Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Youth on Record

EIN 42-1724770 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MISSION: YOUTH ON RECORD EMPOWERS UNDERSERVED YOUTH TO ACHIEVE THEIR ACADEMIC, ARTISTIC, AND PERSONAL BEST BY EMPLOYING COLORADO MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS AS THEIR COACHES AND MENTORS. VISION: YOUTH ON RECORD'S VISION IS FOR YOUTH TO DISCOVER HOW THEIR VOICES AND VALUE CAN CREATE A BETTER WORLD.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
17
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$157,436, executive di

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (1)
  1. $1.8 million spent. YOR SITS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF ART, CULTURE, CREATIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, WITH A FOCUS ON CREATING POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE WHILE HELPING YOUNG ARTISTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE THRIVE. DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2024, YOR ADVANCED ITS MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ACTIVITIES: ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAMMING - ARTIST-LED, MUSIC-BASED EDUCATION WAS DELIVERED IN PARTNER SCHOOLS WITHIN DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS (DPS) AND AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS (APS). FOR-CREDIT CLASSES WERE OFFERED IN NINE HIGH SCHOOLS AND ONE ADDITIONAL CAMPUS, LED BY LOCAL PROFESSIONAL COLORADO MUSICIANS TRAINED IN YOR'S ENGAGED AND LIBERATORY TEACHING PEDAGOGY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SUPPORTED SCHOOL PARTNERS WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS. YOUNG CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM PROGRAMMING - YOR PROVIDED YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS SERVING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 11-24, INCLUDING OPEN LABS, OPEN MICS, THE FELLOWSHIP OF YOUNG CREATIVES, AND PODCASTING/AUDIO ARTS TRAINING AND PROJECT PRODUCTION. THESE PROGRAMS CONNECTED YOUNG CREATIVES WITH MENTORS, PEERS, AND INDUSTRY NETWORKS AND INCREASED ACCESS TO PAID PERFORMANCE, MEDIA, AND EVENTS OPPORTUNITIES. THE WORK OF THIS PROGRAM AREA WAS HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTIES AND YOUTH-CENTERED MUSIC EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. UNDERGROUND MUSIC SHOWCASE - MISSION-ALIGNED ACTIVITIES - AS A 30% MEMBER OF UMS LLC, YOR CURATED MISSION-ALIGNED COMPONENTS OF COLORADO'S LARGEST INDEPENDENT MUSIC FESTIVAL. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED OPERATION OF A FREE ARTIST CARE LOUNGE, HARM-REDUCTION AND MENTAL-HEALTH SUPPORTS, SOBER- SUPPORT ACTIVATIONS, ACCESSIBILITY AUDITING AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES, DIRECT WORKFORCE-DEVELOPMENT PIPELINES , AND THE STATES LARGEST MUSICIAN CONFERENCE.THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, YOR HELPED CREATE PAID INTERNSHIPS AND ENTRY-LEVEL JOB PLACEMENTS FOR YOUNG ADULTS IN LIVE-EVENTS AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES SUCH AS SOUND, LIGHTING, PRODUCTION, AND GUEST SERVICES. ACROSS ALL PROGRAM AREAS, INNOVATION, INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY, AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED ARTISTS REMAINED CORE TENANTS OF YOUTH ON RECORD'S ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES. YOR SITS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF ART, CULTURE, CREATIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, WITH A FOCUS ON CREATING POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE WHILE HELPING YOUNG ARTISTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE THRIVE. DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2024, YOR ADVANCED ITS MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ACTIVITIES: ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAMMING - ARTIST-LED, MUSIC-BASED EDUCATION WAS DELIVERED IN PARTNER SCHOOLS WITHIN DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS (DPS) AND AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS (APS). FOR-CREDIT CLASSES WERE OFFERED IN NINE HIGH SCHOOLS AND ONE ADDITIONAL CAMPUS, LED BY LOCAL PROFESSIONAL COLORADO MUSICIANS TRAINED IN YOR'S ENGAGED AND LIBERATORY TEACHING PEDAGOGY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SUPPORTED SCHOOL PARTNERS WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS. YOUNG CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM PROGRAMMING - YOR PROVIDED YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS SERVING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 11-24, INCLUDING OPEN LABS, OPEN MICS, THE FELLOWSHIP OF YOUNG CREATIVES, AND PODCASTING/AUDIO ARTS TRAINING AND PROJECT PRODUCTION. THESE PROGRAMS CONNECTED YOUNG CREATIVES WITH MENTORS, PEERS, AND INDUSTRY NETWORKS AND INCREASED ACCESS TO PAID PERFORMANCE, MEDIA, AND EVENTS OPPORTUNITIES. THE WORK OF THIS PROGRAM AREA WAS HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTIES AND YOUTH-CENTERED MUSIC EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. UNDERGROUND MUSIC SHOWCASE - MISSION-ALIGNED ACTIVITIES - AS A 30% MEMBER OF UMS LLC, YOR CURATED MISSION-ALIGNED COMPONENTS OF COLORADO'S LARGEST INDEPENDENT MUSIC FESTIVAL. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED OPERATION OF A FREE ARTIST CARE LOUNGE, HARM-REDUCTION AND MENTAL-HEALTH SUPPORTS, SOBER- SUPPORT ACTIVATIONS, ACCESSIBILITY AUDITING AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES, DIRECT WORKFORCE-DEVELOPMENT PIPELINES , AND THE STATES LARGEST MUSICIAN CONFERENCE.THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, YOR HELPED CREATE PAID INTERNSHIPS AND ENTRY-LEVEL JOB PLACEMENTS FOR YOUNG ADULTS IN LIVE-EVENTS AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES SUCH AS SOUND, LIGHTING, PRODUCTION, AND GUEST SERVICES. ACROSS ALL PROGRAM AREAS, INNOVATION, INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY, AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED ARTISTS REMAINED CORE TENANTS OF YOUTH ON RECORD'S ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

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 November 6, 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 July 2008.

    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 November 4, 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.