Colorado Youth for a Change
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF COLORADO YOUTH FOR A CHANGE (CYC) IS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO LEARNING BY PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT THROUGHOUT PIVOTAL STAGES OF STUDENTS' EDUCATION JOURNEYS.
- Income
- $6.3 million
- Spending
- $6.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 59%
- Employees
- 243
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $128,342, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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 (2)
- $4.4 million spent. PREVENTION: CYC FOCUSES ON K-3RD GRADE LITERACY, 4TH-8TH GRADE MATH, AND 9TH - 12THGRADE ATTENDANCE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH TO ADDRESS STUDENT SUCCESS.1) CORPS FOR A CHANGE: ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT AMERICORPS MEMBERS PROVIDE SUPPORT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH 70-90% ATTENDANCE AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH SCHOOL STAFF TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT IN SCHOOL AND REDUCE DROPOUT RATES FOR STUDENTS WITH LOWER THAN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE. MEMBERS CHECK ATTENDANCE DAILY, MAKE PHONE CALLS AND HOME VISITS, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOL. CYC SERVED 861 STUDENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.2) COLORADO MATH CORPS: TRAINED AMERICORPS MEMBER TUTORS PROVIDE SMALL GROUP, 30 MINUTE, MATH INTERVENTIONS TO FOURTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS PERFORMING BELOW GRADE LEVEL IN MATH TOGET THEM ON TRACK. CYC SERVED 1,525 STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM AND 86% SHOWED GROWTH IN THEIR MATH SKILLS.3) COLORADO READING CORPS: TRAINED AMERICORPS MEMBER TUTORS PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE AND IN PAIRS, 20 MINUTE, DAILY LITERACY INTERVENTIONS TO KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE STUDENTS PERFORMING BELOW GRADE LEVEL IN READING TO GET THEM ON TRACK. CYC SERVED 2,093 K-3RD GRADERS; 68% OF TUTORED ACHIEVED MORE THAN A YEAR'S WORTH OF GROWTH.
- $1.9 million spent. REENGAGEMENT: REENGAGEMENT SPECIALISTS ASSIT STUDENTS IN RETURNING TO SCHOOL, AND ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAFF AT CHARTER, ALTERNATIVE, AND TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS TO ENSURE YOUTH CONNECT WITH APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL VENUES TO SUPPORT THEIR SUCCESS.SPECIALISTS SUPPORT STUDENTS AFTER REENROLLMENT TO ENSURE STABILITY,ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SUCCESS. CYC ASSISTED 116OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTHREENROLL IN SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR; 81% ENDED THE YEAR WITH CONTINUED ENROLLMENT OR GRADUATED.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 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.