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National Youth Justice Network

EIN 81-3221807 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL YOUTH JUSTICE NETWORK BUILDS THE MOVEMENT FOR ANTI-RACIST, HEALING-CENTERED YOUTH JUSTICE. WE UNITE A DIVERSE NETWORK OF ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZERS TO SHIFT YOUTH JUSTICE AWAY FROM POLICING AND PRISONS TOWARD COMMUNITY-BASED, TRAUMA-INFORMED AND HEALING-CENTERED RESPONSES TO YOUTH NEEDS. OUR WORK CENTERS THE NEEDS OF THE MOST MARGINALIZED, AND WE SEEK A REIMAGINED FUTURE WHERE BLACK, BROWN, INDIGENOUS, LGBTQIA+ YOUTH, AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE FREEDOM, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES NECESSARY TO THRIVE.

Income
$318,202
Spending
$595,980
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
6
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$89,988, 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 87% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
  1. $536,769 spent. CORE PROGRAMMING - NYJN IS AN ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO CREATING ANTI-RACIST, HEALING-CENTERED JUSTICE FOR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE WORK TO UNITE ADVOCATES, ACTIVISTS, ORGANIZERS, ARTISTS, HEALERS, AND DREAMERS BEHIND THE LONG-TERM CAUSE OF DECONSTRUCTING HARMFUL YOUTH-LEGAL SYSTEMS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY MODELS OF CARE CENTERED ON HEALING, EQUITY, AND YOUTH AND FAMILY EMPOWERMENT.TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION, WE EMPLOY SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO: ASSIST STATE AND LOCAL ADVOCATES WITH LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SUPPORT, RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION; ORGANIZE NARRATIVE POWER TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON A NEW WAY OF HEALING-CENTERED JUSTICE AND DEBUNK HARMFUL NARRATIVES ABOUT YOUTH, PARTICULARLY YOUTH OF COLOR; DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP OF MOVEMENT LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY; AND, UNITE A NETWORK OF MOVEMENT LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ACROSS THE COUNTRY TOWARDS THE SAME END. ADVOCACY SUPPORT, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION: NYJN PROVIDES JUVENILE JUSTICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY OFFERING POLICY RESEARCH, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATIONS, AND LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY TO ITS MEMBERS. WHILE NYJN AIMS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE GRASSROOTS NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY STATE-BASED MEMBERS, WE ARE ALSO LEADING THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE THE MINIMUM AGE OF YOUTH PROSECUTION AND CONFINEMENT. NARRATIVE ORGANIZING AND POWER BUILDING: THROUGH NYJN'S NARRATIVE ORGANIZING, WE BUILD NARRATIVE POWER AMONGST YOUTH JUSTICE MOVEMENT LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO TRANSFORM PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES ABOUT YOUTH BY CREATING A NEW NARRATIVE THAT UPLIFTS THE DIGNITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE INHERENT HARMS AND IMPACTS OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM ON YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES.LEADERSHIP: NYJN DEVELOPS THE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP OF MOVEMENT LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WITH A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON SUPPORTING MOVEMENT LEADERS OF COLOR AND YOUTH ADVOCATES. THE HALLMARK OF THIS WORK IS OUR YOUTH JUSTICE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (YJLI), ESTABLISHED IN 2011 TO PROVIDE A LEADERSHIP PATH FOR ADVOCATES OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY THOSE IMPACTED BY LEGAL SYSTEMS. NYJN PROVIDES DEEP LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND REFLECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YJLI FELLOWS THROUGH SHARING BEST PRACTICES, CHALLENGES, METHODS, AND INCREASING COLLECTIVE POWER.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 November 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.