Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Junior Achievement USA

EIN 41-1424988 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE AND PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCEED IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

Income
$7.8 million
Spending
$8.9 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
72
Volunteers
7,205
Highest pay
$470,607, ceo & president

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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

    60 of 60 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 (4)
  1. $2.9 million spent. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT TRADITIONAL IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS:ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS - DURING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS, STUDENTS BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION AND LEARN BASIC CONCEPTS OF BUSINESS, FINANCE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION. THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LESSONS AND CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT BRINGS LEARNING TO LIFE THROUGH ENGAGING LESSONS FOR STUDENTS.MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS - IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, STUDENTS BUILD ON CONCEPTS LEARNED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND LESSONS ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD FOUNDATIONAL FINANCIAL SKILLS, EXPOSE STUDENTS TO A VARIETY OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND CULTIVATE AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT. THE PROGRAMS SUPPLEMENT STANDARD SCHOOL CURRICULA AND BUILD COMMUNICATION SKILLS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT TEACHERS BY IMPLEMENTING CLASSROOM LESSONS, WHICH HELPS BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND ENHANCE LEARNING.HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS- JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT'S HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS HELP STUDENTS MAKE INFORMED, INTELLIGENT DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, AND FOSTER SKILLS THAT WILL BE VALUABLE AS THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND TAKE THEIR NEXT STEPS.
  2. $2.6 million spent. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMMING:EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS BRING LEARNING TO LIFE FOR STUDENTS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE CENTERED ON A LEARNING LABORATORY EXPERIENCE THAT PROVIDES A TANGIBLE WAY FOR STUDENTS TO APPLY WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM WHILE ONSITE IN THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT LEARNING LABS. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAMS INCLUDE JA BIZTOWN AND JA FINANCE PARK WITH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL DELIVERY MODELS.JA BIZTOWN - ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO DRIVE, WORK, VOTE OR BE A CEO. BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP THEM FROM OPERATING BANKS, MANAGING RESTAURANTS, WRITING CHECKS, AND VOTING FOR MAYOR AT JA BIZTOWN. THE PROGRAM COMBINES IN-CLASS LEARNING WITH A DAY-LONG VISIT TO THIS FULLY INTERACTIVE SIMULATED LAB. JA BIZTOWN HELPS STUDENTS CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN WHAT THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL AND THE REAL WORLD. THROUGH DAILY LESSONS, INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES, AND PARTICIPATION IN THIS SIMULATED COMMUNITY DESIGNED TO SUPPORT DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING STYLES, STUDENTS DEVELOP A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WHAT THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL AND THEIR SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION IN AN ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY.JA FINANCE PARK - STUDENTS PRACTICE PLANNING FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE DURING THIS LEARNING SIMULATION THAT COVERS CRITICAL PERSONAL FINANCE CONCEPTS AND CAREER EXPLORATION. JA FINANCE PARK IS DESIGNED TO BE TAUGHT TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BY CLASSROOM TEACHERS. AT THE CULMINATION OF THIS PROGRAM, STUDENTS VISIT JA FINANCE PARK IN A VIRTUAL SIMULATION OR AN ON-SITE DAY TO PUT INTO PRACTICE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT ECONOMIC OPTIONS AND THE PRINCIPLES OF BUDGETING. ASSISTED BY THEIR TEACHERS AND A STAFF OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS EXPLORE BUDGETING AND HOW EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL DECISIONS CAN IMPACT THEIR FUTURE.WE MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY'RE AT. WE UTILIZE VIRTUAL CONTENT TO MEET THE CONTINUAL NEEDS OF REMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH MEANS STUDENTS WHO COULDN'T BEFORE RECEIVE CLASSROOM PROGRAMMING OR MAKE IT TO OUR LEARNING LABS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER VIDEOS, JA BIZTOWN ONLINE ADVENTURES, AND JA FINANCE PARK VIRTUAL.WE MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY'RE AT. THE VIRTUAL INNOVATIONS WE STARTED DEVELOPING IN 2020 WILL REMAIN PART OF OUR ONGOING PROGRAMMING SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO REACH A BROADER GROUP OF STUDENTS WITHIN THE REGION. WE HAVE LEVERAGED VIRTUAL CONTENT TO MEET THE CONTINUAL NEEDS OF REMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH MEANS STUDENTS WHO COULDN'T BEFORE RECEIVE CLASSROOM PROGRAMMING OR MAKE IT TO OUR LEARNING LABS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER VIDEOS, JA BIZTOWN ONLINE ADVENTURES, AND JA FINANCE PARK VIRTUAL.
  3. $916,395 spent. 3DE:3DE BY JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IS A PIONEERING HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL THAT IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MISSION TO EXPAND ECONOMIC MOBILITY BY TRANSFORMING EDUCATION INTO DYNAMIC, REAL-WORLD LEARNING EXPERIENCES. THE 3DE MODEL IS ROOTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES SUCH AS CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION, COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, CULTURAL AGILITY, AND SELF-DIRECTION. THROUGH CONSISTENT INVESTMENT BY EDUCATORS, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT STAFF, BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS FLOURISH AS THEY BUILD CONFIDENCE AND PREPARE TO LEAD CHOICE-FILLED LIVES BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.
  4. $283,213 spent. ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMMING:JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT'S ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS HELP DEVELOP THEIR OWN ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS THAT WILL BE VALUABLE AS THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND TAKE THEIR NEXT STEPS. THE JA COMPANY PROGRAM IS A BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE FOR 9TH-12TH GRADE STUDENTS. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE INNOVATIVE THINKING TO CREATE, MARKET, AND OPERATE THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. THROUGH THIS IN-DEPTH LEADERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM, STUDENTS GAIN REAL-WORLD BUSINESS EXPERIENCE BY WORKING IN TEAMS TO CONCEPTUALIZE, CAPITALIZE, AND MANAGE THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES. HOSTED AND ADVISED BY ENTREPRENEURS AND VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS GAIN INSIGHT INTO LARGER CONCEPTS LIKE MARKET RESEARCH, BUSINESS LEADERSHIP, AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT WHILE DEVELOPING VALUABLE CAREER AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

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.