Project Lead the Way
Project Lead the Way reported $64.5 million in revenue and $70.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.44 went to program services, $14.54 to management and general costs and $2.02 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 53.3% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $748,859 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 91 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 7% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $71MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $65MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.0% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 22.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 53.3% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $748,859 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.06% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 91 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 10.1 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 9 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePltw provides a transformative learning experience for prek-12 students and teachers across the U.S. Through our pathways in computer science, engineering, biomedical science and math. Pltw empowers students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in an evolving world, and provides teachers with the support and resources they need to devote more time to inspiring students. Pltw students and teachers find additional support from our larger network of prek-12 schools, administrators colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partner across the country…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $672,287 | $0 | $76,572 | $748,859 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 50.0 hrs/week | $371,005 | $0 | $60,007 | $431,012 |
| CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $316,731 | $0 | $68,805 | $385,536 |
| CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $317,393 | $0 | $63,418 | $380,811 |
| CHIEF TALENT OFFICER Key employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $320,991 | $0 | $54,873 | $375,864 |
| CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $289,576 | $0 | $54,894 | $344,470 |
| CHIEF LEGAL & COMPL. OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $308,458 | $0 | $31,630 | $340,088 |
| CHIEF OPS & LOGISTICS OFFICER Key employee, 50.0 hrs/week | $282,539 | $0 | $53,898 | $336,437 |
91 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Project Lead the Way (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.9M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b9 · 8 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5283
- Volunteers Part I, line 636
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Centerplate Event Services | $1,302,591 |
| Ernst & Young Support Service | $1,229,532 |
| Thought Industries Inc Support Service | $1,080,614 |
| EPAM Systems Inc Support Service | $863,312 |
| KU Center for Research Inc Support Service | $847,480 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 40 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Project Lead the Way totaling $1.4M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Project Lead the Way's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Project Lead the Way, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Project Lead the Way spent in FY2025, $83.44 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Midland UniversityFremont, NE · revenue $65M · programs 89.6% · FY2025
- Collegiate AcademiesNew Orleans, LA · revenue $65M · programs 66.2% · FY2025
- Dallas College FoundationDallas, TX · revenue $64M · programs 89.6% · FY2025
- Associated Students UCLALos Angeles, CA · revenue $65M · programs 76.8% · FY2025
- Charlotte Latin SchoolsCharlotte, NC · revenue $64M · programs 82.6% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Project Lead the Way's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Project Lead the Way reported that 83.4% of its $70.5 million in expenses went to program services, 14.5% to management and general and 2.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Project Lead the Way pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Project Lead the Way reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $748,859, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Project Lead the Way get its money?
Of $64.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 22.9% came from contributions and grants (including 0.4% from government grants) and 53.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Project Lead the Way a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-4802935 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202513189349305261 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202413199349305981 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 (amended), object 202333569349300623 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202213189349318011 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202113199349319031 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202043219349302524 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-4802935: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.