Youth Investment Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE NEW ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR IN ALIENATED YOUTH THROUGH A GROWING FAITH IN CHRIST, SUPPORTIVE STAFF MENTORING AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 53
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $99,037, ceo
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
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $3.0 million spent. YOUTH INVESTMENT FOUNDATION (THE ORGANIZATION), ESTABLISHED IN 1970, IS A CHRIST-CENTERED OUTREACH FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH FROM SUBURBAN, URBAN, AND SMALL TOWN COMMUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION'S BASIC PURPOSE IS TO EFFECT AND CREATE NEW ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR IN ALIENATED YOUTH THROUGH A GROWING FAITH IN CHRIST, SUPPORTIVE STAFF COUNSELING, AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO CREATE A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND BELONGING IN YOUTH BY EMPHASIZING SELF-WORTH, FORGIVENESS, AND FREEDOM FROM GUILT. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO DEVELOP ACCOUNTABILITY AND A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE OF AUTHORITY AND FREEDOM. THE ORGANIZATION REACHES AN ESTIMATED TWELVE HUNDRED YOUTH PER YEAR IN ACTIVITIES RANGING FROM SMALL GROUPS TO ONE-ON-ONE CONTACTS. YOUTH INVESTMENT FOUNDATION MAINTAINS AND SPONSORS A CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA TO MEET THIS PURPOSE. AT CAMP, THE ORGANIZATION SERVICES APPROXIMATELY FOUR THOUSAND YOUTHS FROM THE COMMUNITY ATTEND THE CAMP AS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE CAMP IS A WORK CREW, FOCUSING ON BUILDING YOUNG PEOPLE WHILE BUILDING THE CAMP. THE WORK CREW CONNECTS WITH THE YOUTH PARTICIPANTS AND FOCUSES ON BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM, A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, CARING, AND A SENSE OF CONTRIBUTION. THE GETAWAYS ARE FOR YOUTH WHO ARE GROWING AND MATURING IN THEIR FAITH THROUGH TIMBER BAY (THE CAMP). THE GETAWAYS HAVE STAFF-LED WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSIONS THAT FOCUS ON EVERYDAY LIFE AND FAITH. IN OUR SMALL GROUPS, PEERS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR STRUGGLES WORK IN A VARIETY OF GROUPS, INCLUDING BIBLE STUDY, DRUG AFTERCARE, AND CARE AND SHARE GROUPS WITH TRUSTED STAFF MEMBERS. IN ADDITION, YOUTH INVESTMENT FOUNDATION HAS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN VARIOUS MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, AND IOWA COMMUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION IS PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1970.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.