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Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South

EIN 62-0549549 · Cordova, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SINCE MAY 4, 1955, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MEMPHIS AND THE MID-SOUTH HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO INSPIRE AND PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCEED IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY. WE EMPOWER CHILDREN TO LEAD INDEPENDENT LIVES AS THEY WORK TO ATTAIN THEIR DREAMS THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT TEACH FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORK READINESS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. OUR WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED IN CLASSROOMS, THE WANG EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CENTER AT JA, AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH. WE HAVE A GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE FOOTPRINT OF 71 COUNTIES IN ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, AND TENNESSEE.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
33
Volunteers
2,318
Highest pay
$233,100, president

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

Financial health

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    38 of 39 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $790,728 spent. JA BIZTOWN COMBINES IN-CLASS LEARNING WITH A DAY-LONG VISIT TO A SIMULATED TOWN IN THE WANG EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CENTER. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO OPERATE BANKS, MANAGE BUSINESSES, WRITE CHECKS, AND VOTE FOR MAYOR. THE PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS CONNECT THE DOTS TO WHAT THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL AND THE REAL WORLD. JA BIZTOWN HAS BEEN SERVING THE MID-SOUTH SINCE 2003.
  2. $684,665 spent. JA FINANCE PARK: IMAGINE YOU'RE A 27-YEAR-OLD SINGLE PARENT EARNING $25,000 A YEAR AS AN OFFICE ASSISTANT, OR PERHAPS YOU'RE A 35-YEAR-OLD REGIONAL MANAGER MAKING $65,000 ANNUALLY. HOW WILL YOU MANAGE YOUR MONEY? AT JA FINANCE PARK, WHATEVER ROLE STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED, THEYDEVELOP LIFELONG FINANCIAL SKILLS THROUGH THE PROGRAM'S SIMULATED EXPERIENCES. JA FINANCE PARK IS OFFERED VIRTUALLY, ON SITE AT SCHOOLS, OR IN OUR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CENTER.
  3. $734,325 spent. JA INSPIRE IS A UNIQUE CAREER EXPLORATION FAIR FOR EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS ACROSS MEMPHIS AND THE MID-SOUTH. THIS EDUCATIONAL EVENT ISDESIGNED FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES FROMINDUSTRY EXPERTS THAT HIGHLIGHT FAST-GROWING CAREERS AND EMERGINGTECHNOLOGIES IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. JA INSPIRE WILL BRING TOGETHER AVARIETY OF EMPLOYERS AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS TO CREATE AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE THAT EXPOSES STUDENTS TO DIFFERENT CAREERS AND THE SKILLSNEEDED TO PURSUE A FUTURE IN THESE INDUSTRIES. JA INSPIRE IS BOTH AVIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLSTUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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? 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 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 May 1994.

    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.