National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL) is a public charity based in Chicago, Illinois, that supports debate education in urban public schools. It works with partner leagues by providing resources, training, and events, and gives grants for activities including national tournament participation and public debate programming.
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues at a glance
In short: National Association for Urban Debate Leagues gave $326K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $326,142
- +232.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +171.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,165
- +22.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,733
- Total assets
- $2,590,691
- -17.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (23% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
- Contact
Mailing address: 405 W Superior St 700, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 427-0175
Website: https://urbandebate.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who National Association for Urban Debate Leagues funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chicago Debates Commission ($41K). Together the top 10 received $215K.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 42 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant distribution included recipients in multiple states. By share of grant dollars, the largest recipient-state shares were California (23%), Illinois (13%), Texas (9%), Minnesota (8%), and Tennessee (8%). The 2025 list of larger grants also includes a recipient in Washington, D.C.
NAUDL’s website describes a network of partner leagues, while its 2023 annual report lists league locations including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland, Sacramento, Silicon Valley, Tulsa, and Washington, D.C., among others.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How National Association for Urban Debate Leagues gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2022) to $326K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $326K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Debates Commission Chicago, IL | National tournament local league grant, dee, dartmouth institute summer camp grant, league network grant, special passthrough hardship grant | $40,864 |
| Minnesota Urban Debate League Minneapolis, MN | National tournament local league grant, dee, league network grant, mayors challenge sponsorship | $26,858 |
| Silicon Valley Urban Debate League Milpitas, CA | National tournament local league grant, dee, league network grant, I resolve | $24,132 |
| Washington Urban Debate League Washington, DC | National tournament local league grant, dee, league network grant, I resolve | $22,050 |
| Los Angeles Metro Debate League Los Angeles, CA | National tournament local league grant,dartmouth institute summer camp grant, league network grant | $20,713 |
| Tulsa Debate League Inc Tulsa, OK | National tournament local league grant, league network grant, sports debate | $18,269 |
| Dallas Urban Debate Alliance Dallas, TX | National tournament local league grant, league network grant, I resolve | $18,033 |
| Bay Area Urban Debate Commission Oakland, CA | National tournament local league grant, league network grant, I resolve | $16,669 |
| Portland Urban Debate League Portland, OR | National Tournament Local League Grant, League Network Grant | $13,873 |
| Sacramento Urban Debate League Sacramento, CA | National Tournament Local League Grant, League Network Grant | $13,733 |
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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 | $2,590,691 | $1,331,533 | $1,818,871 | $326,142 | 19 | $27,990 |
| 2024 | $3,135,766 | $3,123,308 | $1,434,875 | $97,972 | 7 | $39,350 |
| 2023 | $1,460,705 | $809,090 | $1,319,017 | $107,047 | 7 | $9,355 |
| 2022 | $1,924,868 | $2,118,999 | $1,034,735 | $34,625 | 4 | $11,529 |
| 2021 | $822,423 | $949,878 | $915,165 | $85,890 | 5 | $299 |
| 2020 | $802,732 | $1,126,524 | $1,104,156 | $52,856 | 1 | $2,825 |
| 2019 | $790,978 | $850,101 | $1,506,778 | $238,992 | 10 | $3,112 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NAUDL’s stated theory of change is that teaching students debate skills and giving them a supportive environment to practice can ignite a passion for learning and help them succeed in college and careers. Its website says it works with partner leagues to provide best practices, curricula resources, training, and events, and to develop opportunities for a national alumni network.
The organization’s 2025 grant purposes included national tournament and league-network grants, summer debate camp support, public debate programming, and other initiatives. The grant records also name programs such as “I Resolve,” “Sports Debate,” and a mayors’ challenge sponsorship.
The grantees’ own mission statements describe local debate organizations serving students in their communities. For example, Silicon Valley Urban Debate League says it teaches critical thinking and communication through speech and debate programming; Washington Urban Debate League says it builds equitable access to educational experiences through debate instruction and competition; and Boston Debate League says it prepares young people for college, career, and engagement with the world through debate-inspired learning.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, NAUDL reported 19 grants totaling $326,142. Grant amounts ranged from $9,368 to $40,864, with a median of $13,733.
Among the larger reported grants were Chicago Debates Commission ($40,864), Minnesota Urban Debate League ($26,858), Silicon Valley Urban Debate League ($24,132), Washington Urban Debate League ($22,050), and Los Angeles Metro Debate League ($20,713). The filing lists purposes including national tournament local league grants, league-network grants, and—in some cases—summer camp or public debate support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jennifer Northam Wade as chair, Wayne Firestone as co-chair, Stuart H. Singer as immediate past chair, Kelly Dunbar as secretary, and Nikhil Mirchandani as treasurer. It also lists Jeffrey Allred, Eric Ball, Kevin Donaldson, Joshua Friess, and Leonard A. Gail as directors.
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues is led by Rhonda Haynes, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 3 of 30 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rhonda Haynes
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$146K (2019) → $230K (2025)
Jennifer Northam Wade
Chair
Treasurer → Co-Chair, 2022
Co-Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sara Sanchez
Director of Programs & Com
Director of Programs & Communications → Director of Programs & Com, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$100K (2023) → $115K (2025)
Luke Hill
Director of Data & Perform
Director of Data & Performance Management → Director of Data & Perform, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$110K (2024) → $110K (2025)
David Glass
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric R. Ball
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George S. Lemieux
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Honorable Kenneth Karas
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James R. Roland
Director
Director → Vice Chairman, 2020
Vice Chairman → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Stubbs
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Friess
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leonard A. Gail
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark T. Koulogeorge
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meredith McClintock
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Gottlieb
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nirav Patel
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randal Sandler
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shaun Van Horn
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen C. Perry
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tammy McCutchen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Donaldson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelsey Hilbrich
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Allred
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Gidley
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Rogers
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Timmons
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nikhil Mirchandani
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stuart H. Singer
Immediate Past Chair
Chairman → Chair, 2022
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wayne L. Firestone
Co-Chair
Director → Co-Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Dunbar
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Bobbie L. King Jr. (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Scott H. Segal (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Janet Kavinoky (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jeff Allred (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Honorable George S. Lemieux (2022) — Director
- Former: J. Mark Gidley (2022) — Director
- Former: John Graham (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: William Blechman (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Kenneth A. Hersh (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Linda Listrom (2019–2020) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Arnaldo Perez (2020) — Director
- Former: Garry G. Mathiason (2019) — Director
- Former: Gregory P. Ekey (2019) — Director of Education & League Programming
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $230K, to Rhonda Haynes (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
How much does National Association for Urban Debate Leagues give each year?
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues gave $326K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $98K across 7 grants.
What is National Association for Urban Debate Leagues's typical grant size?
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues's median grant in 2025 was $13,733, and its average grant was $17,165, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does National Association for Urban Debate Leagues give grants?
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues's top state is California, with 23% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Illinois (13%) and Texas (9%).
Does National Association for Urban Debate Leagues give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on National Association for Urban Debate Leagues's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "National Tournament Local League Grant, League Network Grant" (8 grants).
Who are National Association for Urban Debate Leagues's largest grantees?
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues's largest 2025 grantees include Chicago Debates Commission ($40,864), Minnesota Urban Debate League ($26,858) and Silicon Valley Urban Debate League ($24,132), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National Association for Urban Debate Leagues?
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.3M.
What does National Association for Urban Debate Leagues fund?
NAUDL’s stated theory of change is that teaching students debate skills and giving them a supportive environment to practice can ignite a passion for learning and help them succeed in college and careers. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National Association for Urban Debate Leagues?
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check urbandebate.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is National Association for Urban Debate Leagues's EIN?
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4323096. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 20, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work National Association for Urban Debate Leagues funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). National Association for Urban Debate Leagues funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/national-association-for-urban-debate-leagues-morg_f4b85d1e354a4956852a35fbe938281a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204323096_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{National Association for Urban Debate Leagues funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/national-association-for-urban-debate-leagues-morg_f4b85d1e354a4956852a35fbe938281a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from National Association for Urban Debate Leagues'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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