Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Junior Achievement USA

EIN 38-1348535 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATING STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WORK READINESS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL, HANDS-ON PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAMS HELP PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE REAL WORLD BY SHOWING THEM HOW TO GENERATE INCOME AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGE IT, HOW TO CREATE JOBS WHICH MAKE THEIR COMMUNITIES MORE ROBUST, AND HOW TO APPLY ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING TO THE WORKPLACE. STUDENTS PUT THESE LESSONS INTO ACTION AND LEARN THE VALUE OF CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION'S UNIQUE APPROACH ALLOWS VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO DELIVER OUR CURRICULUM WHILE SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH STUDENTS. EMBODYING THE HEART OF THE ORGANIZATION, THE CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS TRANSFORM THE KEY CONCEPTS OF THE LESSONS INTO A MESSAGE THAT INSPIRES AND EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES, SHOWING THEM, THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
14
Volunteers
854
Highest pay
$266,316, president & ceo

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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

    39 of 39 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 (2)
  1. $2.1 million spent. TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 5-25, FOCUSING ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WORK READINESS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY. THESE PROGRAMS PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR REAL-WORLD CHALLENGES BY TEACHING INCOME GENERATION, MONEY MANAGEMENT, JOB CREATION, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING. COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS DELIVER THE CURRICULUM, SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE AND INSPIRING PARTICIPANTS TO BELIEVE IN THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT.
  2. $166,519 spent. JA FINANCE PROGRAMS - JA OFFERS PERSONAL FINANCE EDUCATION THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS JA FINANCE PARK, A HANDS-ON SIMULATION FOR AGES 1325 THAT TEACHES BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING. JASEM'S FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS TARGET THE ECONOMIC INEQUITIES FACED BY YOUTH WITHIN OUR REGION. OUR PROGRAMS ALIGN WITH STATE OF MICHIGAN EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND THE RECENTLY PASSED MICHIGAN PUBLIC ACT 105 OF 2022, WHICH REQUIRES A HALF-CREDIT OF FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION BEFORE GRADUATION. INVESTING IN FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION EARLY ON, "TEACHES YOUNG MICHIGANDERS IMPORTANT SKILLS LIKE BUDGETING AND SAVING AND HELPS THEM MAKE GOOD FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT PAY DIVIDENDS DOWN THE ROAD."JA FINANCIAL LITERACY, A SEMESTER-LONG COURSE, EQUIPS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS IN EARNING, SAVING, BUDGETING, BANKING, CREDIT MANAGEMENT, RISK ASSESSMENT, AND INSURANCE. VOLUNTEERS ENHANCE LEARNING THROUGH GUEST LECTURES AND PROJECT ADVISING.JA PERSONAL FINANCE HELPS STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE LINK BETWEEN CURRENT FINANCIAL CHOICES AND FUTURE FINANCIAL SECURITY, COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS INCOME, BUDGETING, SAVINGS, CREDIT, DEBT MANAGEMENT, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND INVESTING. PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE KEY INDUSTRIES AND CAREERS WHILE GAINING A REALISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

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.