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Youth Opportunities Unlimited the Hale Building

EIN 34-1381135 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EQUIP TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH AN ARRAY OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES NEEDED TO THRIVE IN AN EVOLVING WORKFORCE AND THROUHOUT THEIR LIVES.

Income
$13.8 million
Spending
$14.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 71%
Employees
1,951
Volunteers
91
Highest pay
$250,906, executive director, gccc

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: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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 (1)
  1. $12.4 million spent. YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED (Y.O.U.) PROVIDES THE LARGEST ARRAY OF EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 14-24 IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY AND IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION EXCLUSIVELY FOCUSED ON YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. EACH YEAR, Y.O.U. HELPS NEARLY 5,000 YOUNG PEOPLE FROM UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES SUCCEED BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND ACCESS TO CAREER PATHWAYS. ALL Y.O.U. PROGRAMS INCLUDE FOUR CORE ELEMENTS: CAREER EXPLORATION, ACCESS TO PAID WORK EXPERIENCE, JOB-READINESS TRAINING, AND MENTORING FROM A CARING ADULT. Y.O.U.'S WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS EMPLOY MORE THAN 1,600 TEENS ANNUALLY AND ARE PROVEN TO INCREASE GRADUATION RATES, IMPROVE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, AND REDUCE INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, YOUTH GAIN HANDS-ON, WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT EXPOSE THEM TO CAREER OF INTEREST WHILE THEY BUILD CONFIDENCE AND REAL-WORLD SKILLS. PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION IS CONSISTENTLY STRONG WITH A NET PROMOTER SCORE CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDING 40, REFLECTING THAT MOST YOUTH WOULD ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM TO THEIR PEERS, A BENCHMARK OF HIGH-QUALITY AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT. THE SCHOOL-BASED JOBS FOR OHIO'S GRADUATES (JOG) PROGRAM, SERVING MORE THAN 350 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR, IS OFFERED AS A FOR-CREDIT CLASS ACROSS MULTIPLE HIGH SCHOOLS, FOCUSES ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT, SERVICE LEARNING, AND LEADERSHIP. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, JOG HAS ACHIEVED A 92% GRADUATION RATE AND A 91% POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS RATE, DEMONSTRATING ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE, CREDENTIAL TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT. COMPLEMENTING JOG, THE PLANNING AND CAREER EXPLORATION (PACE) PROGRAM REACHES MORE THAN 3,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH CAREER READINESS LESSONS, INDIVIDUALIZED ADVISING, AND CONNECTIONS TO PAID WORK EXPERIENCES, ENSURING THAT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH A CLEAR, ACTIONABLE PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE. THROUGH LAUNCH, Y.O.U. SERVES AS THE LEADER AND CONVENER OF A YOUNG ADULT WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 18-24 WHO ARE NOT IN SCHOOL AND ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED. Y.O.U. COORDINATES SERVICES AMONG PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS. Y.O.U.'S IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING CONSISTENCY, EQUITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THIS SYSTEM, HELPING YOUNG ADULTS EARN INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS, SECURE EMPLOYMENT ALIGNED WITH THEIR CAREER GOALS, AND ADVANCE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC MOBILITY ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO'S WORKFORCE.

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 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 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 February 1983.

    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.