Love Unity & Values Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS to inspire hope and empower underserved youth with economic opportunities, while building resiliency and social-emotional competencies.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 75%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $128,952, executive dir.
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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $1.3 million spent. The Journey to My Better Self Entrepreneurship Program (J2MBS-EP) is a program for youth and young adults, ages 16 to 24, interested in entrepreneurship. The program helps them learn career development and explore the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Through role-playing, modeling, reflective exercises, and small group discussions, participants learn how to put into action and practice life-enhancing skills to help them create the type of life they desire and dream of. Students will create a product that will be sold in pop-up stores and kiosks. With a focus on literacy through writing, a comprehensive learning program has been designed to encourage students to ask questions, read and develop meaningful ways to research answers and increase their capacity to communicate their findings. For the last two years, J2MBS-EP students have created live Christmas wreaths, which they source, market, manufacture, and sell. Called Wreaths of LUV, students operate pop-up stores and kiosks to introduce their wreaths to the public. Their wreaths were sold in Macy's on State Street and have adorned light posts in the Woodlawn, Washington Park, and Kenwood neighborhoods.The Journey to My Better Self After-School Empowerment Program (J2MBS-AEP) is an innovative after-school program for elementary and middle school students, which focuses on basic literacy, artistic expression, and wellness (LAW). All of the evidence-based strategies implemented are specifically designed to promote improved academic achievement; encourage the development and maintenance of healthy lifestyles; provide conflict resolution and team-building strategies; develop partnerships with parents and families to strengthen community involvement; foster artistic expression and cultural enrichment, and empower students to be productive citizens and community leaders through service and mentorship. Through role-playing, modeling, reflective exercises, and small group discussions, participants learn how to put into action and practice life-enhancing skills to help them create the type of life they desire and dream of. Students will create a mosaic or art structure that will reflect the legacy of the school's values and vision for the future. With a focus on literacy through writing, a comprehensive learning program has been designed to encourage students to ask questions, read and develop meaningful ways to research answers and increase their capacity to communicate their findings.The Journey to My Better Self Artistic Expression Program (J2MBS-ArtEP) helps academically and economically challenged students manage their emotions, interpret self and navigate their social environment by translating their experiences into a mixed media mosaic. Using restorative practice (Circle Processes) to facilitate role-playing, modeling, reflective exercises, and small group discussions, the mosaic provides extended participatory learning, which engages students with the help of accomplished artists and educators. The program is designed to provide an engaging and meaningful learning experience that will prepare students to be able to apply learning skills across academic disciplines, recognize and investigate problems, express and interpret information through visual arts, learn to work individually and as part of a group and make connections with how visual arts reflect history, culture, society and everyday life. This program culminates with creating a group mosaic that represents student values, ideas, and creativity.The Journey to My Better Self Media Empowerment Program (J2MBS-MEP) is a career readiness journalism program for high school students, ages 14 to 18, from low-income families. Working in partnership with After School Matters (ASM), students create and publish an online magazine and produce their television show using the moniker Strong, Wise and Young (SWAY-TV). Additionally, classroom discussions, career interest workshops, field trips, interviews with career professionals illuminate the students' experiences in starting their entrepreneurial ventures.The Journey to My Better Self College Empowerment Program (J2MBS-CEP) inventory's a student's natural talent by helping to identify an academic focus, high-skilled occupations related to that focus, and internship opportunities that would best fit each participant. The program prepares first-generation college students with the skills needed to increase their academics, build a relationship with their professors, join study groups, participate in campus activities, and network with alumni. Finally, we pair freshmen with mentors who are already advanced in their areas of interest to help guide students through feelings of estrangement, academic gaps, and opportunities so that students can focus on completing college and finding a sustainable career when they graduate. In addition, an online system allows each participant to access resources, mentoring, coaching, and ongoing support to help them complete college. The evaluation criteria include program attendance, knowledge gains, increased grades, achievement tests, improved attitude and motivation towards college, and improved critical thinking skills. After the program, participants will have the skill-set, knowledge, and experience to better prepare them for today's workforce.The Journey to My Better Self Career Academy (J2MBS-CA) prepares at-risk 9th through 12th-grade students and young adults, ages 18 to 24, to be job-ready for economically sustainable employment in high-growth industries and occupations. The Academy's career development and skills courses combine academic, career, and technical curricula to enrich teaching and learning and focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), manufacturing, and education. Starting with small learning communities, the Academy creates a supportive, personalized learning environment for students where teachers, career and college counselors, parents, and employers collaborate to sup
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 January 2013.
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.