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Youth Represent Inc

EIN 20-8034010 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YOUTH REPRESENT USES LEGAL SERVICES, POLICY ADVOCACY, PEER EDUCATION, AND OTHER TOOLS TO BUILD POWER AND OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK, LATINE, AND OTHER YOUTH OF COLOR WHO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND OTHER SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION HARM THE MOST. WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE THE RACIST LEGAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISMANTLED AND BIACK, LATINE, INDIGENOUS, AND OTHER YOUTH OF COLOR HAVE THE FREEDOM AND POWER TO LIVE THEIR FULL LIVES.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
19
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$211,414, executive director

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (3)
  1. $734,502 spent. STRATEGIC LITIGATION: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW FIRMS AND ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE NAACP-LDF, WE PURSUE INDIVIDUAL AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST EMPLOYERS WHO ILLEGALLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST APPLICANTS WITH CRIMINAL HISTORIES. THESE LAWSUITS AIM TO PROCURE FINANCIAL SETTLEMENTS AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN HIRING PRACTICES, AMONG OTHER FORMS OF RELIEF, FOR SYSTEM-AFFECTED CLIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR STRATEGIC LITIGATION PRACTICE USES LAWS THAT OUR POLICY TEAM HAS CHAMPIONED AS A MECHANISM FOR SOCIAL CHANGELAWS THAT AIM TO COUNTER DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY OPPRESSED UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. TO DATE, YOUTH REPRESENT'S STRATEGIC LITIGATION HAS SECURED OVER $8 MILLION IN SETTLEMENT FUNDS, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR OVER 24,000 INDIVIDUALS WRONGLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR HAVING SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT AND GIVING MANY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT.
  2. $645,455 spent. COMMUNITY LAWYERING MODEL: OUR FLAGSHIP COMMUNITY-LAWYERING MODEL COMBINES DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL MATTERS, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WORKSHOPS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATION STAFF. PARTNERING WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF NYC COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WE OFFER ON-SITE LEGAL SERVICES FOR CLIENTS FACING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION, EVICTION, SCHOOL SUSPENSION, SUMMONSES, AND OTHER CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES. WE PARTNER WITH MORE THAN 50 COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS ACROSS NEW YORK.
  3. $576,910 spent. POLICY REFORM: WE WORK AT THE STATE AND CITY LEVEL TO PUSH FOR POLICIES THAT DIVEST FROM SYSTEMS THAT ARREST, DETAIN, AND IMPRISON BLACK AND LATIN YOUTH, AND INVEST IN THE KINDS OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT MAKE YOUNG PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TRULY SAFE. WE WERE ONE OF THE LEAD ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY TO 18 IN NEW YORK, AND WE CURRENTLY LEAD THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE YOUTH JUSTICE & OPPORTUNITIES ACT (YJ&O), A COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA TO EXPAND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND RECORD SEALING FOR YOUTH NOT COVERED BY RAISE THE AGE. THROUGH OUR CITY DREAMERS PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE ADVOCACY TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND CONNECT THEM WITH LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES SO THEY CAN BE AGENTS FOR CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.EMPLOYMENT.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 June 2007.

    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.