I Am a Leader Foundation
I Am a Leader Foundation is a private foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It supports public schools seeking to implement The Leader in Me, a whole-school transformation process based on Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
I Am a Leader Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $324,942
- -79.9% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $19,990
- -48.9% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $60
- -63.0% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $769,385
- +49.6% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to I Am a Leader Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it accepts unsolicited requests for funds through online applications, with timelines announced seasonally. However, the grants page on the foundation’s website says applications are by invitation only and directs interested schools to contact a local FranklinCovey representative to learn whether they meet the qualification criteria. The filing lists conditions including leadership commitment, annual outcomes-data reporting, and a school contribution of $5,000 to $6,000 toward annual program costs.
- Contact
Application contact: Wwwleaderorg
Mailing address: 299 South Main Street Suite 1875, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 377-9515
Website: https://www.leader.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who I Am a Leader Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
296 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 294 grants of 296 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing describes grants to public K–12 schools across the United States. The foundation’s website also describes its past work in underserved public inner-city and rural schools.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is I Am a Leader Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 64% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving fell 85% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 50% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $43K (2023) to $1.3M (2019). In 2023 it made 11 grants totaling $43K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uintah Elementary Ogden, UT | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $8,207 |
| TH Bell Junior High Ogden, UT | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $7,447 |
| A Parley Bates Elementary North Ogden, UT | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $7,366 |
| Aurora Elementary Los Angeles, CA | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $6,349 |
| Fredric W Watson Elementary North Las Vegas, NV | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $4,254 |
| John D Jenkins Elementary Woodbridge, VA | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $2,833 |
| Country View Elementary South Ogden, UT | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $1,721 |
| West Haven Elementary Eden, UT | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $1,531 |
| Lomond View Elementary Roy, UT | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $1,449 |
| Valley View Elementary Archbald, PA | Restricted for costs of the leader in me program | $1,258 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $324,942 | $19,990 | $769,385 | — | — | — | $60 | $47,203 |
| 2023 | $1,614,999 | $39,130 | $514,153 | $42,526 | 11 | $42,526 | $162 | $84,698 |
| 2022 | $1,964,467 | $1,221 | $1,132,952 | $548,489 | 62 | $548,489 | $220 | $128,117 |
| 2021 | $3,556,611 | $2,544,756 | $1,048,115 | $1,125,277 | 72 | $1,125,283 | $234 | $156,318 |
| 2020 | $2,742,669 | $1,731,161 | $1,811,306 | $283,062 | 151 | — | $193 | $109,286 |
| 2019 | $1,819,357 | $1,346,294 | $806,643 | $1,283,028 | 263 | — | $470 | $18,467 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, I Am a Leader Foundation reported a distributable amount of $47K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Leader.org says it equips the rising generation for impact. Its grant information describes support for public schools committed to long-term implementation of The Leader in Me. According to the foundation’s 2024 filing, grants are offered to public K–12 schools across the United States and are conditional on factors including school leadership’s demonstrated commitment to the program, annual outcomes-data reporting, and the school’s responsibility for $5,000 to $6,000 of the program’s annual cost during a multiple-year term.
Grantmaking
The latest filing data lists no grants for 2024. In 2023, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $42,526; in 2022, it reported 62 grants totaling $548,489. The available information does not identify grantees or provide individual award amounts.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Ellis Boyd Craig as chairman and CEO, Eugene D White as CFO, Brad Pelo as director, and John R Miller as director. The foundation’s website identifies Boyd Craig as chairman and CEO and Gene White as chief financial officer.
I Am a Leader Foundation is led by Ellis Boyd Craig, Chairman & CEO on every filing since 2019; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ellis Boyd Craig
Chairman & CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$55K (2019) → $101K (2024)
Brad Pelo
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
John R. Miller
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Eugene D. White
CFO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$106K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Michael Ockey (2019) — Executive Vice President Development
- Former: Rory Christensen (2019) — Operations Manager
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $101K, to Ellis Boyd Craig (Chairman / CEO).
Frequently asked questions about I Am a Leader Foundation
How large is I Am a Leader Foundation?
I Am a Leader Foundation reported $325K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $20K.
What does I Am a Leader Foundation fund?
Leader.org says it equips the rising generation for impact. Its grant information describes support for public schools committed to long-term implementation of The Leader in Me. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from I Am a Leader Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it accepts unsolicited requests for funds through online applications, with timelines announced seasonally. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does I Am a Leader Foundation make grants?
The 2024 filing describes grants to public K–12 schools across the United States. The foundation’s website also describes its past work in underserved public inner-city and rural schools.
How much is I Am a Leader Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, I Am a Leader Foundation reported a distributable amount of $47K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is I Am a Leader Foundation's EIN?
I Am a Leader Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4625508. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does I Am a Leader Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work I Am a Leader Foundation funds
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Figures come from I Am a Leader Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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