Leading Cities Inc
Leading Cities Inc is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Boston, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $859K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $150K. Net investment income was $25K.
Leading Cities Inc at a glance
In short: Leading Cities Inc gave $150K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $75K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $150,000
- -47.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -60.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $75,000
- +32.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $858,645
- +47.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (67% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Leading Cities Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Its Electric ($100K). Together the top 2 received $150K.
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 9 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How Leading Cities Inc gives
- Giving grew 1900% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2022) to $283K (2024). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $150K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Its Electric Brooklyn, NY | For charity purposes | $100,000 |
| Gravity Water Santa Cruz, CA | For Charity purposes | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $858,645 | $754,150 | $516,726 | $150,000 | 2 | — | $25,355 | — |
| 2024 | $583,909 | $790,119 | $650,420 | $283,000 | 5 | — | $21,820 | — |
| 2023 | $455,353 | $595,077 | $531,109 | $210,000 | 1 | $530,686 | $9,689 | $18,932 |
| 2022 | $351,412 | $484,500 | $301,270 | $7,500 | 1 | $301,270 | — | $18,174 |
| 2021 | $168,182 | $382,322 | $274,056 | — | — | $274,056 | — | $12,503 |
| 2020 | $59,957 | $340,000 | $303,730 | — | — | — | — | $4,542 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Leading Cities Inc is led by Kathryn Elmes, Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathryn Elmes
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer James
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Albanese
Director
Chairman → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Martin
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Buckley
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Baker
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abhi Nemani
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Lake
Presidentceo
President & CEO → Presidentceo, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$76K (2020) → $124K (2025)
Lee Feldman
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
$29K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Danielle Lupin
Clerk
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Danielle Duplin (2020–2024) — Clerk
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $124K, to Michael Lake (PresidentCEO).
Frequently asked questions about Leading Cities Inc
How much does Leading Cities Inc give each year?
Leading Cities Inc gave $150K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $283K across 5 grants.
How large is Leading Cities Inc?
Leading Cities Inc reported $859K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $754K.
What is Leading Cities Inc?
Leading Cities Inc is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Boston, MA. It holds $859K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Leading Cities Inc operate?
Leading Cities Inc has awarded grants in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York.
What is Leading Cities Inc's EIN?
Leading Cities Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3320189. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 18, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Leading Cities Inc funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Leading Cities Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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