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Save Our Youth Inc

EIN 84-1295393 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SAVE OUR YOUTH IS A TRANSFORMATIVE ONE-TO-ONE YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM DEDICATED TO ERADICATING FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL, AND RELATIONAL POVERTY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE DENVER METRO AREA. THROUGH CONSISTENT, SUPPORTIVE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS, SAVE OUR YOUTH EMPOWERS YOUTH TO GROW ACADEMICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SOCIALLY, BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY. OUR INDIVIDUALIZED MENTORING MODEL FOSTERS RESILIANCE, CULTIVATES HOPE, AND SUPPORTS LONG-TERM SUCCESS THROUGH TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND A NURTURING, STRENGTHS- BASED ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
14.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
23
Volunteers
437
Highest pay
$142,166, president/ce

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. IN 2025, SAVE OUR YOUTH PROVIDED TRANSFORMATIVE MENTORING SERVICES TO 296 YOUNG INDIVIDUALS IN THE DENVER METRO AREA AND LONGMONT, CO, FACILITATING 96 NEW MENTOR-MENTEE MATCHES. PLUS, THERE WERE 125 NEW MENTOR APPLICANTS IN 2025. OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MENTORING, INFORMED BY RESEARCH FROM THE NATIONAL MENTORING PARTNERSHIP, IS YIELDING SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE OUTCOMES. MENTORED YOUTH ARE 55% MORE LIKELY TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE, 52% LESS LIKELY TO SKIP SCHOOL, 78% MORE LIKELY TO VOLUNTEER REGULARLY, AND 130% MORE LIKELY TO HOLD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. THIS IMPACTFUL INVESTMENT IS UNDERSCORED BY DATA SHOWING THAT EVERY DOLLAR ALLOCATED TO QUALITY YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAMS YIELDS A 3 RETURN IN SOCIETAL BENEFITS (SOURCE: THE MENTORING EFFECT, 2014). ADDITIONALLY, SAVE OUR YOUTH BOASTS A COMMENDABLE 92% ON- TIME HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE, WITH AN AVERAGE MATCH LENGTH OF 29 MONTHS. 70% OF MENTEES WHO INITIALLY REPORTED FEELING LONELINESS NO LONGER REPORT FEELING LONELY. THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, WE ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVE THE EMOTIONAL, ACADEMIC, AND RESOURCE SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR GENERATIONAL TRANSFORMATION. IN 2025, SAVE OUR YOUTH PROVIDED TRANSFORMATIVE MENTORING SERVICES TO 296 YOUNG INDIVIDUALS IN THE DENVER METRO AREA AND LONGMONT, CO, FACILITATING 96 NEW MENTOR-MENTEE MATCHES. PLUS, THERE WERE 125 NEW MENTOR APPLICANTS IN 2025. OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MENTORING, INFORMED BY RESEARCH FROM THE NATIONAL MENTORING PARTNERSHIP, IS YIELDING SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE OUTCOMES. MENTORED YOUTH ARE 55% MORE LIKELY TO ENROLL IN COLLEGE, 52% LESS LIKELY TO SKIP SCHOOL, 78% MORE LIKELY TO VOLUNTEER REGULARLY, AND 130% MORE LIKELY TO HOLD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. THIS IMPACTFUL INVESTMENT IS UNDERSCORED BY DATA SHOWING THAT EVERY DOLLAR ALLOCATED TO QUALITY YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAMS YIELDS A 3 RETURN IN SOCIETAL BENEFITS (SOURCE: THE MENTORING EFFECT, 2014). ADDITIONALLY, SAVE OUR YOUTH BOASTS A COMMENDABLE 92% ON- TIME HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE, WITH AN AVERAGE MATCH LENGTH OF 29 MONTHS. 70% OF MENTEES WHO INITIALLY REPORTED FEELING LONELINESS NO LONGER REPORT FEELING LONELY. THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, WE ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVE THE EMOTIONAL, ACADEMIC, AND RESOURCE SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR GENERATIONAL TRANSFORMATION.

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

  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 October 13, 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 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 August 2014.

    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 October 21, 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.