Legacy La Youth Development Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO MAKE POSITIVE INTERVENTIONS IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE BY OFFERING ALTERNATIVES TO GANGS AND VIOLENCE. LEGACY LA BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF YOUTH TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND EQUIPS THEM WITH TOOLS TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $4.7 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 45%
- Employees
- 90
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $142,286, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $2.3 million spent. STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAM: LEGACY LA'S STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC INTERVENTION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ADDRESS AND REMOVE THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL BARRIERS THAT PREVENT YOUTH FROM ACHIEVING LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. THROUGH A HOLISTIC APPROACH ROOTED IN MENTORSHIP, CASE MANAGEMENT, ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS YOUTH FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, LEGACY LA PROVIDED MORE THAN 32,000 HOURS OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING TUTORING, MENTORING, SAT PREPARATION, COLLEGE READINESS WORKSHOPS, COLLEGE ACCESS SUPPORT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT. THE PROGRAM SERVED OVER 400 YOUTH AGES 10-25 FROM BOYLE HEIGHTS, RAMONA GARDENS, AND SURROUNDING EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITIES, HELPING PARTICIPANTS STRENGTHEN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, INCREASE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT, BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND ADVANCE TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAREER GOALS.
- $875,208 spent. YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: LEGACY LA'S YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS YOUTH TO BECOME ADVOCATES, ORGANIZERS, AND CHANGE AGENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH POLITICAL EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, AND ADVOCACY TRAINING, PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES IMPACTING BOYLE HEIGHTS, RAMONA GARDENS, AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. YOUTH ENGAGED IN MORE THAN 10,000 HOURS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY CAMPAIGNS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, CIVIC PARTICIPATION, PEER LEADERSHIP, AND ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES. APPROXIMATELY 75 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN MONTHLY YOUTH LEADERS IN ACTION (YLA) MEETINGS HOSTED BOTH IN-PERSON AT LEGACY LA AND VIRTUALLY. PARTICIPANTS ALSO EARNED COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EACH SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED YEAR IN THE PROGRAM, SUPPORTING THEIR LONG TERM EDUCATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP GOALS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.