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Young Storytellers Foundation

EIN 55-0827731 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP LITERACY THROUGH THE ART OF STORYTELLING. TO HELP UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DISCOVER THE POWER OF THEIR OWN VOICE BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO WRITE STORIES AND SEE THEM BROUGHT TO LIFE THROUGH PERFORMANCE.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
23
Volunteers
380
Highest pay
$150,218, president

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. YOUNG STORYTELLERS IS AN ARTS NON-PROFIT THAT EMPOWERS AUTHENTIC, ESSENTIAL NEW VOICES AND CHANGES WHAT'S POSSIBLE. OUR PROGRAMS PROVIDE THE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO EXPLORE, DISCOVER, AND EXPRESS ONE'S OWN UNIQUE STORY, AND A STAGE FOR SHARING IT WITH OTHERS. YOUNG STORYTELLERS ELEVATES YOUNG VOICES, MADE OF THEIR DISTINCT BACKGROUND, CULTURE, RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY, ABILITY, AND IMMIGRATION AND ECONOMIC STATUS, TO BRING POWERFUL NEW PERSPECTIVES INTO OUR COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETY.YOUNG STORYTELLERS COMPLETED TWO SEMESTERS, TOTALING 115 SESSIONS OF ITS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS DURING 2024. YOUNG STORYTELLERS COORDINATED AND ADMINISTERED THEIR PROGRAMS SUCCESSFULLY IN OVER 70 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY. ALL PROGRAMS WERE PROVIDED IN PERSON DURING SPRING 2024 AND FALL 2024 SESSIONS. APPROXIMATELY 4,000 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED AS STORYTELLERS IN OUR IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE OUR FLAGSHIP SCRIPT TO STAGE PROGRAM, COLLABORATIVE SCRIPT TO STAGE PROGRAM, MIDDLE SCHOOL STORIES PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL STORIES PROGRAM, AND WBD STORY LAB IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, DC COMICS, AND LAUSD. YOUNG STORYTELLERS ALSO CREATED AND PRODUCED ORIGINAL CURRICULUM FOR AT&T'S THE ACHIEVERY, A FREE DIGITAL LEARNING PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS NATIONWIDE.APPROXIMATELY 380 VOLUNTEER MENTORS PARTICIPATED IN YOUNG STORYTELLERS PROGRAMS DURING 2024 AND THESE MENTORS VOLUNTEERED OVER 4,940 HOURS OF THEIR TIME. IN ADDITION, APPROXIMATELY 259 ACTORS VOLUNTEERED AT IN-SCHOOL BIG SHOWS, AS PERFORMERS OF THE STUDENT'S STORIES, DONATING AN ADDITIONAL 777 HOURS OF THEIR TIME.DURING 2024, YOUNG STORYTELLERS PUBLISHED MULTIPLE HANDBOOKS AND WORKBOOKS BASED ON EACH OF THEIR PROGRAM OFFERINGS. THESE WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS LOS ANGELES SERVED BY THE YOUNG STORYTELLERS PROGRAMS. YOUNG STORYTELLERS ALSO CREATED AND PUBLISHED A TOOL-KIT FOR THE SCRIPT TO STAGE PROGRAM WITH ONLINE HANDBOOKS AND TRAINING VIDEOS FOR USE OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES.

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 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 December 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 November 2003.

    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.