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Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa

EIN 42-0919209 · Cedar Rapids, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO OWN THEIR ECONOMIC SUCCESS. IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESS AND EDUCATORS, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT BRINGS THE REAL WORLD TO STUDENTS, OPENING THEIR MINDS TO THEIR POTENTIAL AND PREPARING THEM FOR THE WORLD OF WORK.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
12.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
29
Volunteers
1,502
Highest pay
$234,807, 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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 25

    13 of 13 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: JA'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS (GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH,) ARE THE FOUNDATION OF ITS K-12 CURRICULA. SIX SEQUENTIAL THEMES, EACH WITH FIVE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS AN AFTER-SCHOOL AND CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE, WORK TO CHANGE STUDENTS' LIVES BY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 21,431 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN 1,062 EXPERIENCES AT A TOTAL COST OF $1,658,157. OF THESE EXPENSES, $321,725 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FORM 990 AS IT IS THE VALUE OF THE 10,738.5 HOURS PROVIDED BY OUR BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS. IF IT WERE NOT FOR OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES.
  2. $730,889 spent. MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS, GRADES SIXTH THROUGH EIGHTH, BUILD ON CONCEPTS THE STUDENTS LEARNED IN JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM AND HELP TEENS MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO BEST PREPARE FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL FUTURE. THE PROGRAMS SUPPLEMENT STANDARD SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULA AND DEVELOP COMMUNICATION SKILLS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 11,741 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 283 EXPERIENCES AT A TOTAL COST OF $806,898. OF THESE EXPENSES, $74,720 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FORM 990 AS IT IS THE VALUE OF THE 2,494 HOURS PROVIDED BY OUR BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS. IF IT WERE NOT FOR OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES.
  3. $252,751 spent. HIGH SCHOOL: AS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, GRADES NINTH THROUGH TWELFTH, BEGIN TO POSITION THEMSELVES FOR THEIR FUTURE, THERE ARE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT'S HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS HELP STUDENTS MAKE INFORMED, INTELLIGENT DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, AND FOSTER SKILLS THAT WILL BE HIGHLY USEFUL IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 4059 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 764 EXPERIENCES AT A TOTAL COST OF $419,806. OF THESE EXPENSES, $166,667 IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FORM 990 AS IT IS THE VALUE OF THE 5,563 HOURS PROVIDED BY OUR BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS. IF IT WERE NOT FOR OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES.

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.