Teensmart International
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TeenSmart International uses online technologies to empower youth to make smart decisions, live healthy lives and contribute to their communities.
- Income
- $598,761
- Spending
- $569,054
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $41,664, executive 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
Good: 75 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 85 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (1)
- $377,681 spent. Since 2004, TeenSmart International has provided JovenSalud.net and, recently JovenSalud mobile App, for vulnerable, Spanish-speaking youth - an interactive, online platform where youth have 24/7 access to online essential health information, health courses, and personalized counseling. TeenSmart's uses online technologies to empower youth to make smart decisions, live healthy lives and contribute to their communities. At TeenSmart we engage teens to prevent or reduce the six risky behaviors (violence, tobacco, alcohol/drugs, risky sexual behaviors, sedentarianism and poor nutrition) that are established in adolescence and that contribute to 75% of health care costs of illness and death in Latin America and the United States (CDC, UNICEF, WHO). We recognize that adolescents need knowledge, skills, and motivation (health belief model theory of change) in order to avoid these risky behaviors and do the real work of adolescence: advance through key developmental experiences and complex emotional and moral questioning on their path to adulthood. We believe that for teenagers as individuals and for the society that surrounds them, adolescence is an opportunity for skill-building, introspection, building community, questioning status quo, exploring, and learning. By leveraging the flexibility of a virtual platform, we have helped over 167,000 teens from 20+ countries prevent or reduce the risky behaviors that result in illness and disease, thereby benefiting families, societies, and overwhelmed health care services. Teens who otherwise would not have access to a trained mental-health coach or a quality sex-education course, now have 24/7 access. Over 10,000 youth have graduated from TeenSmart's virtual life-skills courses and each week 300-500 youth access online coaching. As a result, TeenSmart youth report statistically significant health improvements such as: greater family communication, less depression and suicidal ideation, less weapon carrying and fighting, healthier dietary habits, postponement of alcohol consumption, and greater contraceptive use. In addition to reducing the burden of illness and disease on overwhelmed health systems through preventative health, TeenSmart is able to identify cases of abuse or suicidal ideation in teens (abuse, suicidal ideation) and coordinate a rapid health response with local officials to save lives.
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
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 December 2024.
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 December 2003.
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.