Leadership Institute
Educate people for successful participation in government, politics and media.
Leadership Institute at a glance
In short: Leadership Institute gave $212K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $211,674
- +29.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- +800.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,519
- -85.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $32,160,227
- +3.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (80% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Leadership Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was International Democracy Union ($126K). Together the top 9 received $212K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 24 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Leadership Institute gives
- Giving grew 109% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2022) to $212K (2024). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $212K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| International Democracy Union Washington, DC | Training Seminars | $126,174 |
| Judicial Watch Inc Washington, DC | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| The Heritage Foundation Washington, DC | General Purpose | $16,000 |
| American Center for Law and Justice Inc Virginia Beach, VA | General Purpose | $11,500 |
| Turning Point USA Inc Indianapolis, IN | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | General Purpose | $7,500 |
| FreedomWorks Foundation Inc Washington, DC | General Purpose | $7,500 |
| Americans for Prosperity Foundation Arlington, VA | General Purpose | $7,000 |
| Bill of Rights Institute Arlington, VA | General Purpose | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $32,160,227 | $52,085,257 | $54,728,123 | $211,674 | 9 | $1,504,553 |
| 2023 | $30,979,961 | $45,008,202 | $51,591,743 | $164,000 | 1 | $1,388,030 |
| 2022 | $38,296,390 | $39,249,420 | $34,475,593 | $90,430 | 4 | $96,580 |
| 2021 | $34,291,273 | $30,548,300 | $26,019,058 | $101,049 | 6 | $91,776 |
| 2020 | $29,293,768 | $23,638,240 | $20,433,534 | $100,405 | 4 | $106,998 |
About Leadership Institute
Based on IRS filings
Leadership Institute is a public charity focused on public and societal benefit, based in Arlington, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $32.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $212K. Net investment income was $1.5M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Leadership Institute is led by Morton C Blackwell, President on every filing since 2020; 13 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Morton C Blackwell
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$332K (2020) → $345K (2024)
Steven Sutton
Executive Vice President & Acting President
Vice President Development → Senior Vice President, 2021
Senior Vice President → Executive Vice President & Acting President, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$287K (2020) → $202K (2024)
Ronald Nehring
Director & Interl School of Politics
Director of International Training → Director of International Trainings, 2023
Director of International Trainings → Director & Interl School of Politics, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$142K (2020) → $221K (2024)
Riley Gaines
Director & Riley Gaines Center
Director of the Riley Gaines Center → Director & Riley Gaines Center, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$127K (2023) → $474K (2024)
Stephen Theriault
Director of Communications
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$173K (2024)
Dario Paya
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Fowlerr III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John P Maxwell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Ouimette
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Rhodes
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Pizella
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Davis
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Rolfe
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Bernys
Vice President for Campus Leadership Programs
Vice President - Campus Leadership → Vice President of Campus Leadership Program, 2021
Vice President of Campus Leadership Program → Vice President for Campus Leadership Programs, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$194K (2020) → $239K (2024)
David Fenner
Vice President for Programs
Vice President for Programs → Vice President of Programs, 2022
Vice President of Programs → Vice President for Programs, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$199K (2020) → $239K (2024)
John Davis
Vice President for Growth & Development
Director Donor Communications → Vice President for Growth & Development, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$275K (2020) → $409K (2024)
Mark Centofante
Vice President for Technology & Operations
Vice President - Technology → Vice President of Technology & Operations, 2021
Vice President of Technology & Operations → Vice President for Technology & Operations, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$234K (2020) → $255K (2024)
Robert J Arnakis
Senior Dr. of Domestic & Inter Programs
Senior Director of Domestic & International Training → Senior Director of Domestic & International Program, 2023
Senior Director of Domestic & International Program → Senior Dr. of Domestic & Inter Programs, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$147K (2020) → $220K (2024)
Andrew Bender
Vice President for Finance
Vice President for Finance & Chief Financial Officer → Vice President for Finance, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$224K (2023) → $228K (2024)
Mark Campbell
Senior Fellow
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$222K (2023) → $231K (2024)
Yana Igorevna Myaskovskaya
Chief of Staff
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$225K (2024)
Craig Murphy
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
M Dennis Daugherty
First Vice President
1st Vice President → First Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Corrigan
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Thronhill
Second Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Mitchell Nozka (2020–2023) — Senior Director of Marketing & Brand Strategy
- Former: Courtney Trollinger (2022–2023) — Senior Director of Donor Relations
- Former: Bridget Ziegler Ending (2023) — Vice President for School Board Leaders Programs
- Former: Christoffer Fries (2023) — Director of Technology
- Former: Kenneth Thornhill (2023) — Second Vice President
- Former: Ed Corrigan (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Ken Thornhill (2020–2022) — Second Vice President
- Former: Star Parker (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Denny Daughtery (2021–2022) — First Vice President
- Former: Jim Johnston (2021–2022) — Creative Officer
- Former: Alexandra Knowles (2022) — Partnership Advisor
- Former: Andrew Bender starting (2022) — Vice President for Finance & CFO
- Former: Sean McMahon ending (2022) — Vice President for Finance & CFO
- Former: John McGovern (2020–2021) — Regional Development Officer
- Former: Sean McMahon (2021) — CFO & Vice President for Finance
- Former: Chuck Cunningham (2020) — Director
- Former: Jim C Marshal (2020) — Vice President - Finance
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $474K, to Riley Gaines (Director, Riley Gaines Center). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Leadership Institute
How much does Leadership Institute give each year?
Leadership Institute gave $212K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $164K across 1 grant.
What is Leadership Institute's typical grant size?
Leadership Institute's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $23,519, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Leadership Institute give grants?
Leadership Institute gives mostly in District of Columbia: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants).
Does Leadership Institute give general operating support?
Yes: 89% of Leadership Institute's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Leadership Institute's largest grantees?
Leadership Institute's largest 2024 grantees include International Democracy Union ($126,174), Judicial Watch Inc ($20,000) and The Heritage Foundation ($16,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Leadership Institute?
Leadership Institute reported $32.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $52.1M.
What is Leadership Institute?
Leadership Institute is a public charity focused on public and societal benefit, based in Arlington, VA. It holds $32.2M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Leadership Institute's EIN?
Leadership Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0235174. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Leadership Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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Leadership Institute down — hundreds of funders to go?