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National Council on Youth Leadership

EIN 61-1501222 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RECOGNIZE AND FOSTER HIGH IDEALS OF LEADERSHIP AND INTEGRITY AMONG THE YOUTH OF AMERICA.

Income
$116,882
Spending
$120,483
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
133

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: 73 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $100,706 spent. YOUTH SALUTE/LEADERSHIP SEMINARS: RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS AND INVOLVES THEM IN SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP SKILLS. THE PROGRAM TAKES PLACE IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. COMMUNITY LEADERS INTERVIEW THE NOMINEES TO SELECT STUDENTS FOR THE PROGRAM. THE STUDENTS THEN PARTICIPATE IN SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON TEAM BUILDING, COMMUNICATION, CHANGE, POSITIVE ATTITUDE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. YOUTH SALUTES CAN INCLUDE COMMUNITY RECOGNITION CEREMONIES, LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE, PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAYS OF YOUTH ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS, AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.
  2. $13,758 spent. TOWN MEETING ON TOMORROW: A NATIONAL CONFERENCE INSPIRING YOUTH TO SERVICE, EXCELLENCE AND OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY REINFORCING ACTIVE LEADERSHIP AS THE KEY TO MEETING TOMORROW'S NEEDS. DURING THE CONFERENCE, STUDENTS ENTER INTO DIALOGUE WITH PROVEN ADULT LEADERS, BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS BY INTERACTING WITH YOUTH LEADERS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, ENHANCE LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITH SEMINARS BY DYNAMIC PROFESSIONALS AND NATIONAL POLITICAL LEADERS, AND PARTICIPATE IN SMALL GROUP EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2021 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 April 2006.

    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.