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Solar Youth Inc

EIN 06-1600471 · New Haven, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO ACHIEVE LIFELONG SUCCESS.

Income
$786,073
Spending
$651,801
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
46
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$109,002, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    6 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (2)
  1. $376,296 spent. STEWARD PROGRAM: SERVING CHILDREN AGED 4-14, THE AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOLLOWS A UNIQUE KIDS EXPLORE! KIDS DO! KIDS TEACH! PROGRAM MODEL, IN WHICH YOUTH INVESTIGATE THEIR SURROUNDINGS AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS (KIDS EXPLORE!), DESIGN AND PERFORM COMMUNITY ACTION SERVICE PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS ISSUES IMPACTING THE OVERALL HEALTH OF PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT (KIDS DO!), AND THEN TEACH WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED AND ACCOMPLISHED TO THEIR COMMUNITY (KIDS TEACH!). HIGH-SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH EDUCATOR INTERNS, WHO SERVE AS ROLE MODELS FOR THE YOUNGER CHILDREN, WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PROGRAM STAFF AS THEY LEARN LEADERSHIP AND GENERAL EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023-24, 139 UNIQUE YOUTH WERE SERVED IN ADDITION TO 23 YOUTH EDUCATOR INTERNS.
  2. $57,210 spent. GREEN JOBS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: ONCE IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOUTH CAN APPLY TO BECOME PAID INTERNS. GREEN JOBS APPRENTICES LEARN CONCRETE SKILLS ASSOCIATED WITH CARRYING OUT COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT THEY DESIGN. THEY ALSO BUILD SKILLS FOR GENERAL EMPLOYABILITY SUCH AS CRITICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING, COMMUNICATION AND WORKING IN GROUPS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024, SOLAR YOUTH HAD 35 GREEN JOBS APPRENTICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 March 2001.

    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 October 21, 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.