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Young Aspirations-Young Artists Inc

EIN 72-1132928 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

YAYA'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER CREATIVE, NEW ORLEANS-AREA YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION COMBINED WITH ENTREPRENEURIAL AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE AS LEADERS. YAYA PROGRAMS TRAIN YOUTH TO THINK CREATIVELY, SOLVE PROBLEMS, MANAGE COMPLEX PROJECTS, AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY. SINCE 1988, YAYA HAS SERVED AS AN INCUBATOR FOR YOUNG TALENT, GIVING YOUTH THE FREEDOM, OPPORTUNITIES, AND RESOURCES TO DISCOVER THEIR PASSIONS AND ARTISTIC VOICES.

Income
$764,426
Spending
$643,984
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
16
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$31,154, executive director

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

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% 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

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
  1. $134,760 spent. YA YA GUILD: PROVIDES VISUAL ARTS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING TO YOUTH AGES 13-25. PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND AND ARE TRAINED IN A WIDE RANGE OF ARTISTIC MEDIA, WHILE GAINING LEADERSHIP AND LIFE SKILLS TO HELP THEM THRIVE IN THEIR ADULT LIVES, INCLUDING COLLABORATION, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, MARKETING, PORTFOLIO/RESUME DEVELOPMENT AND CLIENT RELATIONS. THE 44 YAYA GUILD MEMBERS CAN ATTEND THIS FREE PROGRAM EVERY DAY AFTERSCHOOL AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL AND REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION PUBLICLY
  2. $122,229 spent. COMMUNITY AND FAMILY ARTS: SERVES YOUTH AGES 5-12, AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH FREE AFTERSCHOOL VISUAL ARTS PROGRAMS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND BUILDING POSITIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THIS PROGRAM OPERATES TWO DAYS PER WEEK PLUS MONTHLY FAMILY DAYS AND A FOUR WEEK SUMMER CAMP AND SERVED 187 YOUTH AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN 2024.
  3. $122,307 spent. URBAN HEROES: PLACES YA YA GUILD ALUMNI AS TEACHERS AND MENTORS IN SCHOOLS, FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMS HOSTED AT THE YAYA ARTS CENTER, AND AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND FESTIVALS, SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING THE REACH OF YAYA'S VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM AND PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR ALUMNI ARTISTS. URBAN HEROES PROGRAMS REACHED 287 INDIVIDUALS IN 2024.
  4. $99,779 spent. CREATIVE GLASS: YA YA CREATIVE GLASS EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT GLASS ARTS THROUGH YA YA'S PUBLIC ACCESS GLASS STUDIO. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS FEE-BASED CLASSES, HANDS ON FIELD TRIPS AND DEMONSTRATIONS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS, AND A FREE MONTHLY GLASSBLOWING DEMONSTRATION AND OPEN HOUSE, REACHING 325 PEOPLE IN 2024.

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 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? 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1990.

    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.