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Young Audiences of New Jersey

EIN 23-7384991 · Princeton, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Young Auidiences (YA) mission is to inspire young peope and expand their learning through the arts. Arts education is who we are and what we do. The work of the board, staff, and teaching artists is guided by a vision of a future in which all students in our region engage in high-quality arts experiences as an integral part of their education. YA is committed to providing all children- inclusive of disabilties, neurodiversity, gender diversity, language, economic status, race and ethnicity- with arts education in which their creativity, cultures and identities are valued and nurtured. YA delivers teaching artist-led arts programming directly in schools to pre-k-12th grade students, teachers,and families through residencies, workshops, performances, teacher professional learning, and family programs. Our programs are authentic, learning level appropriate, and culturally responsive arts learning experiences. Since our founding in 1973, YA has grown into the regions largest arts education

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
17 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 37%
Employees
15
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$149,756, pres & ceo

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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 (3)
  1. $1.5 million spent. Performances/Assemblies: Our performances introduce artforms and provide new and diverse cultural experiences to our audience of students and teachers. We value performance as a vital and powerful component of arts education.: while our stage is a school auditorium, the work is as important and impactful as an event at a performing arts venue. Our 99 performances provide the social connection and intellectual stimulation of seeing a play, concert, or dance performance as part of the school day. We strive to ensure that children value live performance as essential to a full life, cultivating the next generation of performing artists and supporters.
  2. $884,041 spent. Workshops/Residencies: Our workshops and residencies transform a classroom into an artist studio and provide hands-on sequential arts learning activities. We offer 78 programs in dance, music, theatre, folk arts, visual arts, and media arts. Professional artists guide students and teachers in active and engaging art-making experiences for 1 to 20 days.
  3. $444,136 spent. Professional Development: Our professional learning programs empower classroom teachers to integrate the arts across the curriculum. We offer embedded and dedicated PL. Embedded PL provides an active role for classroom teachers during workshops as the teaching artists models lessons, demonstrates creative inquiry, and guides the teacher to extend the artistic process beyond the residency. We offer long-term dedicated professional learning programs and sessions available to schools and districts in a range of artforms.

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 January 1975.

    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.