Youth Empowerment Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO RE-ENGAGE OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH WITH ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND JOB CONNECTIONS, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING,COUNSELING, MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY SKILLS
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 97%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $104,539, executive director
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
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 105% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
- $1.3 million spent. EDUCATION: YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SERVICES (YESPHILLY) PROVIDES AN EDUCATION TO YOUTH-AN ACCELERATED HIGH SCHOOL WHERE STUDENTS COMPLETE ALL OF THE COURSES THEY NEED TO EARN A DIPLOMA FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA. BEYOND THE CORE ACADEMIC SKILLS STUDENTS NEED TO FOR THESE CREDENTIALS, THE PROGRAMS HELP STUDENTS GAIN THE SKIILS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND BE CONFIDENT AND COMPETENT LIFELONG LEARNERS. CLASSES ARE DESIGNED SO STUDENTS CAN WORK AT THEIR "RIGHT" INSTRUCTIONIAL LEVEL AND GET THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION THEY NEED. YESPHILLY CLASSES ARE VARIED, AND INCULDE HANDS-ON AND GROUP ACTIVITIES WITH MATERIALS THAT MAKE LEARNING FUN, RELEVANT AND EFFECTIVE.
- $247,268 spent. COUNSELING: YESPHILLY COUNSELORS HELP EVERY STUDENT TO MAKE SURE THEY DEVELOP THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. COUNSELORS WORK WITH EACH STUDENT INDIVIDUALLY, IN GROUPS AND WITH THEIR FAMILIES. AT YESPHILLY, STUDENTS DEVELOP THE HABITS AND SKILLS THEY WILL NEED TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND CAREERS - RESPONSIBILITY, PERSISTENCE, INITIATIVE, TEAMWORK AND GOAL-SETTING. EVERY YESPHILLY STUDENT SETS THEIR OWN GOALS, AND CREATES A STUDENT DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT GIVES THEM CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY DO, AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN PROGRESS.
- $62,535 spent. WHILE AT YESPHILLY, STUDENTS GO ON COLLEGE TOURS, LEARN HOW TO APPLY TO COLLEGES, HOW TO GET FINANCIAL AID, AND GET SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THEY SUCCEED. COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA HAS INVESTED IN WELCOMING OUR STUDENTS, AND MAKING THE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE SMOOTHER.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.