Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Family and Youth Initiative Inc

EIN 38-3828204 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Family & Youth Initiative creates a supportive community and lasting relationships for teens and young adults who are in or have aged out of foster care. We believe that every child deserves family and are committed to increasing the number of teens who find adoptive families or develop what become lifelong relationships with other supportive adults.

Income
$470,539
Spending
$410,548
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
9
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$65,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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

    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 December 31, 2024, 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. $197,528 spent. Family and Youth Initiative helps teens in foster care find adoptive families and develop lasting connections with other caring adults. Monthly program events bring together teens and adults to form relationships. We recruit and train volunteer mentors, host families, Committed Community Members, and event drivers; participating adoptive families complete their training and home study with a partner agency. We match teens and adults based on relationships that start at events. Adult volunteers make a specific commitment to length and intensity of time they will spend with teen once matched. Youth who age out of foster care continue to participate with DCFYI and keep their connections for as long as they want. Every participating teen or young adult develops at least one meaningful and lasting relationship with a caring adult.
  2. $31,348 spent. Family and Youth Initiative is supporting a dedicated group of Lived Experts (young people with the lived experience of being or having been in DC foster care) who are creating a new and innovative permanency option for older youth who are in foster care. The Lived Experts are designing the "SOUL" permanency option in conjunction with professional partners, primarily at DC Child and Family Services Agency, the office of the DC Attorney General, and Children's Law Center. They are proud of having been able to use their experience and voice to create a better path out of foster care for other youth now and into the future. We are proud to be supporting them (and the other agencies) in this work.
  3. $43,290 spent. In the Open Table program, we recruit, train, and match six to eight volunteers with one young adult who has aged out of foster care. Tables build relationships with the young person (or "Friend") and support them in achieving whatever goal/s they set for themselves. Tables meet weekly for a year. Some Friends and volunteers continue in their relationships after the formal Table year ends.
  4. $9,035 spent. The Fund for Critical Youth Needs is used to ensure DCFYI youth are able to cover critical needs like housing, transportation, medications, and/or job-related expenses (including clothing and transportation until they receive a first paycheck.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 2011.

    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 November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Family Initiative Inc (Emporia, KS), EIN 84-1880993. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.