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Teens Inc

EIN 84-1380016 · Nederland, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TEENS, INC. SUPPORTS, EDUCATES, AND EMPOWERS YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES AND THRIVE.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
182
Volunteers
45

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

    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.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $849,951 spent. EDUCATION - SINCE SEPTEMBER 2002, TEENS, INC. HAS OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM, CHINOOK WEST, TO AREA YOUTH WHO ARE AT RISK OR HAVE ALREADY DROPPED OUT. CHINOOK WEST'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE EACH STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND LIFE ASPIRATIONS. UPON GRADUATION, CHINOOK WEST STUDENTS ARE PREPARED TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE CHOICES ABOUT EMOTIONAL AND PERSONAL WELL-BEING AND HAVE THE LIFE AND ACADEMIC SKILLS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS. IN SEPTEMBER 2015, TEENS, INC. BEGAN ADMINISTERING THE SECONDARY AND POST SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN YOUTH SERVICE CENTER - THE LARGEST YOUTH CORRECTIONS FACILITY IN THE STATE. LOOKOUT ACADEMY SERVES 148 INCARCERATED BOYS. THE CONTRACT TO ADMINISTER LOOKOUT ACADEMY IS SELF-SUSTAINING WITH THE COLORADO DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES. SINCE 2019, TEENS, INC. HAS RUN A PRESCHOOL FOR 2.5 - 5 YEAR OLDS, NEW EXPLORERS LEARNING CENTER. EDUCATION - SINCE SEPTEMBER 2002, TEENS, INC. HAS OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM, CHINOOK WEST, TO AREA YOUTH WHO ARE AT RISK OR HAVE ALREADY DROPPED OUT. CHINOOK WEST'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE EACH STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND LIFE ASPIRATIONS. UPON GRADUATION, CHINOOK WEST STUDENTS ARE PREPARED TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE CHOICES ABOUT EMOTIONAL AND PERSONAL WELL-BEING AND HAVE THE LIFE AND ACADEMIC SKILLS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS. IN SEPTEMBER 2015, TEENS, INC. BEGAN ADMINISTERING THE SECONDARY AND POST SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AT LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN YOUTH SERVICE CENTER - THE LARGEST YOUTH CORRECTIONS FACILITY IN THE STATE. LOOKOUT ACADEMY SERVES 148 INCARCERATED BOYS. THE CONTRACT TO ADMINISTER LOOKOUT ACADEMY IS SELF-SUSTAINING WITH THE COLORADO DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES. SINCE 2019, TEENS, INC. HAS RUN A PRESCHOOL FOR 2.5 - 5 YEAR OLDS, NEW EXPLORERS LEARNING CENTER.
  2. $883,376 spent. YOUTH EMPLOYMENT - TEENS INC EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP YOUTH LEARN MARKETABLE SKILLS, FILL A COMMUNITY NEED, AND AID EACH TEEN'S PERSONAL GROWTH. TEENS, INC. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDE TEENS WITH ROLE MODELS, MENTORING, AND STRUCTURE THAT HELP THEM THROUGH THE TURBULENCE THAT OFTEN ACCOMPANIES ADOLESDCENCE. TEENS, INC. HAS EXPANDED ITS YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM AND EMPLOYS OVER 100 YOUTH EACH YEAR IN 4 DIFFERENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY TEENS INC. EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS, YOUTH EMPLOYEES MUST BE IN SCHOOL OR ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARD THEIR DEGREE.
  3. $253,075 spent. OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP-AFTER SCHOOL ROCK CLIMBING PROGRAM AND SUMMER LEADERSHIP RETREATS RANGING FROM 5-12 DAYS THAT BUILD LIFE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN YOUTH PARTICIPANTS RECREATION - NO COST TEEN CENTER OPEN 15 HOURS/WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND 32 HOURS DURING THE SUMMER. PROVIDES A SAFE AND EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUTH CAN RECREATE, UTILIZE COMPUTERS, PREPARE FOOD AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH NON-PARENT ADULT ROLE MODELS. TEENS, INC. ALSO OFFERS DROP IN PLAY FOR YOUTH 0-11.
  4. $2.8 million spent. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TEENS, INC. HAS TWO COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. 1)A PREVENTION COALITION THAT UTILIZES AN EVIDENCE BASED PROCESS AIMED AT REDUCING SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG YOUTH. 2) A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING INITIATIVE THAT IMPLEMENTS AND EVIDENCE BASED SKILL BUILDING CURRICULUM AT THE NEDERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
  5. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES TEENS, INC. HAS TWO COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. 1)A PREVENTION COALITION THAT UTILIZES AN EVIDENCE BASED PROCESS AIMED AT REDUCING SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG YOUTH. 2) A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING INITIATIVE THAT IMPLEMENTS AND EVIDENCE BASED SKILL BUILDING CURRICULUM AT THE NEDERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

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 March 1997.

    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.

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