Teen Esteem
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 36% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Teen Esteem educates and empowers students, educators, families, and the community on challenges young people face, emphasizing the importance of respect for self and others. Our dynamic, relevant, presentations address today's challenges students(see Cont in sch O)
- Income
- $669,470
- Spending
- $649,029
- Spent on programs
- 36%
- Reserves
- 1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $124,513, ceo
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1536% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 255 of 11 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
- $169,597 spent. Our core programs of K-12 classroom presentations and assemblies equip kids and teens with tools and resources to make positive life choices and avoid high risk decisions. Our programs serve Alameda and Contra Costa Counties - K-12 schools. 2024-25 school year outreach = 20,163 students, 469 classroom presentations and 42 school assemblies. Teen Esteem's trained speakers engage with students using proprietary curriculum that's regularly updated with timely data and statistics to address current issues confronting our youth. We discuss real-life issues that are not fully explored in today'shealth or social studies classes: anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, pornography, social media addiction, prescription drug abuse, alcohol, marijuana, vaping, self-worth andhealthy relationships. MEASUREMENT TOOLS: TE tracks the number of schools and students reached and asks middle and high school participants to complete a survey which indicates our presentation's impact. We also collect feedback from teachers and school administrators. We record the results to help refine our curriculum and reflect the success of the programs to secure grant funding from individuals and foundations tosustain our work. THE ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES - K-12 SCHOOLS. 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR REACH = 18,137 STUDENTS, 497 CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS AND 38 SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES. MEASUREMENT TOOLS;TEEN ESTEEM WILL TRACK THE NUMBERS OF SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS REACHED THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HAVE PARTICIPANTS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETE A SURVERY WHICH INDICATES THE IMPACT THE PRESENTATIONS HAVE HAD ON THEM, WHICH WE STORE IN A DATABASE TO HELP REFINE OUR CURRICULUM AND TO REFLECT THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAMS WE OFFER. WE USE THESE DATA TO REPORT ON OUR GRANT ACTIVITIES AND TO SECURE FUNDING FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FOUNDATIONS TO SUSTAIN OUR WORK. WE ALSO COLLECT QUOTES FROM TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS FOR THE SAME PURPOSES.
- $63,066 spent. Parent and Community Education (15%). We offer parent education events, providing data and resources to help families guide their children through developmental stages and parenting in the digital age. One of the primary resources we have created for parents is an online video library (now 30 strong) available 24/7, featuring a variety of experts helping parents help their kids. In the past few years, we have also begun to employ google analytics to gauge the traffic to our social media sites.*In FY 2023-24 we had 131,159 digital connections;*analytics reveal that social media reach was 62,227, our resource emails to parents were opened and viewed by 37,593, our YouTube reach WAS 10,082 OUR WEBSITE HAD OVER 21,257 UNIQUE VIEWS. TOTAL OF 26 "IN PERSON" PRESENTATIONS TO OVER 1,217 PARENTS.
- Boutique Presentations to small organizations (10%). We also provide in person or virtual presentations to local community organizations. In addition, we offer community workshops, special organizations (mother/daughter chapters, Boys Team Charity, small home gatherings), and lunch & Learns in the workplace and customized talks to local organizations. Measurement of success is through evaluations, survey quotes and growth requests via word of mouth.
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 December 2005.
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.