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LEAD Africa
New York, NY · EIN 831204471 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE B99 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · leadedu.org
revenue
$4.1M
expenses
$1.6M
net assets
$3.2M
employees
4
volunteers
3
program ratio
87%
mission · from form 990

LEAD Edus mission is to establish, support, and grow programs that empower a generation of ethical, empathetic, and entrepreneurial leaders. We develop leaders through a holistic combination of education, sports, and leadership training delivered by locally-led LEAD Hubs.

profile · synthesized from sources

LEAD Africa operates youth leadership academies in Liberia and Morocco that combine education, sports, and leadership development for underserved students in grades 4–12. Through locally-led LEAD Hubs, the organization provides holistic programming focused on academic excellence, gender equity, and post-secondary pathways. It supports alumni in accessing global educational opportunities and develops scalable leadership curricula adapted to local contexts.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $40K
    LEAD Global Network: LEAD Edu supported 8 alumni from LEAD Hubs to pursue secondary and post-secondary education opportunities in the United States by covering essential incidental costs such as visa processing, airfare, technology, and living adjustment expenses. All students were selected through a competitive internal review process and received full scholarships from their host institutions. For most, this marked the first time they had traveled internationally. LEAD Edu also supported 11 alumni from LEAD Hubs to pursue post-secondary education at local universities in Liberia. These investments ensure that high-potential young leaders can access life-changing educational opportunities and continue their leadership development globally, advancing our mission to equip youth to lead in their communities and beyond. Amount: $27,981 (Global Youth Network - secondary) $12,392 (University support, both in the U.S. and Liberia) Total: $40,373
  2. #2 $37K
    LEAD Learning: LEAD Edu launched a pilot to adapt Harvard EASEL Labs SEL Kernels to the Moroccan context and our LEAD Learning leadership framework. This contextualized program, renamed as Waves of Leadership in Morocco, builds critical leadership skills such as self-regulation, empathy, and goal-setting through play-based learning and is poised for scale through the public sector in 2030. Since 2015, we have adapted the leadership course taught at our Liberian and Moroccan Hubs to meet the needs of the worlds youth more broadly focusing our lessons on innovation, empathy, perseverance and more. LEAD Learning has delivered its flagship leadership course to more than 135,000 children through a combination of in person delivery and low cost mobile technology. Amount: $36,764
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Amplify
Workforce training and youth entrepreneurship program in Morocco, developed in partnership with the German Corporation for International Cooperation.
LEAD Global Network
Supports high-potential alumni from LEAD Hubs to pursue secondary and post-secondary education in the U.S. and local universities by covering incidental costs.
LEAD Learning
Adapts and delivers leadership curricula such as "Waves of Leadership" in Morocco, reaching over 135,000 children through in-person and mobile-based learning.
LEAD Monrovia Football Academy
Full-time residential academy in Liberia serving over 120 student-athletes with academic instruction, elite football training, life skills, meals, and psychosocial support.
LEAD Morocco
Half-day leadership academy partnering with public schools to serve over 130 students with academic support, sports training, and leadership development.
She Plays Football
Empowers young girls in Morocco through football, expanding access and leadership opportunities beyond the academy setting.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 2 activities
    • Operate LEAD Hubs / Leadership Academies in Liberia and Morocco
      Run residential leadership academies combining academics, sports, and leadership development for underserved youth in grades 4–12. Operates two primary hubs: LEAD Monrovia Football Academy in Liberia (established 2015, serving over 120 student-athletes) and LEAD Morocco in El Mansouria (established 2019, supporting over 130 student-athletes). Includes full-time education, football training, meals, psychosocial support, mentorship, and on-campus housing.
    • Provide capacity-building support to local leaders and partner organizations
      Implement a replicable model offering technical assistance, flexible grant funding, operational support, knowledge-sharing platforms, and standardized policies to help local leaders serve youth. Collaborates with mission-aligned corporate, foundation, government, and international partners (e.g., GIZ) to scale leadership opportunities.
  • Student Progress Assessment & Program Evaluation 1 activity
    • Conduct research and impact evaluations on program effectiveness
      Engage in annual quantitative impact evaluations and research partnerships to assess outcomes in academic performance, language and math skills, gender equality attitudes, and leadership development. Findings show participants scoring up to 10 percentage points higher on assessments compared to peers and achieving 100% pass rates on national exams in Liberia and Morocco.
  • Human Rights & Peace Education Curriculum 1 activity
    • Deliver leadership curriculum to broad student populations via radio and mobile technology
      Broadcast a flagship leadership curriculum via radio in partnership with Orange Liberia and through low-cost mobile technology, reaching over 135,000 students across Liberia, Morocco, and Bangladesh, particularly during the pandemic.
  • Youth Soccer Development Programs 1 activity
    • Field competitive youth sports teams for national and international tournaments
      Organize and support competitive U17 boys’ and girls’ football teams from LEAD Morocco, including participation in international events such as Surf Cup International 2026 in Tangier (where the U17 Boys reached the final and one player was named Top Scorer) and the USA Cup in Minnesota (won by the U-15 girls’ team, contributing to national team development in Liberia).
  • Youth Sports Community Events 1 activity
    • Host experiential learning and engagement events for students
      Organize special event opportunities such as attendance at professional matches (e.g., Gotham FC games at Citi Field), participation in Footy Fest community events, and other experiences that connect student-athletes with broader cultural and sporting networks.
  • Girls' Physical and Emotional Development Programs 1 activity
    • Implement gender-inclusive sports programs for girls
      Launch and operate targeted initiatives like She Plays Football across three Moroccan cities, engaging over 600 girls in inclusive sports activities designed to build confidence, leadership, and gender equity. Girls represent 46% of all student-athletes served across LEAD Hubs.
  • Individual Child Education Sponsorship 1 activity
    • Support LEAD Hub alumni in pursuing secondary and post-secondary education
      Provide scholarships, mentorship, internships, and financial support for incidental costs (including visas, airfare, technology, and living adjustments) to LEAD Hub alumni pursuing education in the U.S. and at universities in Liberia. Supported at least 22 alumni in higher education pathways as of latest reports.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Generate revenue through fee-based consulting services
      Provide fee-based management consulting services to professional athletes, including WNBA players like Alana Beard, with profits directed toward sustaining academy operations in Liberia and Morocco.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$4.07M
Contributions & grants$4.06M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$9K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.56M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$273K
Grants paid out$1.11M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.49M
Cash$739K
Investments$10K
Liabilities$304K
Net assets$3.19M
Liquid reserves5.8 mo
7 years on record · 2019–2025 · YoY revenue +227.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Anita Farsad Executive Director 40 $122K
William H Smith Board Chair 5 $11K
board members · 3
  • Graham Albert — Founding Board Member
  • Imad Izemrane — Founding Board Member
  • Nomndeni Mdakhi — Founding Board Member
relationships · 29

Who they work with

  • Alana Beard Partner — Engaged in a consulting partnership through the LEAD Activate program.
  • EASEL Lab Partner — Research partnership to adapt the SEL Kernels Framework for use in LEAD Hubs in classroom and sports settings.
  • EASEL Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education Partner — Collaborated to adapt and implement play-based social-emotional learning approaches at LEAD Hubs.
  • German Corporation for International Cooperation Partner — Partnership to implement Amplify, a program supporting entrepreneurship and youth development through workforce training in Morocco.
  • Gotham FC Partner — Collaborated with LEAD to provide students access to the Queens Classic match and Footy Fest event.
  • Gotham FC Partner — Provided an opportunity for LEAD MFA students to attend a professional football game in New York City.
  • Graham Albert Partner — LEAD Edu board member who attended the Queens Classic and engaged with students.
  • Harvard EASEL Labs Partner — Collaborates on adaptation of SEL Kernels for use in LEAD Learning programs in Morocco.
  • LEAD Monrovia Football Academy Partner — Locally led leadership academy in Liberia supported by LEAD Africa as a LEAD Hub.
  • LEAD Monrovia Football Academy Partner — Locally led leadership academy in Liberia supported by LEAD Edu
  • LEAD Morocco Partner — Collaborative partner program advancing youth leadership in Morocco.
  • LEAD Morocco Partner — Local implementation partner in Morocco delivering programs and collecting student stories
  • LEAD Morocco Partner — Locally led leadership academy in Morocco supported by LEAD Edu
  • LEAD Morocco Partner — Locally led leadership program in Morocco supported by LEAD Africa as a LEAD Hub.
  • Mehdi Ballouchy Partner — LEAD Morocco board member who attended the Queens Classic and connected with students.
  • Ministry of Education (Morocco) Government — Collaborates with LEAD Morocco to support student-athletes in grades 4-9.
  • Monrovia Football Academy Partner — Collaborates with LEAD in programming, as evidenced by shared branding and activities involving students and staff.
  • Monrovia Football Academy Partner — Partner organization in Liberia linked through LEAD Hubs
  • Orange Liberia Partner — Partnered to broadcast LEAD's leadership curriculum via radio during the pandemic.
  • Orange Liberia Partner — Partnered to broadcast radio-based leadership lessons during the pandemic.
  • U.S. Embassy Partner — Supported the launch of the She Plays Football program in Morocco.
  • Will Smith Partner — Founder of LEAD and in-person participant at the Queens Classic event.
  • William & Mary Global Research Institute Partner — Partnered to conduct independent evaluation of LEAD programs in Liberia and Morocco using quasi-experimental design.
  • Yours in Soccer Foundation Partner — Provided support for LEAD Morocco’s participation in Surf Cup International 2026.
  • city governance (El Mansouria) Government — Works with LEAD Morocco to support over 130 student-athletes.
  • community-based organizations Partner — Partners with community-based organizations to nurture youth leadership and drive positive change.
  • dedicated partners, donors, and community members Partner — Collaborates with partners, donors, and community members to support program delivery and impact.
  • governments Partner — Partners with governments to create enabling environments for youth leadership development.
  • private-sector Partner — Collaborates with private-sector organizations to support youth leadership initiatives.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Alumni Pathway and Movement Building
    methodology: alumni_pathway_movement_building
    By supporting alumni through scholarships, mentorship, internships, and opportunities for community-led projects, we sustain long-term leadership impact because continued engagement transforms short-term development into lifelong contribution and broader social change.
  • Evidence-Based Leadership Integration
    methodology: evidence_based_leadership_integration
    By using research-backed tools and partnerships—such as SEL Kernels from Harvard’s EASEL Lab—we scale effective leadership practices among educators and coaches because adapting proven models increases fidelity and impact in diverse settings.
  • Holistic Youth Leadership Development
    methodology: holistic_youth_leadership_development
    By integrating education, sports, and leadership development within locally led, community-based programs, we produce more effective and sustainable youth leaders because comprehensive social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth fosters deeper personal transformation than isolated interventions.
  • Inclusive and Gender-Equitable Leadership Model
    methodology: inclusive_leadership_model
    By intentionally serving girls, low-income youth, and integrating gender equity across all programming, we build more representative and resilient leadership because dismantling systemic barriers and fostering mutual respect leads to stronger community ownership and innovation.