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Youth Employment Academy

EIN 46-1083070 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ACADEMY'S MISSION IS TO SERVE YOUNG ADULTS IN BREAKING THE CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY IN DENVER COMMUNITIES BY GAINING PERSONAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY THROUGH EDUCATION, ARTS, TECHNOLOGY AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
5
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$335,102, interim ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $706,576 spent. THE OSAGE CAFE, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DENVER'S LINCOLN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AT 1099 OSAGE STREET, IS DENVER'S FIRST COMMUNITY-BASED YOUTH CULINARY TRAINING CENTER. HERE YOU WILL FIND A FULL-SERVICE CAFE AND CATERING COMPANY OFFERING AFFORDABLY PRICED, HEALTHY MEALS MADE BY YOUTH AGES 16 TO 24 WHO ARE TRAINING FOR JOBS IN THE CULINARY ARTS THROUGH THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ACADEMY'S CULINARY ACADEMY. THE 45-HOUR COURSE OFFERED TO STUDENTS INCLUDES A SERVSAFE CERTIFICATION UPON COMPLETION. YOUTH ARE THEN ELGIBLE FOR A PAID INTERNSHIP AT THE CAFE, AND GRADUATES EMERGE WITH MARKETABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE AND ARE ASSISTED WITH EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT.
  2. $446,047 spent. YEA'S NEWEST SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, DECATUR FRESH IS A GROCERY MARKET, WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY SPACE. IT OFFERS LOCAL RESIDENTS IN THE SUN VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE, NUTRITIOUS, INTERNATIONAL FOOD OPTIONS WHILE PROVIDING YOUTH TRAINING IN CAREERS IN CUSTOMER SERVICE OR GROCERY STORE MANAGEMENT.
  3. $197,624 spent. YEA'S PROGRAMS SEEK TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO REACH THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT BY GAINING SKILLS AND POSITIVE VALUES. UTILIZING BEST PRACTICE STRATEGIES OF POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, YEA ACTS AS A STEPPING STONE TO CAREER AND EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS CAUGHT IN THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND EARLY COLLEGE. CURRENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDES CAREER ACADEMIES IN THE DEMAND-DRIVEN INDUSTRIES OF CULINARY, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY. ACADEMIES RANGE FROM SHORT, 15-HOUR WEEKEND INTENSIVES UP TO 70 HOURS OF WEEKLY TRAINING, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 45 HOURS OF SKILLS TRAINING. ACADEMIES ARE HELD FOR YOUTH FROM AGES 14 TO 21. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.THE CULINARY ACADEMY TEACHES YOUTH ABOUT FOOD SAFETY, HEALTHY COOKING, KNIFE SKILLS, FOLLOWING A RECIPE, SAUTEING, ROASTING, AND BAKING. PARTICIPANTS ALSO UTILIZE THE KITCHEN LAB AT THE OSAGE CAFE TO LEARN ABOUT FRONT- AND BACK-OF-HOUSE RESTAURANT SKILLS. THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES ACADEMIES INCLUDE TRAINING IN SKILLS NEEDED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, GRAPHIC DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, VIDEO PRODUCTION, AND MORE, UTILIZING A PROJECT-BASED CURRICULUM FOR ACTUAL CLIENTS SO YOUTH LEARN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER JOB SKILLS. SOME ACADEMIES ARE HELD DURING IN-SCHOOL TIME (AND RECEIVE HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT) WHILE OTHERS ARE HELD AFTER-SCHOOL, ON WEEKENDS, AND DURING THE SUMMER. UPON COMPLETION OF A CAREER ACADEMY, YOUTH ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A REAL-WORLD INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE AT THE OSAGE CAFE OR ARTS STREET STUDIO. WE ALSO PROVIDE AN AFTERSCHOOL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR YOUTH IN ANY PROGRAM. THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ACADEMY HAS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE CAREER SPECIFIC OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING, WHICH CAN LEAD TO NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION AND ENTRY-LEVEL READINESS FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE CAREER OF THEIR CHOICE.
  4. $18,149 spent. MERCADO

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? 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 December 2024.

    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 February 2013.

    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.