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John Burton Advocates for Youth

EIN 81-2600695 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JOHN BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH (JBAY) IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUTH IN CALIFORNIA WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE OR HOMELESS BY ADVOCATING FOR BETTER LAWS, TRAINING COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL PRACTICES AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO INFORM POLICY SOLUTIONS.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
40 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
10
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$164,528, director, housing & economic mobili

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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 (1)
  1. $3.0 million spent. EDUCATION: JBAY works to ensure access to higher education for youth who have been in foster care or experienced homelessness. In 2024-25, JBAY worked towards this goal by pursuing a range of strategies: JBAY expanded eligibility to CalKIDS college saving accounts for foster youth and successfully secured $6.1 million in the state budget to fund these accounts. JBAY expanded educational supports to students in foster care by authorizing county offices of education to use their existing state funding to provide direct services to foster youth via the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Programs. JBAY led efforts in Los Angeles County to improve linkages of high school seniors in foster care to campus-based support programs by developing a countywide Release of Information form to prevent summer melt. JBAY conducted the California Foster Youth and Homeless Youth FAFSA challenge in collaboration with the California Department of Education and local education agencies.HOUSING: JBAY works to ensure youth who have been in foster care or homeless have access to safe, affordable housing. In 2024-25, this work included: Conducting an inventory of transitional housing programs and federal housing vouchers for former foster youth in California, identifying unmet need, and making a series of recommendations. Presenting at a series of in-person and virtual convenings to update stakeholders on the status of federal Special Purpose Housing Choice Vouchers for former foster youth in the face of federal policy shifts. Developing and disseminating a best practices guide for county child welfare agencies and public housing authorities to expand access and improve administration of federal housing voucher programs.ECONOMIC MOBILITY: JBAY works to ensure youth have the opportunity to grow into economically secure adults. In 2024-25, uptake of the California Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC) by eligible current and former foster youth rose from 15% to 17%. JBAY conducted an analysis of the first three years of the FYTC and found that more than 16,000 young adults had received the credit, totaling $17.20 million in tax refunds, and an additional $18.66 million in additional credits unlocked from filing. JBAY provided intensive implementation support, including help establishing and supporting four Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites for foster youth, and developing and disseminating several resources for education, outreach, and support with filing taxes. JBAY also trained stakeholders and VITA volunteers on how to claim the Foster Youth Tax Credit.CRITICAL NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITY FUND: JBAY provided direct financial assistance to youth who were in foster care or experienced homelessness by partnering with 68 education insitutions and direct service organizations to disburse emergency grant funds to youth in California. In 2024-25, JBAY provided assistance to over 1,424 youth. The average amount of financial assistance provided per youth was $280.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2016.

    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 November 4, 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.