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Young Scholars for Academic Empowerment

EIN 26-2350778 · Riverside, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Corporation's specific purpose is to fight for health equity and racial justice to advance the quality of life and human dignity of LGBTQ+ people.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
28
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$297,771, 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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 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. $1.9 million spent. TruEvolution offers emergency supportive housing for clients displaced within the Riverside County Jurisdiction, both through motel placement, and starting in 2023, at TruEvolutions housing campus, Project Legacy, which includes access to wrap around services provided by TruEvolution. At the Project Legacy campus, identified at risk college students are also able to be housed through a partnership with local colleges. At the moment, TruEvolutions contracted Motel vendor is located in the City of Riverside. Healthcare services: Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or prep, is an HIV prevention method in which young scholars for academic empowerment LGBTQ+ people. Healthcare services people who don't have HIV take an antiviral medication daily to reduce their risk of contracting HIV if they are exposed to the virus. Truevolution's rapid-start prep service provides a safe environment and convenient approach to inform readiness for prep, receive consultation housing from a licensed medical provider, same day fulfillment of script, and get connected to mental health and other social services to feasibly access and maintain prep adherence. The behavioral health services program primarily targets HIV positive and sexually active negative Latinos and African Americans living in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Health services links or relinks HIV and high risk individuals into testing services, core medical services, and support services that are necessary to improve their treatment adherence and maintenance of their individual medical care. During the tax year over 350 people were served through over 2,000 appointments.Total program expenses were $1,893,971.
  2. $1.7 million spent. Healthcare services: Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or prep, is an HIV prevention method in which young scholars for academic empowerment LGBTQ+ people. Healthcare services people who don't have HIV take an antiviral medication daily to reduce their risk of contracting HIV if they are exposed to the virus. Truevolution's rapid-start prep service provides a safe environment and convenient approach to inform readiness for prep, receive consultation housing from a licensed medical provider, same day fulfillment of script, and get connected to mental health and other social services to feasibly access and maintain prep adherence. See Schedule O for further details.
  3. $1.2 million spent. Other Programs: Truevolution leverages their relationships grown from the housing and healthcare services programs to provide support and advocacy through a variety of community health programs such as vaccine equity, COVID 19 programs, and sponsorship and advocacy within the LGTBQ+ community. During the tax year over 8,000 people were reached by the outreach program.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.