Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee

EIN 62-0582571 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE IS PART OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO OWN THEIR ECONOMIC SUCCESS, PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE, AND MAKE SMART ACADEMIC AND ECONOMIC CHOICES. OUR FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORK READINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS EMPOWER STUDENTS TO MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL AND HOW IT CAN BE APPLIED IN THE REAL WORLD. THIS ENHANCES THE RELEVANCE OF THEIR CLASSROOM LEARNING AND INCREASES THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUE OF STAYING IN SCHOOL. FOUNDED IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE IN 1957, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NOW OPERATES IN 16 COUNTIES IN THE REGION AND IS PRESENT IN OVER 200 SCHOOLS. THROUGH VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN PROGRAMS, OUR MENTORS ALSO MOTIVATE THE STUDENTS TO BELIEVE "I CAN- AND REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
19
Volunteers
3,217
Highest pay
$206,269, 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% 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 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    58 of 58 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

    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.

  • 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. $414,270 spent. ECONOMIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS BENEFITTING STUDENTS IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. THESE CLASSROOM-BASED PROGRAMS FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE COVER A RANGE OF TOPICS RELATED TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF A LOCAL/GLOBAL ECONOMY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND OVERALL CAREER PREPARATION/READINESS. THESE HIGHLY INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED BY BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO A 'REAL-WORLD' PERSPECTIVE AND SERVE AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS AND MENTORS TO STUDENTS.
  2. $789,708 spent. JA BIZTOWN IS AN UNMATCHED LEARNING EXPERIENCE WHERE 4TH-6TH GRADE STUDENTS TAKE ON THE ROLE OF EMPLOYEE, TAX PAYER AND CONSUMER IN A SIMULATED CITY. THE VISIT TO THE JA BIZTOWN FACILITY IS THE CAPSTONE TO THE IN-CLASSROOM LEARNING. THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS A GLIMPSE INTO LIFE AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOW EACH INDIVIDUAL CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY'S OVERALL SUCCESS. JA BIZTOWN OPERATES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND ADDITIONALLY PARTNERS WITH SUMMER PROGRAMS.
  3. $760,828 spent. JA FINANCE PARK IS A PROGRAM DEVELOPED TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AND CAREER EXPLORATION. THIS PROGRAM GIVES MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE CAREERS OF TOMORROW. STUDENTS GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN A DESIRED LIFESTYLE. AFTER IN- CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A DAY-LONG HANDS-ON BUDGETING SIMULATION.

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.