Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Youth Empowerment Source Inc

EIN 47-2027845 · Elkton, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YES ENGAGES UNDERSERVED YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION, MENTORING AND EMPLOYMENT READINESS PROGRAMS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP SKILLS AND STRENGTHEN TIES TO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 76%
Employees
43
Volunteers
378
Highest pay
$64,576, executive director

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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 (4)
  1. $485,080 spent. DRUG FREE CECIL YOUTH COALITION- MORE THAN 35 STUDENT LEADERS RECEIVED MONTHLY TRAINING FROM YES AND USED THAT LEADERSHIP TO DIRECT THEIR SCHOOL BASED CLUBS IN ALL 5 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS. MORE THAN 5,000 YOUTH OPTED INTO PREVENTION ACTIVITIES RUN BY THE DRUG FREE CECIL YOUTH. MORE THAN 1,500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED OUR TRUNK OR TREAT/DRUG TAKE BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2024. MORE THAN 170 STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT IN NOVEMBER OF 2024, WHERE THEY RECEIVED LEADERSHIP AND PREVENTION TRAINING OVER SEVERAL DAYS. IN THE SPRING OF 2024, A YOUTH PREVENTION RALLY WAS HELD AND MORE THAN 40 YOUTH TOOK TO THE STAGE TO SHARE PRESENTATIONS AND SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.
  2. $289,805 spent. DISCONNECTED YOUTH (THE LEGACY PROGRAM) - ASSISTS YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGE OF 16 AND 24 YEARS OLD WHO HAVE NOT GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL OR GRADUATED AND ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND AND SUSTAIN EMPLOYMENT. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED GED ASSISTANCE, TRANSITIONAL LIFE SKILLS LESSONS, SOFT JOB SKILLS, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR FUTURE. IN FY25, 89 REFERRALS WERE MADE TO THE LEGACY PROGRAMS. FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES WERE OFFERED AND COMPLETED THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH APGFCU. GED SEMINAR CLASSES WERE CONDUCTED ON WEDNESDAYS/THURSDAYS EACH WEEK IN-PERSON AND TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED. HIGHLIGHTS: 24 STUDENTS RECEIVED THANKSGIVING BASKETS AND 16 RECEIVED ANGEL TREE GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS. 20 CLIENTS COMPLETED THE PREPARE U MENTAL HEALTH CURRICULUM.
  3. $100,594 spent. CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS (COIP) - COIP IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO CHILDREN 5-17 WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS OF PARENTAL INCARCERATION AND USES CASE MANAGEMENT, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, AND MEDIATION TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES DEALING WITH THE IMPACTS OF INCARCERATION. DURING FY25, 30 COIP CLIENTS WERE REFERRED, OVER 200 LIFESKILLS LESSONS ADMINISTERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, 970 CONTACTS MADE WITH STUDENTS/FAMILIES, 98% OF CECIL COUNTY DETENTION CENTER PARTICIPANTS RATE THE NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAM AS EXCELLENT. 84% OF PARENTS/GUARDIANS REPORT IMPROVED FAMILY STABILITY IN THE HOME, AS MEASURED BY THE YEAR-END SURVEY. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 8 CLIENTS RECEIVED TURKEY BASKETS, SEVERAL CLIENTS REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION, 7 CLIENTS RECEIVED GIFTS FROM ANGEL TREE, 7 CLIENTS RECEIVED FREE BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
  4. $241,570 spent. IN FY25, THE STRIDE PROGRAM RECEIVED 33 REFERRALS. THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR REFERRAL WAS "TRUANCY/SCHOOL ISSUES" FOLLOWED BY "FAMILY ISSUES/CONFLICT". LIFE SKILLS LESSONS WERE ADMINISTERED TO STRIDE PARTICIPANTS AND 89% SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN OVERALL KNOWLEDGE WITH A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN DRUG RESISTANCE SKILLS.MY FAMILY MATTERS PARENTING WORKSHOPS WERE HELD AT LOCAL SCHOOLS AND SERVED 74 FAMILIES. THE EVIDENCE BASED NURTURING PARENTING CURRICULUM WAS ALSO PROVIDED TO 159 DETAINEES AT THE CECIL COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO REDUCE CHILD MALTREATMENT RATES IN CECIL COUNTY.CAMP ACTIVATE PROVIDED 5 WEEKS FOR FREE SUMMER CAMP TO ALMOST 200 AT RISK STUDENTS AT 3 LOCATIONS. NUTRITION, SCIENCE AND SUBSTANCE PREVENTION LESSONS WERE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS.

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 May 2015.

    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.