Get involved
Our board members are not employees of Leaven Kids, have no conflicts of interest and receive no compensation.
Our board members have accepted a position of trust, granted to them by donors, grantors and community stakeholders, to manage and protect the assets of Leaven Kids.
Although Leaven Kids has programs in both Northern and Southern California, each area is independently funded. Also, donations given specifically for a single center are used for that center’s activities.
Each year, an independent auditor reviews our financial records and publishes an audit that notes discrepancies, if any.
We file an annual report to the Internal Revenue Service, called a 990. This reports on our financials and significant policies, and is a public document.
Seventy-five cents of every dollar we receive goes directly to our programs. The other 25 cents covers our administration, management and fundraising.
Without holding excessive funds that were donated to fulfill our mission, Leaven Kids maintains a small reserve fund so we can meet our financial obligations if income were to decline.
We regularly have our programs formally and informally reviewed by local educators who hold us accountable to helping kids succeed in the classroom.
We meet all requirements for submitting reports to our grantors, showing them how funds were used and the impact they made.
Donors are welcome to arrange a visit to a center to see Leaven Kids' programs for themselves.
New site directors attend extensive training sessions and work one-on-one with an experienced site director before being placed in a leadership role at a center.
We safeguard our donor’s records and our volunteers’ personal information.
No one is allowed to volunteer at a Leaven center without first undergoing an extensive background check that is provided by law enforcement.
Every Leaven center has extra security to ensure the safety of our students and our property.
A child’s name, photo or story is not used without permission or without removing information that could be used to potentially harm that child.