Lever for Change
We connect donors with problem solvers to find and fund bold, effective solutions to accelerate social change.
Lever for Change at a glance
In short: Lever for Change gave $666K across 32 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), top state Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $665,754
- +432.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 32
- +540.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,805
- -16.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $8,805,683
- -36.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (16% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Lever for Change
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Lever for Change
Who Lever for Change funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Election Reformers Network ($46K). Together the top 10 received $226K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 55 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Lever for Change gives
- Giving grew 292% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2020) to $666K (2025). In 2025 it made 32 grants totaling $666K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Election Reformers Network Bethesda, MD | See Part IV | $45,754 |
| Amethyst Place Inc Kansas City, MO | See Part IV | $20,000 |
| Amref Health Africa New York City, NY | See Part IV | $20,000 |
| Asian Family Support Services (FKA Saheli) Austin, TX | See Part IV | $20,000 |
| Baltimore Tree Trust Baltimore, MD | See Part IV | $20,000 |
| Camino Community Development Organization Inc Charlotte, NC | See Part IV | $20,000 |
| Crittenton of North Carolina Charlotte, NC | See Part IV | $20,000 |
| Dallas Afterschool Dallas, TX | See Part IV | $20,000 |
| Disability Rights Louisiana New Orleans, LA | See Part IV | $20,000 |
| El Puente De Williamsburg Inc Brooklyn, NY | See Part IV | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,805,683 | $5,681,489 | $11,260,281 | $665,754 | 32 | $246,179 |
| 2024 | $13,824,636 | $12,203,215 | $8,972,138 | $125,000 | 5 | $60,699 |
| 2023 | $8,882,516 | $2,343,100 | $8,458,871 | $135,000 | 5 | $87,296 |
| 2022 | $14,618,045 | $4,638,803 | $7,679,368 | $170,000 | 8 | $32,991 |
| 2021 | $17,371,828 | $11,059,988 | $7,772,907 | $125,000 | 5 | — |
| 2020 | $14,835,227 | $1,611,182 | $7,719,402 | $100,000 | 1 | $6,873 |
About Lever for Change
Based on IRS filings
Lever for Change is a public charity, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $8.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 32 grants totaling $666K. Net investment income was $246K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Lever for Change is led by Cecilia Conrad, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cecilia Conrad
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$362K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Kristen Molyneaux
President
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julia Stasch
Board Chair
Director & Board Chair → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Manyika
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reid Hoffman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Taliento
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Mintz
Former Secretary
Secretary → Former Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
$50K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Trisha Pomerenk
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$31K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Emily Friedman
Former Secretary
Secretary → Former Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Brad Ballast
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Bradford Ballast (2020–2022) — Chief of Operations
- Former: Dana Rice (2020–2022) — Vice President & Philanthropy
- Former: Kevin Doherty (2020) — Former Treasurer
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 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $380K, to Cecilia Conrad (Chief Executive Officer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Lever for Change
How much does Lever for Change give each year?
Lever for Change gave $666K across 32 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $125K across 5 grants.
What is Lever for Change's typical grant size?
Lever for Change's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $20,805, across 32 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Lever for Change give grants?
Lever for Change's top state is Maryland, with 16% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (15%) and New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (3 grants), New York City, NY (2 grants), Charlotte, NC (2 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does Lever for Change give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on Lever for Change's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Part IV" (32 grants).
Who are Lever for Change's largest grantees?
Lever for Change's largest 2025 grantees include Election Reformers Network ($45,754), Amethyst Place Inc ($20,000) and Amref Health Africa ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lever for Change?
Lever for Change reported $8.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.7M.
What is Lever for Change's EIN?
Lever for Change's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-3044655. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 31, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lever for Change funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Lever for Change's focus areas in our free grants database
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