MCEL UNITED INC

Programs

1. School system leadership consulting:mcel cultivates strong partnerships with schools, districts, and school systems across the nation. Our collaborative approach is centered on a keen understanding of how schools and systems operate. Mcel partners with these institutions with an intense focus on student success using the critical levers of leadership development and system transformation.in fy25, mcel worked with superintendents and their executive cabinets/leadership teams to create systems of support for school leaders. Mcel provided executive coaching to superintendents and chiefs, helped district and charter leaders clarify the principal supervisor role, coached principal supervisors to provide effective support and development for school leaders, and assisted district leaders with strategies to better support current and aspiring leaders. Mcel also continued to support affinity groups for male and female leaders of color, created mcel chapters to provide sustainable spaces for leaders of color to be their authentic selves, and provided individualized coaching to educational leaders. Finally, mcel partnered with school system executives to design strategy, clarify focus and…

   $754,857 spent$766,812 earned by the program
   37% of program spending

2. National convening:mcel hosts an annual national convening, dedicated to male leaders of color from various roles across the nation, including assistant principals, principals, various management roles, assistant superintendents, deputy superintendents, chiefs of staff, executive directors, superintendents, leaders in higher education, and other non-profit leaders.the agenda includes professional development workshops, fireside chats with prominent thought leaders, networking opportunities, and activities to facilitate healing and rejuvenation. This gathering is an essential platform for leaders looking to enhance their impact in the educational and non-profit sectors.mcel's 2024 national convening built upon the success of previous convenings. Nearly 250 participants attended, an increase of over 60% from the 2023 convening. Thirty eight (38) participants attended the hispanic male leaders pre-conference, an increase of 90% from the previous convening. For the first time, mcel also hosted six (6) school-system specific pre-conferences to address individual school system priorities and needs.participant feedback and survey data highlighted the national convening as a valuable,…

   $379,216 spent$176,554 earned by the program
   19% of program spending

3. National leadership institute:mcel's national leadership institute (nli) is an immersive leadership development program built around mcel's innovative "resilient, representative leadership framework," including the 10 essential leadership competencies for leaders of color, and the core principles of "quality, quantity, and care." participants learn from top system leaders in the country, making this a truly distinctive experience in leadership cultivation. The program is ideal for established leaders seeking to deepen their expertise and impact within the educational landscape through a focused, supportive, and transformative learning environment.in fy25, mcel completed the second cohort of the national leadership institute and graduated all 17 participants. Mcel successfully recruited, selected, and launched the third cohort of another 17 participants. Together, the first three cohorts include 48 participants representing 28 school systems across the country.the national leadership institute delivers measurable, transformational outcomes for participants, who praised it for its impact on leadership development and the formation of valuable professional relationships.evaluation…

   $358,220 spent$65,375 earned by the program
   18% of program spending

4. Program planning and development:mcel constantly incorporates the latest research to ensure all programs and services reflect evidence-based practice. Mcel attends and presents at national conferences to share promising practices and lessons learned. Mcel utilizes technology and software to provide services directly to participants and support the implementation of leadership development programs and services.

   $230,977 spentof which $6,500 as grants$2,000 earned by the program
   11% of program spending

5. Leaders developing leaders:leaders developing leaders focuses on the importance of principals in driving student outcomes, effective practices for principal supervisors, and strategies to align central offices to develop and support school leaders.in spring of 2025, mcel's co-founders published an article - who has the principal's back? - to identify how central office can better support principals, the importance of a clear line of accountability for student learning, and the pivotal role played by principal supervisors to bridge central office and schools. Throughout the year, mcel facilitated professional learning communities and helped school system leaders explore these ideas, assess current practice, and determine concrete next steps to improve.mcel engaged in planning to host the second leaders developing leaders summit focused on strengthening systems for principal support, development, and supervision. Since the summit took place in july 2025, many of the revenues and expenses related to this summit will be recognized in fy26, the fiscal year during which the summit was held.

   $188,224 spent
   9% of program spending

6. Resilient representative leadership framework:mcel disseminated and scaled the "resilient representative leadership framework," featuring the 10 essential competencies for leaders of color. This groundbreaking framework is poised to revolutionize how leaders of color navigate spaces that were historically not designed to foster their success.the toolkit is a comprehensive collection of resources to support individual leaders and educational systems in evaluating practices and creating conditions conducive to success, particularly for leaders of color. This versatile toolkit is applicable at all levels of leadership and includes:- 10 essential competencies for educational leaders of color outline the knowledge, skills, mindsets, dispositions, and behaviors most critical to the success of diverse leaders.- the guidebook consolidates advice for leaders of color who are planning their pathways into educational leadership, rerouting around a career roadblock, or navigating a difficult or unexpected development in their leadership journeys. This also is a resource for equity-minded allies when they need advice and support to be part of the big, bold systemic solutions we desperately…

   $87,267 spent
   4% of program spending

7. Chapter development and membership:mcel chapters deepen impact and build local leadership. Chapters either are anchored in a specific school district or span a broader geographical area. These chapters are uniquely positioned to align with and support the specific workforce development needs of their communities. Functioning as hubs of leadership engagement, mcel chapters foster connection, collaboration, and capacity building among local educational leaders. They support district and regional efforts to diversify leadership pipelines and strengthen educator retention.

   $45,312 spent$100 earned by the program
   2% of program spending

The 7 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $2,044,073.