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Freedom for Youth Ministries

EIN 03-0530851 · Des Moines, IA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FREEDOM FOR YOUTH OFFERS THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST TO AT-RISK INNER CITY YOUTH AND HOMELESS YOUNG ADULTS WHICH EMPOWERS THEM TO BREAK BONDAGES IN THEIR LIVES, DISCOVER THEIR GOD GIVEN PURPOSE AND LEAD A LIFE FILLED WITH FAITH, HOPE & LOVE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND WORK TRAINING.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
-0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
67
Volunteers
267
Highest pay
$105,906, excutive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $612,685 spent. FREEDOM FOR YOUTH (FFYM) - OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS HAVE ATTRACTED OVER 300 AT-RISK YOUTH, INCLUDING OUR FLAGSHIP CAMPUS IN DES MOINES. ELEMENTARY CHILDREN, MANY REFUGEES, ARE TUTORED ON-SITE BY VOLUNTEERS. OUR FOCUS IS ON READING WHERE WE TRACK READING LEVELS OF EACH STUDENT. OVER 90% OF OUR STUDENTS ENTER OUR PROGRAMS AT LEAST ONE YEAR BEHIND IN READING LEVELS. WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN INCREASING THE READING LEVEL OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND HELPING THEM LEARN TO CONTROL BEHAVIORS THROUGH TBRI. OUR TEENS ARE ACTIVE IN OUR PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE ART, POTTERY, COOKING, MUSIC, AND WOODWORKING. YOUTH HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELL ITEMS THEY HAVE MADE IN CLASSES. CRIME AND DROP-OUT RATES HAVE DECREASED AMONG OUR POPULATION SERVED. PROGRAMMING OCCURS 4 DAYS A WEEK ALL YEAR LONG AND OVER 10,000 MEALS ARE SERVED TO THE HUNGRY CHILDREN DURING PROGRAM.
  2. $249,803 spent. FREEDOM CONSTRUCTION SERVICES EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM- IN 2020, THE ORGANIZATION OPENED ANOTHER EMPLOYMENT TRAINING CENTER, CALLED FREEDOM CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS SIMILAR TO FREEDOM BLEND COFFEE CONCERNING LEARNING SOFT SKILLS. IN ADDITION, PARTICIPANTS ARE LEARNING ABOUT VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION TRADES THROUGH CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS, HANDS-ON TRAINING AND WORKING ON JOBS IN THE FIELD. WE HAVE ALSO NOW BEEN CERTIFIED AS A PRE-APPRENTICE PROGRAM.
  3. $189,139 spent. FREEDOM BLEND COFFEE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM - FREEDOM FOR YOUTH MINISTRIES LAUNCHED AN EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM THROUGH A COMPANY CALLED FREEDOM BLEND COFFEE. YOUNG PEOPLE FROM OUR INNER-CITY WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL OR GRADUATED AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE HOLDING A JOB, ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN AND DEVELOP SOFT SKILLS, SUCH AS PUNCTUALITY, RESPECTING AUTHORITY, COMMUNICATING WITH CO-WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS, IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT OFFERS GRACE AND ENCOURAGEMENT. OVER A ONE-YEAR TRAINING PERIOD, PARTICIPANTS WILL EARN A COMPETITIVE WAGE AND GAIN THE CONFIDENCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN A FULL-TIME POSITION. OUR ORGANIZATION WILL WORK WITH OUTSIDE EMPLOYERS TO MATCH THEM WITH GRADUATES OF OUR PROGRAM. OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO BREAK THE GENERATIONAL POVERTY CYCLE IN MANY FAMILIES BY PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 November 4, 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.