Junior Achievement of Central Ohio
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy and to own their future economic success.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 44
- Volunteers
- 3,448
- Highest pay
- $203,124, president
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2539 of 39 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $2.3 million spent. JA in the Classroom - These learning experiences can be integrated into every classroom from kindergarten through 12th grade. The learning experiences come in many different forms and delivery styles, from the Career Speaker Series, where volunteers share their career path in one-hour sessions, full-day learning experiences that teach students about real-world concepts, to a semester-long financial literacy course. All programs meet state and national standards for reading, mathematics, social studies, and work and career readiness to teach students about financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship. Approximately 36,573 students were impacted by the programs in 2024-2025.
- $814,623 spent. JA Biztown - Fifth-grade students complete a four-week economics curriculum about financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship before visiting JA BizTown, where they make important decisions for their businesses and town, connecting classroom learning to the real world. JA BizTown connects students with employers from various sectors and is supported by employers and community volunteers. The program reached 13,558 students in 2024-2025.
- The Organization received $212,500 of noncash contributions in the form of a below-market rate lease for the year ended June 30, 2025. The portion of this donated use of facilities allocated to program service expenses is $203,705. In accordance with the Form 990 instructions for reporting program service expenses, this amount is not included on Form 990, Part III, nor is it included as revenue in Part VIII or expense in Part IX. If it were included the total program service expenses would be $3,294,244. This $212,500 donated use of facilities is reported as a reconciling item on Schedule D, Part XI as in-kind contribution revenue and on Schedule D, Part XII as in-kind occupancy expense.
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
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1994.
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 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.