Youth in Need
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BUILD ON THE STRENGTHS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES SO THEY FIND SAFETY, HOPE AND SUCCESS IN LIFE.
- Income
- $38.7 million
- Spending
- $35.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 56%
- Employees
- 552
- Volunteers
- 426
- Highest pay
- $218,772, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2547 of 48 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 December 31, 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 (6)
- $20.8 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD - EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES ARE DELIVERED THROUGH EARLY LEARNING CENTERS, HOME VISITATION, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND KINDERGARTEN READINESS. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START SERVICES PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN ST. LOUIS CITY AND COUNTY, AS WELL AS ST. CHARLES, LINCOLN, WARREN, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES WITH CHILDREN AGES PRE-BIRTH UP TO AGE THREE. CENTER-BASED TUITION SERVICES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT SELECT LOCATIONS. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED PRIMARILY IN MISSOURI AND SURROUNDING STATES AND INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COACHING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS.
- $4.5 million spent. COUNSELING SERVICES - SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN SCHOOL, HOME/OFFICE SETTINGS FOR YOUTH AGES 3-21 AND THEIR FAMILIES. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE/ABUSE, JUVENILE LAW OFFENDERS, YOUTH EXPERIENCING SCHOOL FAILURE, SYMPTOMS OF SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE, AND THOSE EXPERIENCING SEVERE CHRONIC CONFLICT AND UNABLE TO SECURE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING WITH INSURANCE. COUNSELING CONSISTS OF 1) PROBLEM ASSESSMENTS/CRISIS INTERVENTION CONSULTATIONS, 2) BRIEF, SOLUTION- FOCUSED FAMILY THERAPY, 3) ON-GOING INDIVIDUAL/GROUP THERAPY WHEN BRIEF THERAPY HAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY RESOLVED ISSUES, AND 4) PLANNING/LINKING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES AS INDICATED IN THE SERVICE PLAN. DURING 2025, 2,272 YOUTH AND FAMILY MEMBERS WERE SERVED. OVER 84.6% OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IMPROVED THEIR SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE.
- $1.7 million spent. FOSTER CARE - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN ALTERNATIVE CARE AND THEIR FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM INTENSIVELY WORKS WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT LED TO OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT, AND TO SECURE STABLE AND SAFE, PERMANENT LIVING SITUATIONS FOR EACH CHILD. DURING 2025, 396 YOUTH AND FAMILY MEMBERS WERE SERVED BY THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM.
- $1.7 million spent. TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM (TLP) - YOUTH IN NEED PROVIDES HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 16-21 AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN INDEPENDENT-LIVING SKILLS AND WORK TO COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION AND BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY PARTICIPATING IN THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM. YOUTH IN NEED PROVIDES THESE SERVICES TO YOUTH LIVING IN OUR GROUP HOME OR SUPPORTED APARTMENTS PROGRAM. DURING 2025, 67 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM. OVER 91% OF PARTICIPANTS INCREASED THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS AND WERE ON TRACK TO INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
- $1.4 million spent. COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - THIS PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY YOUTH AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, VIOLENCE, FAILING TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND ENGAGING IN HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS, TO LINK THEM TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND TO DIRECTLY PROVIDE THEM EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT. THE ORGANIZATION IS ALSO THE REGIONAL PROVIDER OF SAFE PLACE SERVICES FOR EASTERN MISSOURI. SAFE PLACE BRINGS BUSINESSES AND VOLUNTEERS TOGETHER TO PROVIDE HELP AND SAFETY TO CHILDREN AND TEENS FACING ABUSE, NEGLECT OR SERIOUS FAMILY PROBLEMS AND EDUCATES YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO AND WHERE THEY CAN GO IF THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. DURING 2025, THE COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND PROJECT SAFE PLACE SERVED 5,009 YOUTH.
- $1.2 million spent. EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM - THE SHELTER IS AN EMERGENCY RESIDENCE FOR 12 YOUTH (AGES 10-18) EXPERIENCING CRISIS; 24-HOUR SUPPORT AND INFORMATION IS PROVIDED THROUGH A HOTLINE. DURING 2025, THE EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAM SERVED 209 YOUTH AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 1975.
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.