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Ohio-West Virginia Youth Leadership Association

EIN 55-0631259 · Parsons, WV

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OHIO-WEST VIRGINIA YOUTH LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION IS A VOLUNTEER LED PUBLIC CHARITY THAT INCLUDES CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, RACES, RELIGIONS AND INTERESTS. OUR MISSION IS TO HELP PERSONS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS BUILD A SOCIETY BASED ON CHRISTIAN IDEALS THROUGH THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH; EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, LIFE, JOB, ECONOMIC, ENTREPRENUERIAL, COMMUNITY SERVICE, CITIZENSHIP, SOCIAL, MORAL, ETHICAL AND RELIGIONS SKILLS AND CONDITIONS OF PERSONS AND COMMUNITIES AS WE SERVE.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 41%
Employees
25
Volunteers
0

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $324,320 spent. LOCAL YLA (YOUTH LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION) YOUTH CHAPTERS ENGAGE TEENS IN A PROCESS OF CIVIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SERVICE. TEENS ASSESS THE STRENGTHS AND AREA OF NEED IN THEIR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY, INDENTIFY THE KIND OF SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY THEY WANT, CREATE AND CARRY OUT PROGRAMS AND SERVICE INTIATIVES TO ACHEIVE THEIR VISION, AND REFLECT ON THEIR WORK TO STRENGTHEN FUTURE ACTION.MOST YLAS ARE SCHOOL BASED. OTHERS ARE COMMUNITY BASED. YLA WELCOMES PARTICIPATION FROM EVERY COMMUNITY. OTHER YOUTH GROUPS MAY JOIN YLA TO EXPAND THEIR PROGRAM WHILE KEEPING THEIR OWN NAME AND ORGANIZATION. YOUTH WANTING THEIR OWN YOUTH GROUP CREATE YLA GROUPS.A LOCAL YLA EXPERIENCE IS ENHANCED AS TEENS PARTICIPATE AWAY FROM HOME IN STATE AND REGIONAL YLA PROGRAM CONFERENCES, YOUTH IN GOVERNEMENT THREE-DAY STUDENT LEGISLATIVE AND SUPREME COURT, YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT SEMINARS AT THE STATE CAPITOL, AND MODEL UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLIES.THESE EXPERIENCES HELP TEENS APPLY CLASSROOM LESSONS OF RESEARCH, WRITING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, DEBATE, CONSENSUS BUILDING, MAKING DECISIONS, AND WORKING WITH OTHERS TO STATE ISSUES IN YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES IN MODEL UNITED NATIONS.
  2. $505,632 spent. HORSESHOE, OUR RESIDENTAL CAMP IN WEST VIRGINIA, OFFERS TEEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LEADERSHIP-SERVICE CAMPS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE, CHALLENGE, PREPARE, AND MOTIVATE YOUTH TO RETURN HOME MORE FOCUSED ON ACHIEVEMENT AND HELPING OTHERS. HORSESHOE'S PROGRAMS FOR 7-12 YEAR OLD BOYS AND GIRLS INCLUDE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CAMPS FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN.THE YOUTH OF EVERY COMMUNITY ARE WELCOME. THERE ARE NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRMENTS TO PARTICIPATE.HORSESHOE ALSO OFFERS HERITAGE ARTS PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND HOSTS CAMPS CONDUCTED BY SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND OTHERS.ADJOINING HORSESHOE IS THE HORSESHOE RECREATION AREA OFFERING TENT AND CAMPER SITES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO ENJOY CAMPING IN THE MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST.
  3. $381,980 spent. CAVE LAKE IN OHIO OFFERS 750 ACRES OF NATURE'S CLASSROOM. CURRENTLY WE OFFER FAMILY CAMPING. AS FACILILTIES AND PROGRAMS ARE DEVELOPED INTO THE CAVE LAKE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP WE WILL OFFER EDUCATIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, LEADERSHIP, CIVIC, ARTS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING.YLA BROKE GROUND IN 2016 FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CAVE LAKE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE CENTER. OHIO BUDGET ALLOCATION THROUGH STRAIGHT A FUNDING IS FUNDING THE PROJECT ALONG WITH YLA FUND RAISING.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 March 1984.

    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 October 21, 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.