Youthlink
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BE A COMMUNITY IN WHICH ALL YOUTH, WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR LIVING SITUATION, HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND DREAMS. THE AGENCY DOES THIS BY SUPPORTING, RESOURCING, AND EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR JOURNEY TO SELF-RELIANCE.
- Income
- $6.2 million
- Spending
- $5.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 63
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $171,934, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 58% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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)
- $2.7 million spent. DROP-IN / OUTREACH / BASIC NEEDS: FOR OVER 50 YEARS, THE YOUTHLINK DROP-IN CENTER HAS BEEN A LOW BARRIER, INCLUSIVE REFUGE AND COMMUNITY OF SAFETY FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 16-24 EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA SURROUNDING DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY. NEARLY 3,000 UNDUPLICATED YOUTH ARE SERVED ANNUALLY; DISPROPORTIONATELY 90% ARE BIPOC YOUTH (74% IDENTIFY AS AFRICAN AMERICAN AND 6% AS NATIVE). YOUNG PEOPLE COMING TO YOUTHLINK ACCESS A NONJUDGMENTAL, YOUTH-CENTERED COMMUNITY WHERE HEALTHY, TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS ARE CREATED IN AUTHENTIC, MEANINGFUL WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO TRANSITION TO SAFETY, STABILITY, AND WELLBEING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DROP-IN / OUTREACH / BASIC NEEDS (CONTINUED FROM PART III): YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED TO CHART THEIR JOURNEYS BY BELIEVING IN AND USING THEIR OWN POTENTIAL (NOT THEIR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES) TO ACHIEVE STABILITY, SELF-RELIANCE, AND WELL-BEING. FOUR COMPONENTS FRAME THE SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE DROP-IN: STREET OUTREACH, CRISIS/BASIC NEEDS RESPONSE, INTERVENTION SERVICES, AND AFTER CARE. GOALS ARE TO DECREASE LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS, TEMPORARY SHELTER, AND HOUSING STABILIZATION; INCREASE ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS FOLLOWED BY INTERVENTION DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE STABILITY, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATION; PREVENT PRECARIOUSLY HOUSED YOUTH FROM BECOMING HOMELESS FOR THE FIRST TIME; CONNECT YOUTH DURING OUTREACH INTERVENTION TO DROP-IN (CRISIS AND BASIC NEED SERVICES), INTERVENTION (RAPID REHOUSING, STABILITY, INTENSIVE WRAP-AROUND CASE MANAGEMENT), AND AFTERCARE (INTENTIONAL AFTER CASE SERVICES). THE OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO MAKE HOMELESNES RARE, BRIEF, AND NONRECURRING FOR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.AS A BARRIER-FREE REFUGE AND HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE SERVICE, OFTEN THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IS STREET OUTREACH. YOUTHLINK USES A "PEER" MODEL OF STREET OUTREACH WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE YOUTH ASSISTING TO ESTABLISH TRUST AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE (16-24) ON THE STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS. AT DROP-IN, CRISIS/BASIC NEEDS RESPONSE INCLUDES FOOD, SHOWERS, CLOTHES, WASHERS/DRYERS, HEALTH CARE, RESPITE SPACE, COMPUTER LAB, MAIL ACCESS, CELL PHONES AND CHARGING STATIONS, CHILD ADVOCACY ASSISTANCE, BUS PASSES AND TOKENS. INTERVENTION SERVICES INCLUDE CHEMICAL/ADDICTION INTERVENTIONS, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, BENEFITS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE, HELP TO OBTAIN VITAL DOCUMENTS (ID'S, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD ACCESS, ETC), EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES, RAPID REHOUSING, HOUSING VOUCHERS, HOUSING AND LANDLORD ADVOCACY, COURT ADVOCACY, AND ACCESS TO THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CENTER NETWORK OF MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER SERVICE PARTNERS ALL LOCATED UNDER ONE ROOF. YOUTHLINK VOICES OF YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, COMPRISED OF LIVED EXPERIENCE YOUTH, PROVIDES CONTINUOUS INPUT TO LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAMMING, AND MENTORING TO OTHER YOUTH IN THE DROP-IN.EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION:YOUTHLINK OPERATES AS A RESPONSIVE, ADAPTIVE, PARTNERSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATION. OUR ONSITE CAREER AND EDUCATION PATHWAYS PROGRAM STRENGTHENS THE SERVICES OFFERED BY ENGAGING ONSITE PARTNERS WITH EMPLOYMENT EXPERTISE, INCLUDING GOODWILL EASTER SEALS AND HIRED (CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT AGENCYS) TO PARTNER WITH YOUTH TO ASSESS WORK READINESS, DETERMINE CAREER INTERESTS, BUILD RESUMES, IDENTIFY INTERNSHIPS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND SECURE JOB PLACEMENTS FOR YOUTH. YOUTHLINK PROVIDES WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES TO YOUTH WHILE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING FIRST JOBS TO SUPPORT LONGTERM SUCCESS. ADDITIONALLY, YOUTHLINK PROVIDES PREPARATION FOR GED COMPLETION, GUIDANCE TO STAY IN HIGH SCHOOL, TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO ENTER POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROCESS AS WELL.YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CENTER:THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF MULTISERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERS LOCATED ONSITE TO REDUCE ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS AND SERVE THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE (16-24) AT RISK OF OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. YOUTH ACCESSING SERVICES AT THE DROP-IN HAVE ACCESS TO THESE PARTNERS AND YOUTHLINK STAFF WORK WITH THESE PARTNERS AND YOUTH TO CO-CREATE INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS TO FURTHER ENSURE THEIR LONG-TERM SUCCESS. SERVICES AND RESOURCES INCLUDE THE AFOREMENTIONED EDUCATION AND CAREER RESOURCES, PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, ARTS AND RECORDING OPPORTUNITIES, MENTORING, AND EVENTS LIKE HEALTH FAIRS, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION FAIRS, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING CELEBRATIONS.DROP-IN / EXTENDED HOURS: EXPERT-FACILITATED PEER SUPPORT GROUP FROM 6PM-8PM EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR YOUTH THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMZED OR SEXUALLY EXPLOITED. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH TO PROCESS TRAUMA AND UNDERTAKE THEIR JOURNEY TO HEALING.
- $1.7 million spent. HOUSING STABILITY: ACCESS TO HOUSING STABILITY RESOURCES IS A PRIORITY FOR YOUTH. THIS STARTS THE FIRST DAY A YOUNG PERSON COMES IN CONTACT WITH A STAFF PERSON. YOUTHLINK IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES IN THE TWIN CITIES.YOUTHLINK PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE YOUTH AT 42-UNIT NICOLLET SQUARE APARTMENTS, A PARTNERSHIP WITH BEACON INTERFAITH HOUSING COLLABORATIVE, AND 46 BEDS AT DOWNTOWN VIEW APARTMENTS, A PARTNERSHIP WITH PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III) IN ADDITION, YOUTHLINK PROVES SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES TO YOUTH IN OVER 50 SCATTERED SITE UNITS ANNUALLY. ELIGIBLE YOUTH CAN LEASE A ONE-BEDROOM OR AN EFFICIENCY APARTMENT WHILE SURROUNDED BY AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF SUPPORT. SUPPORT INCLUDES CASE MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS ACCESS TO THE FULL SCOPE OF DROP IN AND YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CENTER SERVICES AND RESOURCES, INCLUDING MENTAL AND CHEMICAL HEALTH CARE, EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER SERVICES, GROUP SUPPORT, AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.