Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Exalt Youth

EIN 20-5540955 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EXALT YOUTH SERVES YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, MOVING THEM AWAY FROM INCARCERATION TOWARDS RE-ENGAGEMENT WITH EDUCATION AND MEANINGFUL JOB OPPORTUNITIES. OUR STUDENTS COME FROM SOME OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED NEIGHBORHOODS IN NEW YORK AND ARE OFTEN FACING POTENTIALLY LIFE ALTERING CIRCUMSTANCES. THE EXALT MISSION COMBINES A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM WITH PAID INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT TO ELEVATE EXPECTATIONS OF PERSONAL SUCCESS FOR COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH AGES 15-19. EXALT TRACKS PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES IN THREE SPECIFIC AREAS: 1) CRIMINAL JUSTICE AVOIDANCE; 2) ACADEMIC PROGRESSION; AND 3) EMPLOYABILITY. OUR MODEL IS BUILT UPON OUR TESTED INCUBATION PERIOD AT THE BLUE RIDGE FOUNDATION IN 2006 AND GOLD STAR EVALUATION BY JOHN JAY RESEARCH AND EVALUATION CENTER IN 2013.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
54
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$298,013, chief executive officer

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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. $5.8 million spent. EXALT YOUTH IS AN ORGANIZATION DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE SERVE YOUTH AGES 15-19 ANNUALLY, 71% MALE, 28% FEMALE, AND 1% UNKNOWN. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS COME FROM NEW YORK CITY'S POOREST ZIP CODES, AND ALL FACE A HOST OF BARRIERS SUCH AS MULTI-GENERATIONAL POVERTY, FOSTER CARE INVOLVEMENT, LOW EDUCATIONAL SKILLS, INCARCERATED PARENT(S), RACIAL MARGINALIZATION, AND LIVING IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH LITTLE SUPPORT IN WHICH THEY ARE OFTEN CAREGIVERS FOR SIBLINGS OR SICK RELATIVES. EXALT'S SIGNATURE 21-WEEK CORE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THREE PRIMARY FACTORS: CRIMINAL JUSTICE AVOIDANCE, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, AND EMPLOYABILITY. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING FOUR COMPONENTS: 1) FOUNDATIONAL LIFE SKILLS (CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATION, CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT THROUGH PRE- AND POST-INTERNSHIP CLASSES); 2) INDIVIDUALIZED PLANNING AND SUPPORT (GOAL SETTING AND EFFECTIVE EDUCATION/COURT ADVOCACY STRATEGIES TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE EDUCATIONAL AND LEGAL SYSTEMS); 3) PAID INTERNSHIPS (EXPOSURE TO DIVERSE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER 100 BUSINESSES ACROSS NYC); AND 4) ALUMNI NETWORK (PAID GRADUATE PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES EXTENDED INTERNSHIPS, INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION/CAREER COUNSELING, AND MONTHLY COLLEGE/CAREER WORKSHOPS).

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.