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Uplift Youth Foundation

EIN 20-3934093 · San Juan Capo, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UPLIFT YOUTH FOUNDATION PROVIDES YOUTH WITH THE TOOLS OF MOVEMENT, MINDFULNESS, AND PEER CONNECTION TO SUPPORT THEIR WELLBEING, CREATE COMMUNITY, AND NURTURE GROWTH.

Income
$440,987
Spending
$314,278
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
21
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$63,497, executive director - (thru 5/2024)

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $216,090 spent. HEALTH AWARENESS EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: UPLIFT'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) PROGRAMS EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE LIFE'S CHALLENGES WHILE FOSTERING A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF SELF AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS. PROGRAMS INCORPORATE EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH TOOLS SUCH AS MINDFUL MOVEMENT, MEDITATION, JOURNALING, AND GROUP DISCUSSION. THROUGH OUR CURRICULUM, WE SUPPORT YOUTH SELF-EFFICACY AND ENCOURAGE PEER CONNECTIONS TO REDUCE RATES OF ANXIETY, FEAR, SADNESS, AND LONELINESS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE LED BY UPLIFT-CERTIFIED MENTORS AND TEENS AND ARE CONDUCTED IN SCHOOLS, ONLINE, AND WITHIN LOCAL COMMUNITY SETTINGS. DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR PRIMARY PROGRAMS INCLUDE:SERIES:THE UPLIFT SERIES IS AN EMPOWERING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE YOUTH WITH ESSENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH TOOLS, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS AND A SENSE OF BELONGING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. CERTIFIED UPLIFT MENTORS GUIDE PARTICIPANTS THROUGH AN 8-WEEK JOURNEY (ONCE A WEEK) WHERE TEENS WILL ACQUIRE LIFE-CHANGING SKILLS, INCLUDING SELF-AWARENESS, EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE, AND SOCIAL COMPETENCE. WITHIN EACH SESSION, STUDENTS EXPERIENCE FOUNDATIONAL PRACTICES SUCH AS YOGA, MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION, JOURNALING, AND PEER-LED CONVERSATIONS. THE SERIES IS OFFERED A FEW TIMES A YEAR AT ACCESSIBLE LOCAL STUDIOS IN-PERSON AND ONLINE VIRTUALLY.SCHOOL PROGRAM:THE UPLIFT SCHOOL PROGRAM PUTS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING INTO ACTION. STUDENTS LEARN THE FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS WHILE GAINING LIFELONG MENTAL HEALTH TOOLS: EMPATHY, SELF-AWARENESS, EMOTION REGULATION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND DAILY PRACTICES FOR WELLNESS. THE SIX TO EIGHT-WEEK PROGRAM, LED BY A CERTIFIED UPLIFT MENTOR, DELIVERS A RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM AND ESTABLISHES A PEER-SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY TAILORED TO FIT BOTH IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS. YOGA ASSEMBLIES + COMMUNITY EVENTS:CERTIFIED UPLIFT TEEN TEACHERS & MENTORS SKILLFULLY GUIDE STUDENTS TO CONNECT WITH THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER. THROUGH A SINGLE, DYNAMIC SESSION OF MINDFUL MOVEMENT, MEDITATION, JOURNALING, AND ENGAGING CONVERSATION, STUDENTS LEARN PRACTICES TO START THEIR WELL-BEING JOURNEY AND BUILD THEIR WHOLE WELLNESS TOOLBOX. THIS OFFERING IS A GREAT WAY TO SPARK INTEREST IN STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN POTENTIAL IN-SCHOOL OR AFTER-SCHOOL SERIES.

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

  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 December 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 June 2006.

    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.