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Junior Achievement of the Heartland

EIN 36-2684253 · Moline, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT (JA) IS A WORLDWIDE ORGANIZATION THAT INSPIRES AND PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCEED IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY. THEY DO THIS BY PROVIDING WORK-READINESS, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS AND THE SUPPORT OF BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS, JA REINFORCES THE RELEVANCY OF SCHOOLS' CURRICULUM AND EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO OWN THEIR ECONOMIC SUCCESS.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
24
Volunteers
2,718
Highest pay
$167,067, 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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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 (4)
  1. $700,024 spent. ELEMENTARY: THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS INCLUDE SIX SEQUENTIAL THEMES FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS AND ONE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS LEARN THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS AND HOW EDUCATION IS RELEVANT TO THE WORKPLACE. THE SEQUENTIAL ACTIVITIES BUILD ON STUDIES FROM EACH PRECEDING GRADE AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL AND LIFELONG LEARNING.
  2. $243,218 spent. JA INSPIRATION CENTER: JA INSPIRATION CENTER IS A 13,000 SQUARE FOOT LEARNING LAB LOCATED IN MOLINE, IL. THE FACILITY HOUSES TWO CAPSTONE PROGRAMS, JA BIZTOWN AND JA FINANCE PARK. THESE PROGRAMS ARE THE CULMINATION OF CLASSROOM-BASED ECONOMIC CURRICULUM WHERE STUDENTS LEAVE THEIR CLASSROOMS FOR A SIMULATED REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.
  3. $174,469 spent. MIDDLE GRADES: A SEQUENTIAL PROGRAM FOR JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS, TAUGHT BY VOLUNTEER BUSINESS EXECUTIVES IN WHICH STUDENTS LEARN THEIR ROLE IN THE ECONOMY AND HOW ECONOMICS AFFECTS THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.
  4. $161,327 spent. HIGH SCHOOL: JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT'S HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS HELP STUDENTS MAKE INFORMED, INTELLIGENT DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, AND FOSTER SKILLS THAT WILL BE HIGHLY USEFUL IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. WITH A RANGE OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT TEACHES ABOUT CONCEPTS RELATING TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND WORK READINESS.

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 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? 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.

  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 October 13, 2026.

  5. 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.

  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.