Safe Talk for Teens
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 5% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO MOTIVATE, REDIRECT, ASSIST AND GUIDE YOUTH IN MAKING BETTER DECISIONS BY TEACHING THEM POSITIVE AND HEALTHY COPING TOOLS, CORE VALUES, AND GOAL SETTING.
- Income
- $180,885
- Spending
- $210,449
- Spent on programs
- 5%
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $87,283, president/director
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 155% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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.
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)
- $11,076 spent. SAFE TALK FOR TEENS IS A 501(C)(3) EARLY INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION NONPROFIT PROGRAM IN WASHOE COUNTY. WE OPENED IN APRIL OF 2013. WE ARE FUNDED BY GRANTS RECEIVED FROM FOUNDATIONS AND DONATIONS FROM BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS.WE PROVIDE A FREE, SAFE, AND CONFIDENTIAL PLACE FOR YOUTH 8-19 YEARS OF AGE TO SPEAK WITH ONE OF OUR YOUTH ADVISORS EITHER ALONE OR WITH THEIR PARENTS. EACH KID MAKES THAT CHOICE FOR THEMSELVES. AS YOUTH ADVISORS WE TEACH & MOTIVATE OUR KIDS TO ACHIEVE OUR TWO PROGRAM GOALS - WHICH ARE HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS.OUR YOUTH ADVISORS HELP KIDS IDENTIFY POSITIVE AND HEALTHY COPING SKILLS TO HELP THEM COPE WITH THE NEGATIVE BUT NORMAL EMOTIONS OF ANGER, SADNESS, DEPRESSION, STRESS, AND ANXIETY. WE STRIVE TO HELP THEM AVOID TURNING TO DRUGS, ALCOHOL, VIOLENCE, SELF-HARM, OR SUICIDE AS COPING MECHANISMS. WE HELP KIDS IMPROVE THEIR DECISION MAKING AND GOAL SETTING THROUGH OUR VALUES CLARIFICATION AND GOAL SETTING EXERCISES. WE ASSIST KIDS AND PARENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AT HOME. WHEN NECESSARY WE ACT AS A PORTAL TO REFER THEM TO COUNSELING SERVICES AND PROGRAMMING IN THE COMMUNITY.SAFE TALK FOR TEEN'S FOUR KEY OBJECTIVES: 1. HELP KIDS IDENTIFY POSITIVE AND HEALTHY COPING SKILLS 2. IMPROVE DECISION MAKING, MOTIVATION, AND DIRECTION THROUGH VALUES CLARIFICATION AND GOAL SETTING 3. PROVIDE A SAFE AND CONFIDENTIAL PLACE FOR KIDS TO SPEAK WITH AN EXPERIENCED YOUTH ADVISOR ONE ON ONE 4. SERVE AS A PORTAL TO REFER TO COUNSELING AND PROGRAMMING SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY IF NECESSARY.WE RECEIVED 148 REFERRALS IN 2025 BRINGING OUR TOTAL REFERRALS SINCE INCEPTION IN APRIL OF 2013 TO 2,744. FOR OUR CLIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS ON A SCALE OF 1-5 WITH 5 THE BEST SCORE POSSIBLE, KIDS RATED US 4.67 AND PARENTS 4.81.
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 November 6, 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 September 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 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.