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South Asian Youth Action Saya Inc

EIN 13-3943630 · Elmhurst, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SOUTH ASIAN YOUTH ACTION (SAYA) IS A 501(C)3 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION PROVIDING VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS AND HOLISTIC, IMPACTFUL, FREE PROGRAMMING TO UNDERSERVED NEW YORK CITY YOUTH. AS ONE OF THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, WE PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE POSITIVE AND HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. OUR CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING - CENTERED ON THE PILLARS OF LEADERSHIP, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, AND ENRICHMENT - PROPELS THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND DRIVES EDUCATION EQUITY.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 61%
Employees
214
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$216,513, 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: 77 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
  1. $5.9 million spent. SAYA REMAINS STEADFAST IN SUPPORTING UNDER-RESOURCED YOUTH ACROSS ALL PROGRAM SITES. THROUGH CULTURALLY-AFFIRMING RESOURCES, MENTORSHIP, AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT, WE FOSTER RESILIENCE, ENHANCE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES, AND PRIORITIZE NURTURING A SENSE OF BELONGING. THE SUCCESS OF THIS YEAR UNDERSCORES THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF SAYA'S MULTIFACETED PROGRAMS, REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT TO EMPOWER AND INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. BETWEEN JULY 2024 AND JUNE 2025, MORE THAN 4,000 YOUTH IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE PARTICIPATED IN SAYA PROGRAMMING ACROSS 12 SITES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)1. ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMMING:THIS YEAR, OUR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS COMBINED ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ENRICHMENT, AND TEAM-BASED ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE LEARNING AND BELONGING. EIGHTY PERCENT OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE HIGHLY ENGAGED IN SAYA'S AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, AND FOUR OUT OF FIVE STUDENTS AT OUR LARGEST ELEMENTARY SITE SAID SAYA GIVES THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE NEW SUBJECTS AND IDEAS. ADDITIONALLY, WE INCREASED OUR PARENT AND GUARDIAN ENGAGEMENT THROUGH REGULAR FAMILY-FOCUSED EVENTS. 2. HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMMING:SAYA DEEPENED OUR PRESENCE ACROSS ALL HIGH SCHOOL SITES, STRENGTHENING OUR CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES - PROVIDING TAILORED SUPPORT TO MEET THEIR EVOLVING NEEDS. DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, WE SURVEYED OUR COMMUNITY CENTER PARTICIPANTS, WITH THOSE YOUTH WHO RESPONDED INDICATING SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH: 83% REPORTED IMPROVED COMMUNICATION, AND 68% SHOWED ENHANCED PUBLIC SPEAKING ABILITIES. IN ADDITION, OUR IMPACT ON COLLEGE READINESS WAS SIGNIFICANT, WITH 91% OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ON TRACK TO GRADUATE WITHIN FIVE YEARS AND 100% OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ATTENDING OUR CENTER PROGRAM ACCEPTED INTO COLLEGE OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL.3. COLLEGE SUCCESS AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAMMING:OUR 2024 COLLEGE SUCCESS COHORT CURRENTLY HAS A 97% PERSISTENCE RATE, HAVING STAYED IN SCHOOL THROUGH THEIR SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE, WHICH IS 20% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 77% (PER THE NATIONAL STUDENT CLEARINGHOUSE RESEARCH CENTER)

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

  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 2025.

    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 May 1998.

    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.