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High School Youth Initiative Inc

EIN 39-1906073 · Viroqua, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YOUTH INITIATIVE HIGH SCHOOL PROVIDES HOLISTIC WALDORF-INSPIRED EDUCATION FOR GRADES 9-12, STRIVING TO INTEGRATE "HEAD, HEART, AND HANDS" (THINKING, FEELING, AND WILLING) INTO THE FABRIC OF SCHOOL LIFE. PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND FACULTY WORK TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST STUDENTS IN BECOMING FREE THINKERS, AND IN MATURING, INTO ACTIVE, RESPONSE-ABLE, EMPOWERED PARTICIPANTS IN THE GREATER SOCIETY. THE SCHOOL, ITS STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND FACULTY STRIVES TO BE OF SERVICE TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY.

Income
$590,611
Spending
$630,452
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
33
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$35,000, administrato

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 11 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $491,652 spent. MEANINGFUL EVALUATION AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS - GROWING UP COMES WITH GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES. ADOLESCENTS GRAPPLE WITH QUESTIONS OF IDENTITY, PURPOSE, BELONGING, PERSONAL VALUES, AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ARE LEARNING TO BALANCE SCHOOL, JOBS, HOMEWORK, SPORTS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. AT YOUTH INITIATIVE, WE UNDERSTAND ADOLESCENTS. WE PROVIDE CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT, RESPONSIBILITY AND FREEDOM, STRUCTURE AND INDEPENDENCE. FROM OUR SMALL CLASSROOM SIZE TO OUR UNIQUE CARE GROUP SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, WE ARE ABLE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO EACH STUDENT, TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE, AND TO HELP THEM GROW AND FLOURISH IN THE WAYS THEY NEED MOST. OUR FACULTY MEMBERS WRITE DETAILED REPORTS OF STUDENT PROGRESS FOR EACH CLASS WEEKLY, SO PARENTS AND STUDENTS CAN TRACK GROWTH AND LOOK FOR AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. THESE REPORTS REVEAL FAR MORE ABOUT EACH STUDENT'S CAPABILITIES, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND AREAS OF CHALLENGE THAN A LETTER GRADE EVER COULD. COLLECTIVELY, THESE NARRATIVE REPORTS ALSO CREATE AN IMPRESSIVE TRANSCRIPT THAT HELPS YOUTH INITIATIVE STUDENTS STAND OUT IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. THE TEACHING OF AROUND 60 STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12 THROUGH STANDARD WALDORF HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM. MEANINGFUL EVALUATION AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS - GROWING UP COMES WITH GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES. ADOLESCENTS GRAPPLE WITH QUESTIONS OF IDENTITY, PURPOSE, BELONGING, PERSONAL VALUES, AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY ARE LEARNING TO BALANCE SCHOOL, JOBS, HOMEWORK, SPORTS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. AT YOUTH INITIATIVE, WE UNDERSTAND ADOLESCENTS. WE PROVIDE CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT, RESPONSIBILITY AND FREEDOM, STRUCTURE AND INDEPENDENCE. FROM OUR SMALL CLASSROOM SIZE TO OUR UNIQUE CARE GROUP SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, WE ARE ABLE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO EACH STUDENT, TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE, AND TO HELP THEM GROW AND FLOURISH IN THE WAYS THEY NEED MOST. OUR FACULTY MEMBERS WRITE DETAILED REPORTS OF STUDENT PROGRESS FOR EACH CLASS WEEKLY, SO PARENTS AND STUDENTS CAN TRACK GROWTH AND LOOK FOR AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. THESE REPORTS REVEAL FAR MORE ABOUT EACH STUDENT'S CAPABILITIES, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND AREAS OF CHALLENGE THAN A LETTER GRADE EVER COULD. COLLECTIVELY, THESE NARRATIVE REPORTS ALSO CREATE AN IMPRESSIVE TRANSCRIPT THAT HELPS YOUTH INITIATIVE STUDENTS STAND OUT IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. THE TEACHING OF AROUND 60 STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12 THROUGH STANDARD WALDORF HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM.
  2. SUPPORT EDUCATION IN NUEVA ESPERANZA-CHACULA, GUATEMALA.

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 May 1999.

    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.