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Simon Youth Foundation Inc

EIN 35-2035269 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SIMON YOUTH FOUNDATION(SYF) IS A NATIONAL 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO HELPING STUDENTS GRADUATE AND PREPARE FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. WE BELIEVE EVERY YOUNG PERSON, NO MATTER THEIR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS THROUGH EDUCATION.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
34.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
9
Volunteers
204
Highest pay
$471,241, president and ceo

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.4 million spent. SIMON YOUTH FOUNDATION(SYF) IS A NATIONAL 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO HELPING STUDENTS GRADUATE AND PREPARE FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. WE BELIEVE EVERY YOUNG PERSON, NO MATTER THEIR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS THROUGH EDUCATION. SYF PARTNERS WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO STRENGTHEN AND SUSTAIN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT SERVE STUDENTS AT RISK OF DROPPING OUT. SINCE 1998 THROUGH THE NETWORK, CURRENTLY 32 SIMON YOUTH ACADEMIES IN 12 STATES SYF HELPS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS REACH GRADUATION DAY EACH YEAR. OFTEN LOCATED IN SIMON MALL COMMUNITIES, THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE A LIFELINE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE FACING CHALLENGES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, BULLYING, PARENTHOOD, OR THE NEED TO WORK TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. SIMON YOUTH ACADEMIES HAS MAINTAINED AN AVERAGE LIFETIME GRADUATION RATE OF 91%, HELPING MORE THAN 33,000 STUDENTS GRADUATE, AWARDING MORE THAN $22.6 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS, AND INVESTED $1.7 MILLION IN CAPACITY BUILDING.
  2. $761,214 spent. THROUGH DIRECT FUNDING AND RESOURCES SUCH AS IN AND OUT OF STATE EXPERIENTIAL TRIPS, SYF HELPS SCHOOL DISTRICTS KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED, OVERCOME BARRIERS, AND GRADUATE. SYF SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO SIMON YOUTH ACADEMY GRADUATES, AS WELL AS NON-ACADEMY STUDENTS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA THAT IS HOME TO A SIMON PROPERTY. THE AWARDS PRIMARILY SERVE STUDENTS WHO WILL BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO ATTEND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING 2-YEAR VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND 4-YEAR COLLEGES. A THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR OVERSEES THE SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS. TO SUPPORT DEVELOPLMENT AND BEST PRACTICE SHARING, SYF HOSTS THE NATIONAL EDUCATOR CONFERENCE FOR NETWORK SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK TO IMPROVE GRADUATION RATES FOCUSED ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION.

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 May 1998.

    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.

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