lefile GRAPHIC print - DO NOT PROCESS I As Filed Data - I DLN: 934932730042761 990 Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax OMB No 1545-0047 Form Under section 501 (c), 527, or 4947 ( a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code ( except private foundations) 2015 Departnnt of the Treasury 1- Do not enter social security numbers on this form as it may be made public Internal Revenue Service - Information a bout Form 990 and its instructions is at www.IRS.gov/form990 A For the 2015 calendar year, or tax year beginning 01-01-2015 , and ending 12-31-2015 C Name of organization B Check if applicable D Employer identification number LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EDUCATION FUND F Address change 23-7026895 F Name change Doing businesss as 1 Initial return E Telephone number Final Number and street (or P 0 box if mail is not delivered to street address) Room/suite 1629 K STREET NW 10TH FLOOR fl return/terminated (202) 466-3434 F Amended return City or town, state or province, country, and ZIP or foreign postal code WASHINGTON, DC 20006 G Gross receipts $ 6,732,537 1 Application pending F Name and address of principal officer H(a) Is this a group return for KAREN MCGILL LAWSON subordinates? (-Yes 1629 K STREETNW10TH FLOOR H(b) Are all subordinates F-Yes (-No WASHINGTON,DC 20006 included? If "No," attach a list (see instructions) I Tax-exempt status F 501(c)(3) 1 501(c) ( ) I (insert no ) 1 4947(a)(1) or F 527 H(c) Group exemption number 0- J Website : 1- WWW CIVILRIGHTS ORG K Form of organization F Corporation 1 Trust F_ Association (- Other 0- L Year of formation 1969 M State of legal domicile DC Summary 1 Briefly describe the organization's mission or most significant activities TO PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED FOR NATIONAL POLICIES THAT SUPPORT CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE w 2 Check this box Of-ifthe organization discontinued its operations or disposed of more than 25% of its net assets 3 Number of voting members of the governing body (Part VI, line 1a) . 3 10 of :2 4 Number of independent voting members of the governing body (Part VI, line 1b) . 4 10 5 Total number of individuals employed in calendar year 2015 (Part V, line 2a) . 5 51 6 Total number of volunteers (estimate if necessary) 6 0 7a Total unrelated business revenue from Part VIII, column (C), line 12 . 7a 0 b Net unrelated business taxable income from Form 990-T, line 34 . 7b Prior Year Current Year 8 Contributions and grants (Part VIII, line 1h) . 6,960,615 6,457,664 9 Program service revenue (Part VIII, line 2g) 0 10 Investment income (Part VIII, column (A), lines 3, 4, and 7d . 280,877 -45,530 13- 11 Other revenue (Part VIII, column (A), lines 5, 6d, 8c, 9c, 10c, and 11e) 384,169 320,403 12 Total revenue-add lines 8 through 11 (must equal Part VIII, column (A), line 7,625,661 6,732,537 12) 13 Grants and similar amounts paid (Part IX, column (A), lines 1-3 . 0 14 Benefits paid to or for members (Part IX, column (A), line 4) . 0 Salaries, other compensation, employee benefits (Part IX, column (A), lines 15 4,305,854 4,366,294 5-10) 16a Professional fundraising fees (Part IX, column (A), line lie) . 6MM"ME 31,596 b Total fundraising expenses (Part IX, column (D), line 25) 0-465,176 LLJ 17 Other expenses (Part IX, column (A), lines 1 1a -1 1d, 11f-24e) . 2,774,099 2,079,253 18 Total expenses Add lines 13-17 (must equal Part IX, column (A), line 25) 7,079,953 6,477,143 19 Revenue less expenses Subtract line 18 from line 12 545,708 255,394 Beginning of Current Year End of Year 20 Total assets (Part X, line 16) . 8,270,857 8,493,525 %T 21 Total liabilities (Part X, line 26) . 1,145,210 1,112,484 ZLL 22 Net assets or fund balances Subtract line 21 from line 20 Si g nature Block U nder penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return, includin my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete Declaration of preps preparer has any knowledge Signature of officer Sign Here ANGELA M LOVELACE VP FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Type or print name and title Print/Type preparer's name Preparers signature ERIC BRADSHAW ERIC BRADSHAW Paid Firm 's name 1- EB TAX SERVICE LLC Pre parer Firm's address -817 A KING STREET SUITE 304 Use Only ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314 May the IRS discuss this return with the preparer shown above? (see instructs For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the separate instructions. Form 990 ( 2015) Page 2 Statement of Program Service Accomplishments Check if Schedule 0 contains a response or note to any line in this Part III .F 1 Briefly describe the organization 's mission TO PROMOTE AN UNDERSTANDING OFTHE 2 Did the organization undertake any significant program services during the year which were not listed on the prior Form 990 or 990-EZ7 . fYes FNo If "Yes," describe these new services on Schedule 0 3 Did the organization cease conducting , or make significant changes in how it conducts, any program services? . fYes FNo If "Yes," describe these changes on Schedule 0 4 Describe the organization 's program service accomplishments for each of its three largest program services , as measured by expenses Section 501(c)(3) and 501( c)(4) organizations are required to report the amount of grants and allocations to others, the total expenses , and revenue , if any, for each program service reported 4a (Code ) ( Expenses $ 1,024,669 including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ AMERICANS FOR FINANCIAL REFORM (AFR) AFR'S MISSION IS TO WORK FOR A FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAT SERVES EVERYONE FAIRLY, THAT REBUILDS A MORE JUST ECONOMY, AND THAT PROVIDES CAPITAL FOR, RATHER THAN POSING A FUNDAMENTAL RISK TO, EQUITABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH 4b (Code ) ( Expenses $ 981,509 including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ EDUCATION (EQUITY)- EDUCATIONAL EQUITY IS BOTH A CRITICAL CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHT AND FOUNDATIONAL TO THE EXERCISE OF ALL OTHER RIGHTS ALL STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE OF HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND DESERVE ADEQUATE AND EQUITABLE RESOURCES TO HELP THEM ATTAIN THAT GOAL THE EDUCATION FUND'S EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AGENDA IS TO TRANSFORM AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION SO THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ATTEND AND ARE FULLY INCLUDED IN RESPONSIVE, WELCOMING, RIGOROUS, AND FAIRLY RESOURCED SCHOOLS THAT PREPARE ALL OF THEM, B 4c (Code ) ( Expenses $ 287,649 including grants of $ ) (Revenue $ TRANSPORTATION EQUITY - THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY CAUCUS IS CO-CHAIRED BY POLICYLINK AND THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EDUCATION FUND (THE EDUCATION FUND) THE EQUITY CAUCUS HAS MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS, INCLUDING NATIONAL, STATE,AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND IS A DRIVING FORCE FOR ADVANCING EQUITABLE POLICIES IN THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ARENA SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2010, THE EQUITY CAUCUS HAS MATURED INTO A POWERFUL EQUITY COALTION THAT HAS EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION POLICY TO CONSIDE See Additional Data 4d Other program services ( Describe in Schedule 0 (Expenses $ 2,162,555 including grants of $ ) ( Revenue $ 4e Total program service expenses 4,456,382 Form 990 (2015) Form 990 (2015) Page 3 Offfff- Checklist of Re q uired Schedules Yes No 1 Is the organization described in section 501(c)(3) or4947(a)(1) (other than a private foundation)? If "Yes," Yes complete Schedule A . 1 2 Is the organization required to complete Schedule B, Schedule of Contributors (see instructions)? 95 . 2 Yes 3 Did the organization engage in direct or indirect political campaign activities on behalf of or in opposition to No candidates for public office? If "Yes,"complete Schedule C, Part I 3 4 Section 501 ( c)(3) organizations. Did the organization engage in lobbying activities, or have a section 501(h) election in effect during the tax year? If "Yes," complete Schedule C, Part II . 4 Yes 5 Is the organization a section 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) organization that receives membership dues, assessments, or similar amounts as defined in Revenue Procedure 98-19? N o If "Yes," complete Schedule C, Part III . 5 6 Did the organization maintain any donor advised funds or any similar funds or accounts for which donors have the right to provide advice on the distribution or investment of amounts in such funds or accounts? N o If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part I . 6 7 Did the organization receive or hold a conservation easement, including easements to preserve open space, No the environment, historic land areas, or historic structures? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part II 7 8 Did the organization maintain collections of works of art, historical treasures, or other similar assets? N o If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part III . 8 9 Did the organization report an amount in Part X, line 21 for escrow or custodial account liability, serve as a custodian for amounts not listed in Part X, or provide credit counseling, debt management, credit repair, or debt No negotiation services?If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part IV . 10 Did the organization , directly or through a related organization, hold assets in temporarily restricted endowments, 10 Yes permanent endowments, or quasi-endowments? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part V IN . 11 If the organization 's answer to any of the following questions is "Yes," then complete Schedule D, Parts VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X as applicable a Did the organization report an amount for land, buildings, and equipment in Part X, line 10? Yes If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part VI .