The Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research (CLEAR) is a left-of-center non-profit education consultancy organization that promotes left-of-center agendas on race and social policy in the education system. ¹

It promotes resources from left-of-center organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), with the intent of assisting in the development of “social justice leaders.” It receives most of its revenue from contributions and grants but also receives money through program service fees. ^{2 3}

Background

The Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research is a left-of-center non-profit organization that focuses on promoting left-of-center agendas in the education system from Pre-K through 12 to higher education. ⁴

The organization was founded in February 2011 and was recognized by the IRS as a non-profit organization in March 2012. CLEAR focuses on promoting left-of-center resources that will assist in creating “social justice leaders.” ⁵

CLEAR promotes resources and information from left-of-center organizations such as the Teaching Tolerance Project, now called Learning for Justice, by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a left-of-center controversial watchdog of extremist groups that has been criticized for its financial practices, including storing millions of dollars in offshore accounts, and its lack of action against left-wing extremist groups including Occupy Wall Street demonstrators who allegedly planned to blow up a bridge in Cleveland, Ohio. ^{6 7 8}

The Learning for Justice program, which provides resources to education professionals that work with children from kindergarten through high school, claims to be a “catalyst for racial justice” in the southern states of America that was first created to reduce prejudice but has now evolved to “center justice and the action” educators and students can take to “realize change.” ⁹

Funding

The Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research receives most of its funding from contributions, gifts, and grants, as well as program service fees that can include government contracts.

CLEAR received $128,477 in total revenue in 2016, with $109,990 of the amount stemming from contributions, gifts, and grants while $13,122 came in the form of program service revenue. The organization had a total of $122,347 in expenses for the same year, $17,100 in the form of grants paid, $14,400 in salaries, other compensation, and employee benefits. $27,185 was spent on professional fees and payments to independent contractors, and $63,662 was spent on “other expenses.” ¹⁰

The Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research received $45,754 in total revenue with $26,470 coming from contributions and $19,282 from program service revenue in 2017. CLEAR paid a total of $118,660 in expenses that year, of which $13,400 was spent on grants, $19,088 on salaries, $23,280 on professional fees, and $62,892 on “other” expenses. ¹¹

CLEAR continued this trend in 2018 when it received $55,288 in total revenue, $36,374 of which came from contributions and grants, and $18,911 from program service revenue. The organization still had more expenses than revenue in 2018 as its total expenses amounted to $76,617. CLEAR did not pay out any grants that year but paid $15,986 in salaries and other employee benefits, $25,580 in professional fees, and $35,051 in “other” expenses. ¹²

People

The founder and CEO of the Center for Leadership, Equity, and Research is Ken Magdaleno. Magdaleno has a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree in social science from the California Lutheran University. It is noted on CLEAR’s website that Magdaleno’s primary research interests include critical race theory and social justice. ¹³

1. “Center for Leadership Equity and Research – Clear,” Center for Leadership Equity and Research CLEAR, accessed November 15, 2021, http://clearvoz.com/about-us/.
2. “Center for Leadership Equity and Research – Clear,” Center for Leadership Equity and Research CLEAR, accessed November 15, 2021, http://clearvoz.com/about-us/.
3. “Center for Leadership, Equity and Research (Clear),” Parents Defending Education, November 1, 2021, https://defendinged.org/report/center-for-leadership-equity-and-research-clear/.
4. “Center for Leadership Equity and Research – Clear,” Center for Leadership Equity and Research CLEAR, accessed November 15, 2021, http://clearvoz.com/about-us/.
5. “Center for Leadership Equity and Research – Clear,” Center for Leadership Equity and Research CLEAR, accessed November 15, 2021, http://clearvoz.com/about-us/.
6. “Center for Leadership, Equity and Research (Clear),” Parents Defending Education, November 1, 2021, https://defendinged.org/report/center-for-leadership-equity-and-research-clear/.
7. Joe Schoffstall, “Southern Poverty Law Center Now Has $162 Million Stashed in Offshore Accounts,” Washington Free Beacon, April 29, 2020, https://freebeacon.com/democrats/southern-poverty-law-center-now-has-162-million-stashed-in-offshore-accounts/.
8. Charles C. W. Cooke, “Occupy the Southern Poverty Law Center,” National Review (National Review, October 10, 2017), https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/occupy-southern-poverty-law-center-charles-c-w-cooke/.
9. “Learning for Justice,” Southern Poverty Law Center, accessed November 15, 2021, https://www.splcenter.org/learning-for-justice.
10. “2016 Form 990 for Center for Leadership Equity and Research Clear,” Cause IQ, accessed November 15, 2021, https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/view_990/453127894/d6aeca73e9f59a1c52577c57e19db2a4.
11. “2017 Form 990 for Center for Leadership Equity and Research Clear,” 2017 Form 990 for Center for Leadership Equity and Research Clear | Cause IQ, accessed November 15, 2021, https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/view_990/453127894/0a8065eea1e6283e29800b216f3ee2b3.
12. “2018 Form 990 for Center for Leadership Equity and Research Clear,” 2018 Form 990 for Center for Leadership Equity and Research Clear | Cause IQ, accessed November 15, 2021, https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/view_990/453127894/4ffa6a67541a9ac69db6e2ced0f4cef4.
13. “Center for Leadership Equity and Research – Clear,” Center for Leadership Equity and Research CLEAR, accessed November 15, 2021, http://clearvoz.com/leadership-team/.