Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Latin American Youth Center Inc

EIN 52-1023074 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO ACHIEVE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS YOUTHS' SOCIAL, ACADEMIC, AND CAREER NEEDS.

Income
$20.0 million
Spending
$18.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 74%
Employees
249
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$203,117, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 70% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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 September 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 (6)
  1. $4.6 million spent. HOUSING: LAYC'S HOUSING DEPARTMENT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING FOR RUNAWAY, HOMELESS, AND UNSTABLY HOUSED YOUTH (RHY) ACROSS WASHINGTON, DC AND MARYLAND'S PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. SPECIFIC SERVICES INCLUDE STREET AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, RHY DROP-IN CENTERS FOR IMMEDIATE AND HARM-REDUCTION CARE, EMERGENCY HOUSING AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLACEMENTS, AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CONTINUUMS OF CARE (COC), STAFF SCREEN AND ASSESS THE SPECIFIC UNDERLYING CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS FOR EACH RHY AND DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PLANS TO GUIDE CASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY. ACROSS ALL SERVICES, STAFF HELP RHY TO ATTAIN HOUSING, ACCESS COMMUNITY RESOURCES, REUNIFY WITH FAMILY (AS APPROPRIATE), AND BUILD ACADEMIC, JOB READINESS, AND LIFE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR LONG-TERM INDEPENDENCE.
  2. $4.5 million spent. LAYC/MMYC: LAYC'S ORGANIZATIONAL DIVISIONS IN MARYLAND SERVE MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTIES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE AFTERSCHOOL AND SCHOOL-BASED ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND MENTORING PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, GED PREPARATION PROGRAMS, AND HOUSING PROGRAMS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. PROMOTOR PATHWAY: LAYC'S PROMOTOR PATHWAY SUPPORTS DC AND MARYLAND'S MOST VULNERABLE YOUTH TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD THROUGH EMPOWERING, LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRUSTWORTHY ADULT MENTORS. PROMOTORS, OR "GUIDES," PROVIDE INTENSIVE, LONG-TERM, ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO YOUTH. YOUTH OFTEN FACE MULTIFACETED BARRIERS SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, ACADEMIC DISCONNECTION, UNEMPLOYMENT, MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES, AND/OR COMPLEX FAMILY ISSUES.
  4. $1.7 million spent. COMMUNITY WELLNESS: LAYC'S COMMUNITY WELLNESS DEPARTMENT OFFERS FREE COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH SERVICES, HEALTH EDUCATION CLASSES, AND MIND-BODY WELLNESS ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE BEHAVIORS, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATIONAL TO YOUTHS' HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT. PROGRAMMING COVERS KEY PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES SUCH AS STI/HIV AND PREGNANCY PREVENTION, HOUSEHOLD NUTRITION AND FOOD ACCESS, SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND HARM REDUCTION, AND EDUCATION ON SEXUAL HEALTH AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. ALL STAFF PROVIDE ROBUST WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO ADDRESS YOUTHS' BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING LINKAGES TO OTHER LAYC SERVICES AND EXTENDED HEALTHCARE SERVICES OFFERED BY LAYC COMMUNITY PARTNERS. ALL SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO BE FREE AND ACCESSIBLE.
  5. $1.4 million spent. EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: LAYC EDUCATION PROGRAMMING INCLUDES COMPREHENSIVE IN-SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO STUDENTS' IN-SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND BUILD PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS TO ATTAIN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND/OR CAREER SUCCESS. STAFF BUILD COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUTH AND SCHOOL PARTNERS TO ENHANCE SERVICES. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE TUTORING AND HOMEWORK HELP, ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT AND CASE MANAGEMENT, ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND FIELD TRIPS, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS WORKSHOPS. LAYC'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS CONNECT YOUTH TO LOCAL EMPLOYMENT, INTERNSHIPS, CERTIFICATIONS, AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP YOUTH ENTER HIGH-GROWTH INDUSTRIES SUCH AS HEALTHCARE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. SPECIFIC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDES PRE-GED AND GED CLASSES, JOB TRAINING, AND INDIVIDUALIZED CAREER COACHING AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
  6. $1.1 million spent. SOCIAL SERVICES: LAYC'S SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FREE COUNSELING, TREATMENT, AND SUPPORT TO ADDRESS YOUTHS' MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND FAMILY CONFLICT CHALLENGES. LAYC'S LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS OFFER INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY THERAPY SESSIONS, AND USE A VARIETY OF THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES TO ADDRESS YOUTHS' COMPLEX NEEDS. LAYC IS DC DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH-CERTIFIED IN MENTAL HEALTH REHABILITATION SERVICES, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT, AND COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY. OUR SERVICES ARE OFFERED AS SCHOOL-BASED AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING, WITH COUNSELORS WORKING ON-SITE AT LAYC'S FACILITIES, ON-SITE AT PARTNERING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND VIA TELEMEDICINE APPOINTMENTS. COUNSELORS WORK ALONGSIDE YOUTH TO BUILD RESILIENCE AND RESPONSIVE COPING STRATEGIES THAT HELP THEM NAVIGATE COMPLEX LIFE EXPERIENCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1975.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.