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Elca Youth Ministry Network

EIN 34-1865352 · Owatonna, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ELCA YOUTH MINISTRY NETWORK STRENGTHENS AND EMPOWERS ADULT LEADERS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY IN SERVICE TO CHRIST.

Income
$784,266
Spending
$852,027
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
7
Volunteers
150

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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 (5)
  1. $39,813 spent. THE NETWORK EXTRAVAGANZA IN 2025 DREW OVER 600 PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER YOUTH MINISTRY LEADERS TOGETHER FOR 4 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS OF QUALITY EDUCATION, NETWORKING, SUPPORT AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. GENERAL SESSIONS EXPOSED THE GROUP TO NATIONALLY KNOWN SPEAKERS AND MUSIC GROUPS AND FOCUSED ON ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSPIRATION. OVER 45 WORKSHOP OPTIONS GAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUAL AND CONGREGATIONAL TEAMS TO LEARN SPECIFIC SKILLS. A LARGE EXHIBIT HALL SHOWCASED OVER 70 RESOURCE PROVIDERS AND VENDORS. EVENING EVENTS AND RECEPTIONS GAVE YOUTH MINISTRY LEADERS OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET, SHARE EXPERIENCES, NETWORK AND DEVELOP SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER.
  2. $426,742 spent. THE ELCA YOUTH NETWORK RECEIVED A 3-YEAR GRANT FROM THE LILY FOUNDATION, TOTALING 1,000,000. THIS GRANT IS FUNDING THE "FORMATION CO-OP" A PROGRAM OF THE NETWORK THAT DRAWS TOGETHER COHORTS OF CONGREGATIONS AND MATCHES THEM WITH TRAINED GUIDES, WHO WILL WALK WITH THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF LISTENING. LEARNING AND IMPLEMENTING NEW MODELS. THE GOAL IS TO DETERMINE BEST PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVE MINISTRY FOR THE FUTURE.
  3. $3,173 spent. SYMBOL IS A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT ELCA SYNOD STAFF IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE YOUTH MINISTRY. THE ELCA YOUTH NETWORK ACTS AS A FISCAL AGENT. A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 15,000 OVER TWO YEARS WAS RECEIVED TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM.
  4. $304,009 spent. THE ELCA YOUTH NETWORK PUBLISHES A NEWSLETTER TO MEMBERS. ALSO, THE NETWORK DEVELOPED A WEBSITE, MARTIN'S LIST TO FACILITATE CONGREGATIONS SHARING RESOURCES AND THE CONNECT JOURNAL, AN ONLINE JOURNAL TO PRESENT NEW IDEAS AND RESOURCES. A MONTHLY PODCAST WITH CONVERSATIONS AND INTERVIEW ABOUT CURRENTLY MINISTRY RESOURCES HAS ALSO BEEN PRODUCED.
  5. THE ELCA YOUTH NETWORK PUBLISHES A NEWSLETTER TO MEMBERS. ALSO, THE NETWORK DEVELOPED A WEBSITE, MARTIN'S LIST TO FACILITATE CONGREGATIONS SHARING RESOURCES AND THE CONNECT JOURNAL, AN ONLINE JOURNAL TO PRESENT NEW IDEAS AND RESOURCES. A MONTHLY PODCAST WITH CONVERSATIONS AND INTERVIEW ABOUT CURRENTLY MINISTRY RESOURCES HAS ALSO BEEN PRODUCED.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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