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Youth Fair Chance Inc

EIN 31-0969668 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak15 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Youth Fair Chance is a not for profit building materials warehouse whose mission is to divert usable materials from landfills and keep them in viable use in our communities. The agency also works to eliminate improvident dumping and to educate the public, especially youth, on the importance of recycling and reuse.

Income
$921,241
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
21
Volunteers
207
Highest pay
$70,200, chief executive officer

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

Weak: 15 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 128% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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. $398,773 spent. Diverting usable building materials from landfills - Asset Recycling work to rescue usable building materials from landfills. Approximately 9320 tons of materials are diverted annually helping to prevent unnecessary dumping. Recycling building materials - Youth Fair Chance makes rescued building materials available to those most in need. The warehouses are open to the public and individuals and families are able to accomplish renovations, improvements, and repairs they would be unable to complete. Additionally, Youth Fair Chance collaborates with other community agencies like Little League, Earth Day, Community Theatres, Churches, Veterans Service Agencies, Community Resource Centers, and Hospital Service Agencies (among others) to provide badly-needed building materials and supplies.
  2. $567,529 spent. ReUse Centers- Cincinnati, OH, Lexington, KY The ReUse Centers follow the model of Asset Recycling in Indianapolis, IN, but with an added component. They also de-construct old buildings, warehouses, and homes to aid in the reclamation of land and the rescue of usable materials, thus, lessening the burden on landfills. The Centers take the materails and prepare them for reuse. Items removed from old structures include plumbing fixtures, copper pipe, water heaters, windows, doors, cabinets, etc. Its team and the equipment and manpower arrive to recover all reusable materials before demolition. All agencies participate in national recycling network projects (product sharing). Deconstruction is only part of the ReUse Centers mission. The numbers reflect the entire mission. These two locations ceased operating under Youth Fair Chance on August 1, 2025.
  3. Educating communities about recycling - Youth Fair Chance educates youth and the community in general about recycling through its website, through community newsletters, through its new email marketing campaign, and through its constituency list for contacts including clients, donors, and other community agencies. Outreach budget stays very low as its run on a volunteer basis and with contributed materials. The warehouses welcome tour groups to explain more about the agency's mission. All people, especially youth, are encouraged to volunteer. Additionally, YFC representatives are sometimes invited to speak at events and other gatherings or to the media. Youth Fair Chance is committed to sharing reclaimed and rescued materials with other not-for-profit agencies, with a focus on helping agencies who serve youth. It is dedicated to helping preserve resources for the future. Youth Fair Chance is a member of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Pollution Prevention Program.

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

  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 October 13, 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 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 November 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 October 21, 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.