Aim Youth Mental Health
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O regarding Organization's mission.AIM is bridging the gap between research and access to care for youth struggling with their mental health by finding, funding and implementing evidence-based treatments, empowering youth to discover their own mental health solutions, and training caring adults to create safe communities where children can grow and thrive.
- Income
- $953,785
- Spending
- $978,000
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 6.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 141
- Highest pay
- $107,293, dir. of mrktg & scientific research
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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- $245,308 spent. Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. It is essentially a CPR class for mental health, provides education on how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among the youth in need in their community. Teen Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach teens how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers. Teens gain the skills to have supportive conversations with their friends and learn how to get help from a responsible and trusted adult.In 2024, Youth Mental Health First Aid trained 320 adult participants to respond effectively to youth mental health challenges. Among the certified adults were parents, guardians, school staff and faculty as well as staff and volunteers affiliated with youth serving organizations such as First Tee Monterey County, Boys to Men Mentoring, All Saints Day School, Aspire Health and Monterey County Office of Education. All adult participants became certified to directly support or work with youth.In 2024, AIM successfully launched Teen Mental Health First Aid and certified a total of 52 highschoolers. AIM partnered with Sun Street Centers Salinas, California, Monterey County Office of Education and WestView High School, San Diego, California to certify the 52 teens.
- $191,026 spent. The AIM Ideas Lab is a culturally responsive, project-based Youth Participatory Action Research program that inspires teens to explore youth mental health solutions. AIM Ideas Lab Program provides high school students with guidance and support in identifying their own mental health solutions by learning about scientific survey design and creating their own peer-to-peer mental health survey. Students then analyze the results and gain unique insights into emerging youth mental health challenges, develop recommendations, and propose solutions. The AIM Ideas Lab students present their research to educators, parents, researchers, and policy makers in the community. Through ongoing exploration, youth researchers, the AIM Scientific Advisory Board, and adult mentors work together to find solutions to the growing youth mental health crisis.In 2024, the AIM Ideas Lab Program engaged 90 youth researchers from 37 different schools resulting in 1,156 high school survey respondents who shared their experiences, perspectives, and solutions.
- $313,382 spent. AIM is committed to funding research that transforms youth mental health care by prioritizing early intervention and prevention. AIM supports promising researchers and funds early-stage, cutting edge clinical research to develop better treatments and coping strategies for youth struggling with their mental health. Research shows that half of all mental health conditions emerge before age 14, yet too often, youth face barriers to care. AIM's research funding accelerates innovative solutions, empowers youth and families, and expands access to quality care, ensuring that mental health challenges are identified and addressed earlybefore they escalate into lifelong struggles.AIM's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is comprised of a diverse group of renowned mental health researchers and distinguished group of doctors in the pediatric mental health community, representing major research institutions throughout the world. The SAB guides our strategic investments in youth mental health research, strategizing the most effective ways to fund research to help youth today.AIM awarded one Clinical Science Fellow and two Implementation and Equity Fellows in 2024.
- $57,704 spent. AIM for Awareness Design Challenge invites students from 6th to 12th grade to use creative expression as a means to open dialogues about mental health, encouraging other youth to speak up, seek help, and spread messages of hope. This challenge raises awareness among youth and the wider community, breaking down barriers and reducing stigma around mental health issues through the unique perspectives of the youth artwork. With entries from around the world, AIM combines creativity and advocacy, calling on young advocates to bust stigma and build connections through art.The Design Challenge art exhibit and reception provides a memorable evening for local youth and their families. It is heartening to see the level of emotional awareness, compassion, and creativity that emerges through the students' art and share it with the community. Over 200 art submissions from California, New Jersey, and from as far away as Germany, were received, judged, framed, and displayed at the reception in 2024, where the top honorees in each category were presented to the community and had a chance to share their message either in person or via video.
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
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 2024.
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 June 2016.
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.