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Center for Whitley County Youth Inc

EIN 20-5993971 · Columbia City, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTER HAS ESTABLISHED BOTH IN-SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENTS THAT HELP ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS UNCOVER AND REFINE THEIR NATURAL SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND CHARACTER TRAITS THAT ALLOW THEM TO RISE ABOVE THEIR LIMITATIONS (BOTH REAL AND PERCEIVED). THESE ENVIRONMENTS LET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCE A COMMUNITY FULL OF MULTI- GENERATIONAL ROLE MODELS AND MENTORING, OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE AS WELL AS RECEIVE, AND A SPIRIT OF INVITATION AND CHALLENGE.

Income
$913,906
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
29
Volunteers
70

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 21% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • 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 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. $814,095 spent. A. WE SERVED 1124 UNIQUE STUDENTS DURING THE 24/25 SCHOOL YEAR. B. PROGRAMMATIC PARTICIPATION INCREASED 19% BETWEEN 23/24 AND 24/25 SCHOOL YEARS. C. DURING THE THIRD YEAR OF OUR LIFEWISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM, PARTICIPATION INCREASED BY 82%, FROM 193 TO 351 STUDENTS. D. OUR STAFF SPENT 1694 HOURS WITH STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHEDULED PROGRAM HOURS. E. WHEN CONDUCTING SEARCH INSTITUTE'S DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS SURVEY THIS FISCAL YEAR, OUR STUDENTS REVEALED THE IMPACT OF PROGRAMMING AND RELATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS (MEASURING CHANGES IN DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS): I. 94% OF OUR YOUTH AGREED THAT THE STAFF AT THE CENTER EXPECT THEIR BEST. II. 92% OF OUR YOUTH AGREED THAT THE STAFF AT THE CENTER HELP STUDENTS SET APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES. III. 90% OF OUR YOUTH AGREED THAT THE STAFF AT THE CENTER HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. IIII. 90% OF OUR YOUTH AGREED THAT THEY FELT RESPECTED BY STAFF AT THE CENTER. F. AFTER CONDUCTING AN INTERNAL SURVEY I. 99.1% OF STUDENTS BELIEVE THEY ARE VALUED AS A YOUNG PERSON WHILE THEY ARE AT THE CENTER. II. 99.1% OF STUDENTS BELIEVE THERE ARE ADULTS WHO CARE ABOUT THEM AT THE CENTER. III. 97.4% OF STUDENTS ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF THE CENTER. IV. 99.1% OF STUDENTS BELIEVE ADULTS AT THE CENTER SHOW THEM HOW TO ACT IN POSITIVE, RESPONSIBLE WAYS. V. 96.6% OF STUDENTS BELIEVE ADULTS AT THE CENTER HELP THEM SEE FUTURE POSSIBILITIES FOR THEMSELVES. VI. 97.4% OF STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG WHILE AT THE CENTER. G. AFTER SURVEYING PARENTS OF STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE CENTER I. 91.1% AGREE THAT THE CENTERS PROGRAMS HELP PREPARE THEIR CHILD(REN) FOR FUTURE CHALLENGES IN THEIR CURRENT AND FUTURE SITUATIONS (8.9% NEUTRAL). II. 60.0% AGREE THAT THEIR CHILD IS DOING BETTER IN SCHOOL SINCE PARTICIPATING IN THE CENTERS PROGRAM (35.6% NEUTRAL). III. 95.6% AGREE THAT THE CENTERS PROGRAM IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR CHILD (3% NEUTRAL). A. WE SERVED 1124 UNIQUE STUDENTS DURING THE 24/25 SCHOOL YEAR. B. PROGRAMMATIC PARTICIPATION INCREASED 19% BETWEEN 23/24 AND 24/25 SCHOOL YEARS. C. DURING THE THIRD YEAR OF OUR LIFEWISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM, PARTICIPATION INCREASED BY 82%, FROM 193 TO 351 STUDENTS. D. OUR STAFF SPENT 1694 HOURS WITH STUDENTS OUTSIDE OF SCHEDULED PROGRAM HOURS. E. WHEN CONDUCTING SEARCH INSTITUTE'S DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS SURVEY THIS FISCAL YEAR, OUR STUDENTS REVEALED THE IMPACT OF PROGRAMMING AND RELATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS (MEASURING CHANGES IN DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS): I. 94% OF OUR YOUTH AGREED THAT THE STAFF AT THE CENTER EXPECT THEIR BEST. II. 92% OF OUR YOUTH AGREED THAT THE STAFF AT THE CENTER HELP STUDENTS SET APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES. III. 90% OF OUR YOUTH AGREED THAT THE STAFF AT THE CENTER HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. IIII. 90% OF OUR YOUTH AGREED THAT THEY FELT RESPECTED BY STAFF AT THE CENTER. F. AFTER CONDUCTING AN INTERNAL SURVEY I. 99.1% OF STUDENTS BELIEVE THEY ARE VALUED AS A YOUNG PERSON WHILE THEY ARE AT THE CENTER. II. 99.1% OF STUDENTS BELIEVE THERE ARE ADULTS WHO CARE ABOUT THEM AT THE CENTER. III. 97.4% OF STUDENTS ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF THE CENTER. IV. 99.1% OF STUDENTS BELIEVE ADULTS AT THE CENTER SHOW THEM HOW TO ACT IN POSITIVE, RESPONSIBLE WAYS. V. 96.6% OF STUDENTS BELIEVE ADULTS AT THE CENTER HELP THEM SEE FUTURE POSSIBILITIES FOR THEMSELVES. VI. 97.4% OF STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG WHILE AT THE CENTER. G. AFTER SURVEYING PARENTS OF STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE CENTER I. 91.1% AGREE THAT THE CENTERS PROGRAMS HELP PREPARE THEIR CHILD(REN) FOR FUTURE CHALLENGES IN THEIR CURRENT AND FUTURE SITUATIONS (8.9% NEUTRAL). II. 60.0% AGREE THAT THEIR CHILD IS DOING BETTER IN SCHOOL SINCE PARTICIPATING IN THE CENTERS PROGRAM (35.6% NEUTRAL). III. 95.6% AGREE THAT THE CENTERS PROGRAM IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THEIR CHILD (3% NEUTRAL).

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 July 2008.

    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.