The Young Womens Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
YWP BUILDS THE LEADERSHIP AND POWER OF YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN TRANSFORM DC INSTITUTIONS TO EXPAND RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DC YOUTH. YWP PROGRAMS ENGAGE YOUTH ON THREE LEVELS - AS PEER EDUCATORS, ADVOCATES, AND EMPLOYEES - AND GUIDE THEM THROUGH A PROCESS OF PERSONAL GROWTH AS COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE ABLE TO ANALYZE PROBLEMS, IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS, AND ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE. FOUNDED IN 1994, YWP HAS A STAFF OF 6 AND MANAGES TWO OFFICES. YWP IS VALUE-DRIVEN, ANTI-RACIST, FEMINIST, GROUNDED IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIP, AND WORKS EVERY DAY TO DISMANTLE OPPRESSION AND REBUILD INSTITUTIONS.
- Income
- $921,243
- Spending
- $521,350
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 32.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 64%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $126,298, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 32.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 88% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
0 of 10Did not give 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.
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 September 30, 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 (5)
- $313,679 spent. P2P-SBMH (PEER TO PEER SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, DBH FUNDED). THIS PROGRAM OVERLAPS SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN (MHC). WITH THE OVERALL GOALS OF REDUCING STIGMA AND THE IMPACT OF TOXIC STRESS AND TRAUMA, INCREASING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND EXPANDING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL-WELLNESS EDUCATION, THE SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STUDENT PEER EDUCATOR PILOT PROGRAM (SB-BH P2P) TRAINED AND SUPPORTED A CADRE OF MORE THAN 122 YOUTH STAFF LEADERS (AGES 14-19) FROM 30+ DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO WILL USE EDUCATION, REFERRALS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND STUDENT ON- LINE SUPPORT (SOS) VIRTUAL WELLNESS CENTERS TO EDUCATE TO ENGAGE 12,032 PEERS AND CONNECT THEM TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. P2P-SBMH YOUTH STAFF REACHED 12,032 PEERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND SUPPORT INCLUDING 11,013 THROUGH CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS AND 2,120 WITH WEEKLY RESOURCES AND SKILLS-FOCUSED INFORMATION. YOUTH CONNECTED 2,879 DIRECTLY TO COUNSELORS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. MORE THAN 65% OF YOUTH STAFF AND YOUTH REACHED WILL LIVE IN HIGH POVERTY NEIGHBORHOODS AND WARDS 5, 7 AND 8. WITH THE OVERALL GOALS OF REDUCING STIGMA AND THE IMPACT OF TOXIC STRESS AND TRAUMA, INCREASING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND EXPANDING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL-WELLNESS EDUCATION, THE MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN TRAINED AND SUPPORTED A CADRE OF MORE THAN 122 YOUTH STAFF LEADERS (AGES 14-19) FROM 30+ DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO USED EDUCATION, REFERRALS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND STUDENT ON-LINE SUPPORT (SOS) VIRTUAL WELLNESS CENTERS TO EDUCATE TO ENGAGE 12,032 STUDENTS (INCLUDING 2,200 EACH WEEK WITH PERSONALIZED MESSAGES) THROUGH TRAINING, TEXT CHATS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PRESENTATIONS, COVERING 10 HEALTH ISSUES INCLUDING TOXIC STRESS, RESILIENCE BUILDING, SLEEP, TRAUMA, ANXIETY, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, CONSENT, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, MEDITATION, MINDFULNESS, BREATHING, BRAIN SCIENCE,, DEPRESSION, SUBSTANCE USE, SUICIDE, NUTRITION, AND ACCESSING SCHOOL BASED AND CITY-WIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. WE ALSO CONNECTED MORE THAN 2,400 YOUTH TO COUNSELORS AND OTHER SUPPORTS, PRESENTED 42 TESTIMONIES TO DC COUNCIL AND SUBMITTED 82 WRITTEN TESTIMONIES, AND CONDUCTED A SURVEY WITH 1,040 STUDENTS FROM 36 SCHOOLS INCLUDING 16 DCPS AND 14 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, 3 PRIVATE, AND 3 MIDDLE SCHOOLS LIVING IN ALL DC WARDS WITH SIGNIFICANT REPRESENTATION FROM WARDS 7 AND 8 (30% OF SURVEY TAKERS), 4 (24%) AND 5 (15%). SINCE 2020, YWP PEER EDUCATORS HAVE CONDUCTED AN ANNUAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SURVEY--DOCUMENTING HIGH RATES OF YOUTH STRESS, DEPRESSION, AND ISOLATION AND LOW RATES OF SERVICE ACCESS. WE USED THE SURVEY FINDINGS AND OUR EXPERIENCE TO EDUCATE TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, PRINCIPALS, AND AGENCY LEADERS ON THE NEEDS OF YOUTH - WHO ARE STILL IN CRISIS WITH HIGH RATES OF DEPRESSION (31%), SUICIDE (14%) AND HIGH STRESS (77%). FINALLY, MHC DEEPENED THE ROLE OF OUR L2 (ADVANCED) YOUTH LEADERS THIS YEAR: 12 L2 MHC YOUTH LEADERS SERVED AS TRAINERS FOR NEW STAFF, IMPLEMENTING A 8 HOUR CURRICULA INCLUDING SUBSTANCE USE, NUTRITION, FOOD DESERTS, AND NUTRITION. ENGAGING L2 YOUTH ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN LARGER TEAMS AND BE ABLE TO DELIVER THE CURRICULA IN SMALLER GROUPS. P2P-SBMH (PEER TO PEER SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, DBH FUNDED). THIS PROGRAM OVERLAPS SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN (MHC). WITH THE OVERALL GOALS OF REDUCING STIGMA AND THE IMPACT OF TOXIC STRESS AND TRAUMA, INCREASING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND EXPANDING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL-WELLNESS EDUCATION, THE SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STUDENT PEER EDUCATOR PILOT PROGRAM (SB-BH P2P) TRAINED AND SUPPORTED A CADRE OF MORE THAN 122 YOUTH STAFF LEADERS (AGES 14-19) FROM 30+ DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO WILL USE EDUCATION, REFERRALS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND STUDENT ON- LINE SUPPORT (SOS) VIRTUAL WELLNESS CENTERS TO EDUCATE TO ENGAGE 12,032 PEERS AND CONNECT THEM TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. P2P-SBMH YOUTH STAFF REACHED 12,032 PEERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND SUPPORT INCLUDING 11,013 THROUGH CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS AND 2,120 WITH WEEKLY RESOURCES AND SKILLS-FOCUSED INFORMATION. YOUTH CONNECTED 2,879 DIRECTLY TO COUNSELORS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. MORE THAN 65% OF YOUTH STAFF AND YOUTH REACHED WILL LIVE IN HIGH POVERTY NEIGHBORHOODS AND WARDS 5, 7 AND 8. WITH THE OVERALL GOALS OF REDUCING STIGMA AND THE IMPACT OF TOXIC STRESS AND TRAUMA, INCREASING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND EXPANDING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL-WELLNESS EDUCATION, THE MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN TRAINED AND SUPPORTED A CADRE OF MORE THAN 122 YOUTH STAFF LEADERS (AGES 14-19) FROM 30+ DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHO USED EDUCATION, REFERRALS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND STUDENT ON-LINE SUPPORT (SOS) VIRTUAL WELLNESS CENTERS TO EDUCATE TO ENGAGE 12,032 STUDENTS (INCLUDING 2,200 EACH WEEK WITH PERSONALIZED MESSAGES) THROUGH TRAINING, TEXT CHATS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PRESENTATIONS, COVERING 10 HEALTH ISSUES INCLUDING TOXIC STRESS, RESILIENCE BUILDING, SLEEP, TRAUMA, ANXIETY, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, CONSENT, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, MEDITATION, MINDFULNESS, BREATHING, BRAIN SCIENCE,, DEPRESSION, SUBSTANCE USE, SUICIDE, NUTRITION, AND ACCESSING SCHOOL BASED AND CITY-WIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. WE ALSO CONNECTED MORE THAN 2,400 YOUTH TO COUNSELORS AND OTHER SUPPORTS, PRESENTED 42 TESTIMONIES TO DC COUNCIL AND SUBMITTED 82 WRITTEN TESTIMONIES, AND CONDUCTED A SURVEY WITH 1,040 STUDENTS FROM 36 SCHOOLS INCLUDING 16 DCPS AND 14 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, 3 PRIVATE, AND 3 MIDDLE SCHOOLS LIVING IN ALL DC WARDS WITH SIGNIFICANT REPRESENTATION FROM WARDS 7 AND 8 (30% OF SURVEY TAKERS), 4 (24%) AND 5 (15%). SINCE 2020, YWP PEER EDUCATORS HAVE CONDUCTED AN ANNUAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SURVEY--DOCUMENTING HIGH RATES OF YOUTH STRESS, DEPRESSION, AND ISOLATION AND LOW RATES OF SERVICE ACCESS. WE USED THE SURVEY FINDINGS AND OUR EXPERIENCE TO EDUCATE TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, PRINCIPALS, AND AGENCY LEADERS ON THE NEEDS OF YOUTH - WHO ARE STILL IN CRISIS WITH HIGH RATES OF DEPRESSION (31%), SUICIDE (14%) AND HIGH STRESS (77%). FINAL
- $116,470 spent. THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC) THE DC YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (DC YAC) ENGAGES 30 DC YOUTH FROM ALL WARDS AND SEVERAL SCHOOLS WHO ENGAGE AND DEVELOP AS LEADERS, WORKERS, AND HEALTHY YOUTH. YAC MEMBERS DEVELOP THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE TRANSITIONS, BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, ACHIEVE PERSONAL GOALS, INCREASE AGENCY, AND IMPROVE PERSONAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. THEY ALSO USE THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS TO INCREASE HEALTH CARE QUALITY AND ACCESS FOR THEIR PEERS, WITH HEALTH EDUCATION, SOCIAL MEDIA, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS. THE 2023-24 YAC TEAM INCLUDES 30 YOUTH FROM 13 DC PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO PROGRAM OUTCOMES IN YHEP AND MHC. YAC YOUTH LEADERS EDUCATED 300 PEERS WITH WEEKLY VPSA MESSAGES, REACHED 2,250 THROUGH CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS, AND DISTRIBUTED 7,000 CONDOMS. THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC) THE DC YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (DC YAC) ENGAGES 30 DC YOUTH FROM ALL WARDS AND SEVERAL SCHOOLS WHO ENGAGE AND DEVELOP AS LEADERS, WORKERS, AND HEALTHY YOUTH. YAC MEMBERS DEVELOP THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE TRANSITIONS, BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, ACHIEVE PERSONAL GOALS, INCREASE AGENCY, AND IMPROVE PERSONAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. THEY ALSO USE THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS TO INCREASE HEALTH CARE QUALITY AND ACCESS FOR THEIR PEERS, WITH HEALTH EDUCATION, SOCIAL MEDIA, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS. THE 2023-24 YAC TEAM INCLUDES 30 YOUTH FROM 13 DC PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO PROGRAM OUTCOMES IN YHEP AND MHC. YAC YOUTH LEADERS EDUCATED 300 PEERS WITH WEEKLY VPSA MESSAGES, REACHED 2,250 THROUGH CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS, AND DISTRIBUTED 7,000 CONDOMS.
- $48,380 spent. YOUTH HEALTH EDUCATOR PROGRAM (YHEP) - YOUNG PEOPLE COME INTO OUR ORGANIZATION AS PEER EDUCATORS THROUGH THE YHEP, A PARTNERSHIP WITH DC HEALTH AND DCPS, WHERE THEY WORK IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES EDUCATING THEIR PEERS, DISTRIBUTING CONDOMS, AND REFERRING YOUTH TO CLINICS. YOUTH STAFF EARN 15 AN HOUR, WORK ON TEAMS AND WITH A MANAGER, APPLY THEIR SKILLS, DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR, AND PUT TOGETHER A PORTFOLIO OF WORK PRODUCTS. IN 2021, WE HIRED AND TRAINED 182 YOUTH STAFF FROM ALL WARDS AND 24 PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHO ENGAGED MORE THAN 12,000 OF THEIR PEERS THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND REFERRALS THAT CONNECT YOUTH TO ESSENTIAL MENTAL AND SEXUAL HEALTH RESOURCES. IN YEAR ONE, PEER EDUCATORS ENGAGE IN A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES SEXUAL HEALTH AND PEER EDUCATION AS WELL AS LIFE SKILLS; YOUTH HEALTH EDUCATOR PROGRAM (YHEP) - YOUNG PEOPLE COME INTO OUR ORGANIZATION AS PEER EDUCATORS THROUGH THE YHEP, A PARTNERSHIP WITH DC HEALTH AND DCPS, WHERE THEY WORK IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES EDUCATING THEIR PEERS, DISTRIBUTING CONDOMS, AND REFERRING YOUTH TO CLINICS. YOUTH STAFF EARN 15 AN HOUR, WORK ON TEAMS AND WITH A MANAGER, APPLY THEIR SKILLS, DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR, AND PUT TOGETHER A PORTFOLIO OF WORK PRODUCTS. IN 2021, WE HIRED AND TRAINED 182 YOUTH STAFF FROM ALL WARDS AND 24 PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHO ENGAGED MORE THAN 12,000 OF THEIR PEERS THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND REFERRALS THAT CONNECT YOUTH TO ESSENTIAL MENTAL AND SEXUAL HEALTH RESOURCES. IN YEAR ONE, PEER EDUCATORS ENGAGE IN A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES SEXUAL HEALTH AND PEER EDUCATION AS WELL AS LIFE SKILLS;
- $20,423 spent. YOUTH JUSTICE CAMPAIGNS (YJC) - IN YEAR TWO, YOUTH EDUCATORS JOIN THE YJC, WHERE THEY WORK AS ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZERS TO ADVANCE A BOLD ADVOCACY AGENDA BASED ON THE REAL-LIFE ISSUES, AND LEVERAGE THEIR POWER THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE AND IMPROVE YOUTH-SERVING SYSTEMS. YWP HAS 40 YOUTH ADVOCATES MEETING TWICE A WEEK AND WORKING ON FOUR MAIN CAMPAIGNS: INCREASING YOUTH AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, EXPANDING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, IMPROVING PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGH YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN TRANSITION PLANNING AND BUDGET DECISION-MAKING, AND EXPANDING YOUTH VOTING RIGHTS.
- YOUTH JUSTICE CAMPAIGNS (YJC) - IN YEAR TWO, YOUTH EDUCATORS JOIN THE YJC, WHERE THEY WORK AS ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZERS TO ADVANCE A BOLD ADVOCACY AGENDA BASED ON THE REAL-LIFE ISSUES, AND LEVERAGE THEIR POWER THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE AND IMPROVE YOUTH-SERVING SYSTEMS. YWP HAS 40 YOUTH ADVOCATES MEETING TWICE A WEEK AND WORKING ON FOUR MAIN CAMPAIGNS: INCREASING YOUTH AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, EXPANDING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, IMPROVING PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGH YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN TRANSITION PLANNING AND BUDGET DECISION-MAKING, AND EXPANDING YOUTH VOTING RIGHTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 January 1995.
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.
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