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Young Americans Center for Financial Education

EIN 84-1564926 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YOUNG AMERICANS CENTER FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING THE FINANCIAL LITERACY OF YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES AND HANDS-ON PROGRAMS PURPOSEFULLY DESIGNED TO ENABLE THEM TO PROSPER IN OUR FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM. SINCE 1989, MORE THAN 926,700 YOUTH HAVE BENEFITED FROM THESE NONPROFIT PROGRAMS THAT BUILD LIFE SKILLS, WORK SKILLS, AND FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
44
Volunteers
7,357
Highest pay
$330,764, pres. & ceo

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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, 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 (6)
  1. $1.3 million spent. YOUNG AMERITOWNE IS A HANDS-ON PROGRAM THAT INTRODUCES 5TH GRADERS FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT COLORADO TO OUR FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM. THE THIRTY-SEVEN LESSON CURRICULUM TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOL BY THE TEACHER CULMINATES WHEN THE STUDENTS RUN A LIFE-LIKE TOWN OF UP TO 17 BUSINESSES FOR A DAY, BRINGING THEIR LEARNING TO LIFE AND EXPERIENCING FREE ENTERPRISE FIRST-HAND. PARTICIPATION: 31,384 DURING 2024.
  2. $287,596 spent. INTERNATIONAL TOWNE IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND PROGRAM THAT INTRODUCES MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE FINANCIAL REALITIES OF THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE. AFTER WEEKS OF CLASSROOM LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES, THE STUDENTS-TURNED-WORLD-CITIZENS COME TO INTERNATIONAL TOWNE TO RUN THE SIXTEEN-COUNTRY WORLD FOR A DAY, EXPERIENCING THE ECONOMIC CONCEPTS OF GLOBAL TRADING, CURRENCY EXCHANGE, IMPORTING AND EXPORTING, AND CULTURAL VALUES. PARTICIPATION: 7,822 STUDENTS DURING 2024.
  3. $468,786 spent. YOUNG AMERICANS CENTER FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION ALSO OFFERS A VARIETY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR YOUTHBIZ DIVISION. SERVING DENVER-AREA YOUTH AGES 11 TO 18 WITH TARGETED FOCUS ON THOSE FROM LOW-INCOME, UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, YOUTH LEARN THE FOUNDATIONS OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ENABLING THEM TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES AND TO DEVELOP PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT CREATE VALUE. YOUTHBIZ OFFERS TWO PROGRAMS, STARTUP AND OUT-OF-THE-BOX. STARTUP IS AN ENTRY LEVEL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TEACH YOUTH THE BASICS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP INCLUDING NEED IDENTIFICATION, PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS PITCH. YOUTHBIZ OUT-OF-THE-BOX TAKES STUDENTS FURTHER INTO THE PRODUCTION AND SALES CYCLES WITH REAL RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS OUR YOUTHBIZ MARKETPLACE. IN 2024 YOUTHBIZ EXTENDED ITS REACH BEYOND DENVER, BRINGING ITS VIBRANT MARKETPLACE TO COLORADO'S WESTERN SLOPES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, SERVING 3,616 STUDENTS. YOUNG AMERICANS CENTER FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION ALSO OFFERS A VARIETY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR YOUTHBIZ DIVISION. SERVING DENVER-AREA YOUTH AGES 11 TO 18 WITH TARGETED FOCUS ON THOSE FROM LOW-INCOME, UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, YOUTH LEARN THE FOUNDATIONS OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ENABLING THEM TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES AND TO DEVELOP PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT CREATE VALUE. YOUTHBIZ OFFERS TWO PROGRAMS, STARTUP AND OUT-OF-THE-BOX. STARTUP IS AN ENTRY LEVEL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TEACH YOUTH THE BASICS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP INCLUDING NEED IDENTIFICATION, PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS PITCH. YOUTHBIZ OUT-OF-THE-BOX TAKES STUDENTS FURTHER INTO THE PRODUCTION AND SALES CYCLES WITH REAL RETAIL OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS OUR YOUTHBIZ MARKETPLACE. IN 2024 YOUTHBIZ EXTENDED ITS REACH BEYOND DENVER, BRINGING ITS VIBRANT MARKETPLACE TO COLORADO'S WESTERN SLOPES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, SERVING 3,616 STUDENTS.
  4. $550,431 spent. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONDUCTED A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMING INCLUDING MONEY MATTERS CLASSES, TOURS AND PRESENTATIONS. RURAL YOUNG AMERICANS CENTER FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION, LLC IN WRAY, COLORADO OFFERS RURAL YOUNG AMERITOWNE TO SCHOOLS IN EASTERN COLORADO AND ACROSS THE BORDERS OF KANSAS AND NEBRASKA. STUDENTS ATTENDED RURAL YOUNG AMERICANS IN 2024. IN ADDITION, YOUNG AMERICANS CENTER FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION RUNS WEEKLY DAY CAMPS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. THEMES FOR THE CAMPS INCLUDE PERSONAL FINANCE AND BANKING, FREE ENTERPRISE, GLOBAL ECONOMICS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. SUMMER CAMP PARTICIPATION WAS 818 YOUTH IN 2024.
  5. THREE OF THE PROGRAMS, YOUNG AMERITOWNE, INTERNATIONAL TOWNE, AND RURAL YOUNG AMERITOWNE, REQUIRE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SPACE TO OPERATE. YOUNG AMERICANS EDUCATION FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION), A RELATED ENTITY, OWNS THE THREE BUILDINGS THAT THE CENTER USES TO RUN THE PROGRAMS. THE BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED IN DENVER, LAKEWOOD AND WRAY, COLORADO. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES THE SPACES AT NO COST TO THE CENTER. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER RECEIVES DONATED SPACE FROM THIRD PARTIES TO OPERATE THE ON THE ROAD PROGRAM. AS SUCH, THE CENTER HAS RECOGNIZED IN-KIND RENT IN THE 2024 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TOTALING 1,701,356 FOR THE FREE USE OF FACILITIES. HOWEVER, THIS IN-KIND REVENUE AND EXPENSE IS EXCLUDED ON THE TAX RETURN.
  6. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONDUCTED A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMING INCLUDING MONEY MATTERS CLASSES, TOURS AND PRESENTATIONS. RURAL YOUNG AMERICANS CENTER FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION, LLC IN WRAY, COLORADO OFFERS RURAL YOUNG AMERITOWNE TO SCHOOLS IN EASTERN COLORADO AND ACROSS THE BORDERS OF KANSAS AND NEBRASKA. STUDENTS ATTENDED RURAL YOUNG AMERICANS IN 2024. IN ADDITION, YOUNG AMERICANS CENTER FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION RUNS WEEKLY DAY CAMPS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. THEMES FOR THE CAMPS INCLUDE PERSONAL FINANCE AND BANKING, FREE ENTERPRISE, GLOBAL ECONOMICS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. SUMMER CAMP PARTICIPATION WAS 818 YOUTH IN 2024.

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 October 2001.

    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.