Avenues for Youth
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF AVENUES FOR YOUTH (AFY) IS TO PARTNER WITH YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING SHELTER, SHORT TERM AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH SUCH SERVICE, AVENUES SEEKS TO HELP YOUTH ACHIEVE THEIR PERSONAL GOALS AND FIND A POSITIVE TRANSITION INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD.
- Income
- $6.9 million
- Spending
- $4.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 9.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 57%
- Employees
- 70
- Volunteers
- 408
- Highest pay
- $158,132, executive director
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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 55% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 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 (3)
- $2.1 million spent. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, AVENUES FOR YOUTH MET THE INCREASED NEED WE ARE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY BY SUPPORTING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WHILE CONTINUING TO OFFER STRONG PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. AVENUES BROKE GROUND ON A NEW HOUSING AND ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS WHICH IS SLATED TO OPEN IN LATE FY26. THIS NEW BUILDING WILL PROVIDE MORE A SPACE FOR THE CURRENT NORTH MINNEAPOLIS SHELTER AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS THAT IS MORE DIGNIFIED, TRAUMA-INFORMED AND SUSTAINABLE. IT WILL ALSO ALLOW ADD EIGHT AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS TO THE HOUSING MIX THAT AVENUES OFFERS AND ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL GROWTH OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS.DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, AVENUES OPERATED FOUR PROGRAMS IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT SUPPORTED 338 YOUTH, INCLUDING YOUNG FAMILIES. WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AN AVENUES PROGRAM, YOUTH NO LONGER NEED TO PUT THEIR ENERGY INTO SURVIVAL. WITH SHELTER AND ALL BASIC NEEDS MET, THEY CAN WORK WITH AVENUES STAFF TO ADDRESS OTHER IMMEDIATE ISSUES, FOCUS ON IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT, AND PURSUE THEIR PERSONAL GOALS FOR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, RELATIONSHIPS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, LEARNING LIFE SKILLS AND STABLE HOUSING. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, AVENUES OPERATED FOUR PROGRAMS IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT SUPPORTED 338 YOUTH, INCLUDING YOUNG FAMILIES. WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AN AVENUES PROGRAM, YOUTH NO LONGER NEED TO PUT THEIR ENERGY INTO SURVIVAL. WITH SHELTER AND ALL BASIC NEEDS MET, THEY CAN WORK WITH AVENUES STAFF TO ADDRESS OTHER IMMEDIATE ISSUES, FOCUS ON IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT, AND PURSUE THEIR PERSONAL GOALS FOR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, RELATIONSHIPS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, LEARNING LIFE SKILLS AND STABLE HOUSING. AVENUES' CONGREGATE SHELTER AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, OUR TWO CONGREGATE SHELTER AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS SUPPORTED 117 YOUTH, AS FOLLOWS: -MINNEAPOLIS AVENUES SUPPORTED 69 YOUTH, INCLUDING 14 YOUTH WHO USED THE EMERGENCY OVER-NIGHT BED FOR ONE OR MORE NIGHTS. OF THE 47 YOUTH WHO MOVED OUT, 72% MOVED INTO STABLE HOUSING. -BROOKLYN AVENUES SUPPORTED 43 YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING 12 YOUTH WHO USED THE EMERGENCY OVERNIGHT BED FOR ONE OR MORE NIGHTS. OF THE 22 YOUTH WHO MOVED OUT, 77% MOVED TO A STABLE HOUSING ENVIRONMENT. WHILE LIVING AT AVENUES, YOUTH RECEIVE ALL BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT (BEDROOM, BATHROOM, THREE MEALS PER DAY, PERSONAL SUPPLIES, LAUNDRY, TRANSIT PASSES, ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND PHONE), ALONG WITH 24 HOUR CARING AND GUIDANCE FROM OUR STAFF AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. WE TAKE A CARE COORDINATION APPROACH - EACH YOUTH HAS ACCESS TO OUR TEAM THAT INCLUDES CASE MANAGERS, MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST, PHYSICIAN, EDUCATION AND CAREER SPECIALIST, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS. YOUTH IN THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM AT AVENUES STAYED FOR 200 TO 210 DAYS ON AVERAGE, WHILE YOUTH IN THE SHELTER PROGRAM STAYED AN AVERAGE OF 19 DAYS. AT ANY POINT IN TIME, ANOTHER 40 TO 50 YOUTH WHO HAVE MOVED OUT OF BROOKLYN AVENUES AND MINNEAPOLIS AVENUES ARE RECEIVING AFTER-CARE SUPPORT FROM THEIR CASE MANAGER.
- $300,994 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OIN AVENUES FOR YOUTH'S CONNEQT HOST HOME PROGRAM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OPEN THEIR HOMES TO YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE PROGRAM IS A COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER-BASED INITIATIVE THAT MATCHES YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AGES 16 - 24 WITH VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY RECRUITED, SCREENED AND TRAINED BY AVENUES. YOUTH MAY STAY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR A FEW NIGHTS OR UP TO A YEAR.CONNEQT SUPPORTS YOUTH WHO IDENTIFY AS GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND QUEER. THEIR HOSTS ARE LGBTQ THEMSELVES OR ALLIES. THE PROCESS OF MATCHING YOUTH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS YOUTH-DRIVEN. WHILE LIVING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YOUTH RECEIVE ALL BASIC NEEDS AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEIR CASE MANAGER AND OTHER SPECIALISTS ON OUR TEAM TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THEIR LONGER-TERM PERSONAL GOALS. THE HOSTING ARRANGEMENT IS OFTEN LIFE-CHANGING, BOTH FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND YOUTH. THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO PROVIDE YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH THE STABILITY, SUPPORT AND COACHING THEY NEED SO, WHEN THEY LEAVE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS' HOMES, THEY HAVE A VISION FOR THEIR FUTURE AND ARE BUILDING THE SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS NEEDED TO PURSUE THAT VISION. SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE ARE FOSTERING CONNECTIONS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY. DURING FY25, CONNEQT SUPPORTED TEN YOUNG PEOPLE IN HOST HOMES. ONE YOUTH MOVED OUT DURING THE YEAR, INTO THEIR OWN STABLE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. ANOTHER 31 LGBTQ-IDENTIFIED YOUTH RECEIVED INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT BUT DID NOT LIVE IN HOST HOMES DURING FY25. ADDITIONALLY, 54 YOUTH RECEIVED SUPPORT THROUGH DROP-IN AND OUTREACH.
- $718,697 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OAVENUES FOR YOUNG FAMILIES RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMAVENUES FOR YOUNG FAMILIES SUPPORTS HOMELESS-YOUTH LED FAMILIES. THIS "RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM" SUPPORTS YOUTH-LED FAMILIES BY HELPING THEM LOCATE AN APARTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING TEMPORARY RENT SUBSIDIES AND WRAPPING COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AROUND THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO GIVE THEM A STRONG START TOWARD INDEPENDENT LIVING. RENT SUBSIDIES ARE PROVIDED BY A GRANTS FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S HOMELESS YOUTH ACT (HYA). THE ADDITION OF HYA FUNDING IN FY24 ALLOWED AVENUES TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF THE PROGRAM. AVENUES NOW WORKS WITH 24 YOUNG FAMILIES AT A TIME, UP FROM 12 YOUNG FAMILIES. DURING FY25, AVENUES SUPPORTED 32 YOUNG FAMILIES, INCLUDING A TOTAL OF 33 ADULTS AND 48 CHILDREN. OF THE ELEVEN HOUSEHOLDS WHO EXITED THE PROGRAM, 100% ACHIEVED STABLE HOUSING. THIS WAS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW THAT 100% OF YOUTH-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS ACHIEVED STABLE HOUSING UPON LEAVING THE PROGRAM.
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
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 June 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 February 1995.
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.