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American Youthworks

EIN 74-2197942 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS (AYW) ANNUALLY PROVIDES 400+ YOUNG ADULTS WITH TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO BUILD CAREERS AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, PAID CAREER TRAINING, AND NATIONAL SERVICE. AYW PROGRAMS PREPARE PARTICIPANTS FOR HIGH DEMAND CAREER SECTORS AND SKILLED TRADES, WHILE ADDRESSING CRITICAL NEEDS THROUGHOUT URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH PROJECTS AND PARTNERSHIPS.

Income
$12.0 million
Spending
$12.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
361
Volunteers
2,000
Highest pay
$134,286, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 August 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. $4.1 million spent. AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS YOUTHBUILD (AYW-YB) PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM ANNUALLY ENGAGES 200+ YOUNG ADULTS AGES 17-24 WITH THE EDUCATION, JOB SKILLS TRAINING, AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN SKILLED TRADES AND OTHER HIGH-DEMAND INDUSTRIES. BASED IN AUSTIN WITH AN OPERATING SITE IN TAYLOR, TX, AYW-YB SERVES INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE DISCONNECTED FROM SCHOOL OR WORK, OFFERING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH THAT INCLUDES GED OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA COMPLETION, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND ACCESS TO SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, AND CHILDCARE. PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP PERSONALIZED LEARNING AND CAREER PLANS WITH PROGRAM STAFF AND EARN CERTIFICATIONS AND WORK EXPERIENCE IN FIELDS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION, HEALTHCARE, AND MANUFACTURING/IT. PARTICIPANTS GAIN CAREER SKILLS WHILE COMPLETING SERVICE PROJECTS, SUCH AS BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROVIDING ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE. MANY PARTICIPANTS ARE FROM COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND FACE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES INCLUDING HOUSING INSTABILITY, PARENTING RESPONSIBILITIES, OR PREVIOUS COURT INVOLVEMENT. AT AYW-YB, PARTICIPANTS LEARN SKILLS NEEDED TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES, SECURE STABLE EMPLOYMENT, AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM SUCCESS BOTH IN THEIR CAREERS AND IN CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  2. $6.7 million spent. AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS CONSERVATION CORPS (AYW-CC) ENGAGES YOUNG ADULTS AGES 17-35 IN PAID CAREER TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SERVICE PROJECTS THAT MEET CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS. BASED IN AUSTIN, TX, WITH ADDITIONAL SITES IN HOUSTON, BATON ROUGE, NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, AND OKLAHOMA, AYW-CC SERVES OVER 200 PARTICIPANTS ANNUALLY.PARTICIPANTS GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE AND EARN INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS WHILE COMPLETING AND LEADING PROJECTS IN DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY, WILDFIRE PREVENTION, IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS TO RECREATION, TRAIL BUILDING, SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE, HABITAT RESTORATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT, AND WETLAND AND COASTAL RESTORATION. BY WORKINGALONGSIDE AND LEARNING DIRECTLY FROM PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD, PARTICIPANTS ACCESS CAREER CONNECTIONS IN RELATED INDUSTRIES. THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, AYW-CC PROJECTS SUPPORT THE INITIATIVES OF CITY, COUNTY, STATE, NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES TO MAINTAINPUBLIC PARKS, WATERWAYS, AND FORESTS. AYW-CC CREWS CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, EXPAND SAFE RECREATIONAL ACCESS, MANAGE LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE PROGRAM PREPARES PARTICIPANTS BY DEVELOPINGTECHNICAL SKILLS, LEADERSHIP, AND TEAMWORK WHILE FOSTERING CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH NATIONAL SERVICE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 October 1981.

    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.