Our Work
We know that creating sustained political power requires building a strong foundation of civically active young people.
LIT is building the next generation of leaders of color and actively working to make sure our voices are heard in the decisions that impact us and our communities. We do this by fostering the resilience and excellence of Black and Brown youth and engaging our youth members through year-round leadership development, advocacy, and civic engagement opportunities.
Our campaigns reflect our priorities. We’re challenging local and state political institutions and fighting for an equitable society with racial, gender, economic and LGBTQ+ justice at the center of our work. LIT works with our youth members to ensure their voices are not only represented but front and center in all our efforts to advance change for our communities.
Our campaigns reflect our priorities. We’re challenging local and state political institutions and fighting for an equitable society with racial, gender, economic and LGBTQ+ justice at the center of our work. LIT works with our youth members to ensure their voices are not only represented but front and center in all our efforts to advance change for our communities.
Understanding Our 501C3
AND 501c4 Structure
Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT) as a whole operates through two legally distinct but mission-aligned organizations. This structure allows us to educate, organize, and advocate effectively while staying compliant with nonprofit law.
Our 501c3 – The LIT Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on education, leadership development, and nonpartisan civic learning. It supports youth and community members through paid fellowships, leadership pipelines, school and campus-based programming, and its signature Black Hogwarts leadership institutes. The Fund also provides political education, research, and nonpartisan voter guides and workshops to build informed, civically engaged communities.
Our 501c4 – The LIT Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization focused on advocacy, organizing, and issue-based political action. It engages directly in grassroots mobilization, policy campaigns, legislative engagement, and year-round voter contact to advance justice-centered change — including work like the Reimagining Public Safety campaign. While donations are not tax-deductible, the c4 structure allows LIT to take on electoral and advocacy work that complements the Education Fund, with both entities sharing the same mission, values, and commitment to building youth and community power.
Our campaigns reflect our priorities. We’re challenging local and state political institutions and fighting for an equitable society with racial, gender, economic and LGBTQ+ justice at the center of our work. LIT works with our youth members to ensure their voices are not only represented but front and center in all our efforts to advance change for our communities.
