-world understanding of professions. Offers a Professional Shadow Week program for students to experience a "day in the life" of various professions.
    • Career exploration programming
      Offers career development opportunities including Career Roundtables, Guest Speaker sessions, and a Professional Shadow Week program that allows students to explore careers in fields such as Business, Architecture, Law, Medicine, Engineering, and Government.
    • College Preparedness Workshops
      Conducts monthly workshops for high school students to equip them with tools and knowledge for college preparedness, and for 8th-grade students (Valedictorian Club) to develop leadership and academic skills for college success. Also provides monthly workshops for 7th graders (Be A Leader Institute Elementary) focusing on college-going curriculum and self-esteem development.
    • Monthly college readiness and leadership workshops
      Conducts monthly workshops for students in grades 7–12, including the Valedictorian Club for 8th graders and the Be A Leader Institute Elementary for 7th graders, focusing on college preparedness, leadership development, and self-esteem.
    • Structured Leadership and College Success Programming
      Provides structured leadership and comprehensive college access and success programming to thousands of students annually across Arizona, serving youth from 7th grade through college.
    • Structured leadership and college success programming
      Provides comprehensive structured leadership programming focused on College Access, Postsecondary Transition, and College Success to thousands of students annually across Arizona, serving youth from 7th grade through college.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$2.17M
Contributions & grants$2.13M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$43K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.50M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$1.01M
Grants paid out$38K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.96M
Cash$2.02M
Investments$2.05M
Liabilities$150K
Net assets$4.81M
Liquid reserves32.6 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -25.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SOLIO FELIX PRESIDENT & CEO 40 $141K
MELISSA B TRUJILLO PRESIDENT & CEO/CHAIR (THRU 6/2022) 40 $86K
board members · 9
  • CHRIS BUSTAMANTE EDD — DIRECTOR
  • CHRISTINE BURTON — DIRECTOR
  • GARY L TRUJILLO — DIRECTOR
  • KATHRYN BAKER — TREASURER
  • LON BABBY — DIRECTOR
  • LORIANNE TAITANO — DIRECTOR
  • MICHAEL TREJO — SECRETARY
  • STEVE ORTEGA — DIRECTOR
  • TIM DESOTO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 17

who they work with

  • Arizona Community Foundation Funder — Corporate and foundation supporter contributing $1,000 or more to the Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Arizona Meta Network for School Improvement Partner — Collaborative network partner in delivering school improvement and college access programming.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Community partner collaborating with Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Postsecondary institution where Be A Leader initially provided scholarships and mentoring to Hispanic students.
  • Be A Leader Foundation Government — Non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, EIN 55-0850279
  • Chicanos Por La Causa Partner — Community partner collaborating with Be A Leader Foundation.
  • College Success Arizona Partner — Community partner collaborating with Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Grand Canyon University Partner — Community partner collaborating with Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Helios Education Foundation Funder — Corporate and foundation supporter contributing $1,000 or more to the Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Maricopa Community Colleges Partner — Community partner collaborating with Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Funder — Corporate and foundation supporter contributing $1,000 or more to the Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Phoenix Union High School District Partner — Community partner collaborating with Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Roosevelt Elementary School District Partner — Partner school district where Be A Leader launched its leadership programming in 2006.
  • Tolleson Union High School District Partner — Community partner collaborating with Be A Leader Foundation.
  • University of Arizona Partner — Community partner collaborating with Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Valley of the Sun United Way Funder — Corporate and foundation supporter contributing $1,000 or more to the Be A Leader Foundation.
  • Walton Family Foundation Funder — Corporate and foundation supporter contributing $1,000 or more to the Be A Leader Foundation.