Joy International Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
JOY International is dedicated to the prevention of child trafficking and to the freedom, healing, and empowerment of trafficked children, teens, and young adults worldwide.
- Income
- $887,753
- Spending
- $852,604
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 118
- Highest pay
- $113,303, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (4)
- $203,764 spent. Nepal: In 2025, JOY International supported survivors of human trafficking in Nepal through safe housing, trauma-informed care, and community-based follow-up services. JOY served 48 girls in residential care at the JOY Mukti Home, providing counseling, education, legal support, medical care, and safe housing. JOY Mukti staff also provided counseling, education assistance, and social work services to 31 additional survivors in the community. Survivors were supported through coordinated rescue response and stabilization services, with 40 survivors freed from exploitation through efforts carried out by the JVI rescue and investigation team with the JOY Mukti Home staff support and oversight. JOY also advanced survivor-centered accountability efforts through legal advocacy, with 19 court cases filed against traffickers and abusers during 2025. Due to the efforts of JOY International, survivors received trauma-informed services that address physical recovery, emotional healing, and empowerment for a strong future.
- $127,345 spent. Uganda: JOYs Uganda Empowerment Program supports vulnerable girls through education assistance and stability-focused care designed to reduce risk factors associated with exploitation. The program serves girls facing significant barriers, including poverty, orphanhood, family displacement, unsafe home environments, forced early marriage, and pressure to work at a young age. In 2025, JOY International supported 38 girls in Uganda through sponsorship, and two participants completed their education program and graduated.
- $102,899 spent. Education and Awareness:JOYs United States program focuses on trafficking prevention through education and awareness initiatives that equip youth and communities to recognize exploitation risks and respond appropriately. In 2025, JOY provided human trafficking education and awareness to 300 students as part of its prevention programming, strengthening understanding of safety, warning signs, and how to seek help. Training includes age-appropriate instruction on common exploitation tactics, including sextortion and online grooming, as well as practical online safety guidance, trusted-adult reporting pathways, and steps students can take to seek help for themselves or a friend.
- $98,429 spent. Belize: JOYs Belize program strengthens frontline caregivers and leaders who serve vulnerable children by providing trauma-informed training, relational support, and a structured staff care retreat. In 2025, JOY hosted a training and retreat with 38 attendees representing 12 different NGOs or foster families, creating cross-organization encouragement and shared learning. JOY also delivered additional trauma-informed care training for 10 staff members of a large childrens home in Belize. In May, JOY connected one-on-one with leaders from seven children service organizations across Belize, strengthening relationships and building connections for further ministry. Through the organizations and individuals trained or hosted, the programs indirect reach is estimated at more than 200 children served. In October 2025, JOY expanded its Belize program by placing a staff member in-country to provide consistent, ongoing support to caregivers and organizational leaders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2011.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Sae International (Warrendale, PA), EIN 25-1494402. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.