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Youth Job Center Inc

EIN 36-3252809 · Evanston, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YOUTH JOB CENTER CONNECTS YOUTH AGES 14-25 TO MEANINGFUL CAREERS THROUGH EARLY EXPOSURE, WORKFORCE TRAINING, INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING, AND STRONG EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS. WE MEET YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND GUIDE THEM TOWARD LIVING-WAGE JOBS BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH A PLAN, A PATH, AND A JOB PLACEMENT TO PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS IN THE WORKPLACE AND IN LIFE.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 56%
Employees
68
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$157,526, executive director

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

Weak: 38 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 (6)
  1. $582,433 spent. CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM - THIS FUNDER SUPPORTED PROGRAM HELPS JOB SEEKERS, AGES 16-25, WHO FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS GAIN THE SUPPORT, SKILLS AND EDUCATION NECESSARY TO OBTAIN AND RETAIN EMPLOYMENT. QUALIFIED CANDIDATES MAY RECEIVE UP TO TWO YEARS OF FUNDING TO RECEIVE TRAINING, ATTEND COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS, OR ENTER JOBS WITH ONGOING SUPPORT. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUBSIDIZED INTERNSHIPS AND PAID WORK EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING APPRENTICESHIPS THROUGH IT'S CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLIENTS TO EARN SPECIALIZED CERTIFICATIONS OR CREDENTIALS IN THEIR CHOSEN CAREER PATH.
  2. $164,270 spent. JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS CENTERED AROUND HEALTHCARE, IT AND OTHER INDUSTRIES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO YJC CLIENTS. THE HEALTH CARE PROGRAM LASTS 18 TO 20 WEEKS AND DESIGNED TO JUMPSTART PARTICPANT'S HEALTHCARE CAREER. THE IT PROGRAM IS A 16-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP PARTICIPANTS TRANSITION FROM CLASSROOM INTO AN I.T. CAREER. TRAINING INCLUDES A COMBINATION OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND ONLINE COURSE WORK.
  3. $369,794 spent. THROUGH ITS INVOLVMENT WITH THE AMERICAN JOB CENTER, THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH CHICAGOLAND AREA BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE WORK READINESS TRAINING TO ELIGIBLE OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH, AGES 16-24 AND IN-SCHOOL YOUTH, AGES-16-21. THERE ARE A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PREPARE YOUTH TO BE PRODUCTIVE IN THE WORKFORCE. THE PROGRAMS RANGE FROM SUMMER INTERNSHIPS TO YEAR-ROUND SUPPORT FOR YOUTH.
  4. $10,847 spent. HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM: YOUTH JOB CENTER WORKS WITH LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS TOPROVIDE WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY THROUGH SEMINARSAND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) CLASSES, AUGMENTED BYADDITIONAL SUPPORT AFTER SCHOOL. STUDENTS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH JOBSEARCHES, RESUME DEVELOPMENT, INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES, AND JOBCOUNSELING.
  5. $36,758 spent. THIS WAY ONWARD PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GAP AND OLD NAVY. THEPROGRAM PROVIDES TRAINING AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS THROUGHOUT THECHICAGOLAND AREA. THIS PROGRAM IS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AGES 16-18WHO ARE RECRUITED FROM MANY HIGH SCHOOLS IN CHICAGO.
  6. $411,343 spent. OTHER VARIOUS PROGRAMS PROVIDING CAREER EXPLORATION, PERSONALIZEDCAREER COACHING, SKILLS TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, AND FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT,HELPING YOUTH DEVELOP A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENTSUCCESS.

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? 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 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 March 1984.

    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.