Youth Making a Difference
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER YOUTH IN LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. WE DO THIS BY GIVING YOUTH A PLATFORM TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD ON ISSUES AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING THEM (SEE SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $707,903
- Spending
- $719,973
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 784
- Highest pay
- $88,000, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
6 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 December 31, 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 (4)
- $351,450 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAM - HANDS4HOPE - YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE'S EDUCATION PROGRAM, INCLUDING ON-CAMPUS CLUBS AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROJECT COMMITTEES, INCORPORATES OUR MISSION BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, ACT ON THEM BY CREATING, DEVELOPING, AND IMPLEMENTING SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS, THEN LEAD THOSE PROJECTS FROM START TO FINISH. IN 2025, HANDS4HOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL SERVICE-LEARNING CLUBS SUCCESSFULLY PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED NINE SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS BENEFITING EIGHT AREA NONPROFITS, RAISED 7,993,COLLECTED 178 AND MADE 42 ITEMS TO BENEFIT AREAS OF NEED INCLUDING:THE UNHOUSED, ANIMAL WELFARE, AT RISK WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN NEED,SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES AND FAMILIES BATTLING PEDIATRIC CANCER. (SEE SCHEDULE O)
- $187,098 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OUTREACHES ARE THE PLATFORM FROM WHICH YOUTH IN HANDS4HOPE - YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE LEARN ABOUT AND INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ADDRESS HUMAN AND COMMUNITY NEEDS TOGETHER, LEARNING FIRST-HAND ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE POWER THEY HAVE TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE. IN 2025, A TOTAL OF 351 YOUTH AND ADULT PARTICIPANTS (225 YOUTH AND 126 ADULTS) IN HANDS4HOPE - YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM LOGGED A TOTAL OF 3,255 SERVICE HOURS (2,287 YOUTH, 968 ADULTS), THROUGH OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES. THEY SERVED 13,404 INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE PARTICIPANTS CREATED 597 CARDS, CRAFTS, AND DESSERTS FOR SENIORS, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. (SEE SCHEDULE O)
- LEADERSHIP - HANDS4HOPE - YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE LEADERSHIP IS BASED ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS DRIVEN BY PASSION, THE DESIRE TO TAKE ACTION, AND THE ABILITY TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. HANDS4HOPE OFFERS A VARIETY OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING CAMPS AND WORKSHOPS, AS WELL AS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND BEING A PART OF THE HANDS4HOPE-YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE YOUTH BOARD.(SEE SCHEDULE O)
- LINE 1 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION (CONTINUED) THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION IN THEIR OWN WAY. LINE 4A - FIRST PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT - EDUCATION PROGRAM (CONTINUED) THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CLUBS COLLECTIVELY SERVED 683 PEOPLE AND 350 ANIMALS IN NEED. HANDS4HOPE HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE-LEARNING CLUBS SUCCESSFULLY PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED 12 SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS BENEFITING 10 AREA NONPROFITS, RAISED 5,305, COLLECTED 290 ITEMS TO BENEFIT AREAS OF NEED INCLUDING: THE UNHOUSED, FOOD INSECURE, AT RISK YOUTH, CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL NEEDS, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND FIRE VICTIMS. THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS COLLECTIVELY SERVED 157 PEOPLE IN NEED. HANDS4HOPE HAS HELPED ME BECOME MORE ORGANIZED, RESPONSIBLE, AND CONFIDENT. I'VE LEARNED HOW TO LEAD GROUPS, COMMUNICATE CLEARLY, AND TAKE INITIATIVE. THE LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, AND PLANNING SKILLS I'VE GAINED HERE WILL HELP ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE." - KALEN WHYLIE, JUNIOR AND PONDEROSA HANDS4HOPE CLUB VICE PRESIDENT HANDS4HOPE AFTER-SCHOOL SERVICE-LEARNING COMMITTEES SUCCESSFULLY PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED 58 SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS BENEFITING 15 AREA NONPROFITS, RAISED 37,156 FOR CAUSES CLOSE TO THEIR HEARTS, COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED AND DISTRIBUTED 690 BACKPACKS STUFFED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES, A 42,409 VALUE. FROM COUNTING THOUSANDS OF PENCILS AND ERASERS TO STANDING UNDER THE SUN COLLECTING DONATIONS, BEING PART OF SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE IN PAST YEARS-AND LEADING IT THIS YEAR-HAS BEEN SUCH A JOY," SAYS MIA GEORGE, A 2025 FOLSOM HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE PROJECT MANAGER / COLLEGE INTERN FOR THE YOUTH-LED COMMITTEE. "THE DEDICATION OF ALL THE YOUTH INVOLVED IS TRULY INSPIRING, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOMETHING SO MEANINGFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE AFTER-SCHOOL SERVICE-LEARNING COMMITTEES COLLECTIVELY SERVED 1,868 PEOPLE IN NEED INCLUDING: THE FOOD INSECURE AND UNHOUSED, YOUTH IN NEED, AND AT RISK TEENS. IN 2025, THE HANDS4HOPE - YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY COMMITTEE CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY OUT OF THE PLACERVILLE HANDS4HOPE YOUTH CENTER. THE HANDS4HOPE EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTED 3,393 POUNDS OF FOOD AND 131 ESSENTIAL TOILETRIES TO 443 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. "THE MOUNTAINSIDE SUCCESS ACADEMY HAS BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE HANDS4HOPE PROGRAM FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY IS SO NEEDED FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ON OUR CAMPUS. MANY TIMES OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DEPEND ON THESE RESOURCES AS A WAY TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES IN THE MIDDLE AND END OF THE MONTH." ~JESSICA VEGA, MOUNTAINSIDE SUCCESS ACADEMY-CHARTER COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND HOME STUDY ACADEMY IN TOTAL, THE HANDS4HOPE - YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE EDUCATION PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS LOGGED 9,467 SERVICE HOURS, RAISED 50,454, AND COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED 26,996 ITEMS FOR CAUSES CLOSE TO THEIR HEARTS, SERVING MORE THAN 2,087 PEOPLE IN NEED. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, YOUTH LEARN HOW TO BE CIVIC-MINDED LEADERS WHO TAKE INITIATIVE, COLLABORATE, AND CREATE MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. LINE 4B - SECOND PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT - COMMUNITY OUTREACH (CONTINUED) IN ADDITION, THE YOUTH SERVED 11,657 MEALS TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. THE YOUTH PARTICIPANTS ALSO MADE 45 NO-SEW BLANKETS WHICH WERE DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILIES IN NEED DURING THE 4 DAYS OF WINTER BOUTIQUE EVENTS TO HELP KEEP THESE FAMILIES WARM. THROUGH THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERACTIONS WITH THOSE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE YOUTH PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO BE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. VOLUNTEERING ALMOST EVERY MONTH HAS MADE ME MORE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I HAVE AND HELPED ME UNDERSTAND HOW LUCKY I AM. HAVING A HOUSE, WARM CLOTHING, CLEAN WATER, AND FOOD IS SOMETHING I DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED ANYMORE. HELPING FAMILIES AT THE WINTER BOUTIQUE AND SERVING AT UPPER ROOM HAS SHOWN ME HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GIVE BACK. IT MAKES ME WANT TO VOLUNTEER AS MUCH AS I CAN." NIKHIL RANCHOD, OUTREACH PARTICIPANT LINE 4C - THIRD PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENT - LEADERSHIP (CONTINUED) WHEN I WAS ASKED TO CO-LEAD A HANDS4HOPE COMMITTEE FOR SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN MY FRESHMAN YEAR, I WAS INCREDIBLY SHY. I HATED PUBLIC SPEAKING AND I HAD NO CONFIDENCE THAT I COULD LEAD ANYTHING TODAY, I DO PUBLIC SPEAKING, MEETING FACILITATION, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT TASKS ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH NO ISSUE. MY EXPERIENCE WITH HANDS4HOPE DIDN'T JUST BUILD CONFIDENCE - IT SET ME ON A LIFELONG PATH OF LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC SERVICE. THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND SERVICE MINDSET I DEVELOPED AS A TEEN THROUGH HANDS4HOPE CONTINUE TO GUIDE MY WORK TODAY AND SHAPE MY FUTURE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE." JENA BRASIL, HANDS4HOPE ALUMNA. IN 2025, HANDS4HOPE - YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE: ENGAGED 108 STUDENTS FROM 6-12TH GRADES IN LEADERSHIP OF THEIR PEERS IN CLUBS AND COMMITTEES, HOSTED THE14TH ANNUAL HANDS4HOPE HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CAMP, WITH 17 YOUTH FROM FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS ATTENDING, HOSTED THE 12TH ANNUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CAMP WITH 20 YOUTH FROM FIVE MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN ATTENDANCE, THE 13TH ANNUAL LEADERSHIP MID YEAR RETREAT WITH 27 YOUTH FROM SIX HIGH SCHOOLS IN ATTENDANCE, HOSTED 12TH ANNUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MID-YEAR RETREAT WITH 26 YOUTH FROM EIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN ATTENDANCE, AND THE YOUTH BOARD RAISED 4,000 WITH FOUR PROJECTS TO PROVIDE FOUR 1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HANDS4HOPE GRADUATING SENIORS WHO NEEDED HELP WITH COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL TUITION
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 November 2008.
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 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.