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American Youth Hostels Inc

EIN 27-1079973 · Silver Spring, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$8.2 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
-17.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
0
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$494,985, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 4 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $6.3 million spent. HOSTEL STAY: IN A TYPICAL YEAR, AYH BOSTON HOSTS TRAVELERS FROM MORE THAN 80 COUNTRIES AND HOSTS MORE THAN 90,000 GUEST STAY OVERNIGHTS ANNUALLY. THE HOSTEL IS PART OF THE AMERICAN YOUTH HOSTELS, INC. (AYH) NETWORK OF 14 HOSTELS NATIONWIDE. THE SHARED COMMUNITY MODEL AT OUR HOSTELS CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT FOR AUTHENTIC CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND UNDERSTANDING NEW EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING. THE HOSTEL IS PURPOSELY DESIGNED WITH SPACES AND AMENITIES THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND ENCOURAGE INTERACTION IN AN INCLUSIVE AND INVITING WAY. WE STRATEGICALLY DEVELOP AND USE SPACES TO DELIVER CULTURAL EXCHANGE THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TO OUR TRAVELER GUESTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AS TRAVELERS GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, THEY DISCOVER THEIR SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES, CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES AND SOCIAL BARRIERS, EXPANDING WORLD VIEWS THAT HAVE AN ENDURING IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES AND THEIR WORLDS.
  2. $122,026 spent. GUEST LEARNING PROGRAMS: THE AYH BOSTON HOSTEL EXPERIENCE IS BASED ON THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODEL, ONE THAT ENCOURAGES IMMERSION, ENGAGEMENT, AND REFLECTION. INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TOURS, OUTINGS, AND IN-HOSTEL GATHERINGS DELIVERED BY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OTHER CULTURES, CREATE A SENSE OF SPACE AND CONNECTION TO LOCAL COMMUNITY AND REFLECT ON THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVES AND UNDERSTANDING, TAKING ACTIONS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR LEARNINGS. PROGRAM DESIGN IS ALIGNED WITH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (AACU) VALUE LEARNING RUBRICS IN THE DISCIPLINES OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP. EACH YEAR, IN ADDITION TO THE HOSTEL STAY PROGRAM, AYH BOSTON DELIVERS OVER 700 FACILITATED LEARNING PROGRAMS WITH MORE THAN 12,000 PARTICIPATIONS.
  3. NATIONWIDE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS: AYH BOSTON PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL SCOPE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUTHENTIC CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND NEW EXPERIENCES THAT CAN MAKE AN ENDURING DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES AND THEIR WORLDS. TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS GIVE 18 TO 30-YEAR OLD'S, WITH QUALIFIED FINANCIAL NEED, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL WITHIN THE USA AND AROUND THE WORLD. SAY HI FOR PEACE ENGAGES HOSTEL GUESTS IN ACTIVITIES THAT CELEBRATE THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE AND EXPLORE HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A PEACEFUL SOCIETY. THE GREAT HOSTEL GIVE BACK PROGRAM OFFERS GROUPS OF SIX OR MORE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A FREE NIGHT'S STAY AT OUR HOSTELS DURING THE MONTHS OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY FOR EACH DAY THEIR MEMBERS VOLUNTEER IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. IOU RESPECT BRINGS YOUNG PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM WESTERN AND MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY, FRANCE, TUNISIA, LEBANON AND EGYPT FOR TWO WEEK HOSTEL BASED INTENSIVE DIALOGUE, TRAVEL AND REFLECTION. THESE AND OTHER SIGNATURE PROGRAMS PROMOTE CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGE, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND BUILD WORLD CITIZENS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 March 2025.

    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 December 1979.

    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.