The Yess Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
YESS Institute builds inclusive learning communities to support students on their Road to Success.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 61%
- Employees
- 44
- Highest pay
- $108,503, executive dir.
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
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
- $1.1 million spent. Form 990, Part Ill, Line 4a - Program Service AccomplishmentsWithin its mission to build inclusive learning communities to support students on their road to success and its School Engagement Model, YESS served 900 unduplicated youth at Denver Public Schools: Kennedy HS, Lincoln HS, North HS, Skinner MS, Lake MS Westminster Public Schools: Orchard Park Academy, Shaw Heights MS, Tennyson Knolls, Westminster High School. Our post-secondary success director provided post-secondary planning and support for a total of 65 youth in the YESS Institute high schools. YESS family advocates within Denver Public Schools supported +200 families with food, necessary resources, supplies and financial support. YESS Institute collaborated with community agencies to provide necessary supplies to families. Further, the agency partnered with other local, state and national youth development agencies, schools and the Denver police department providing its emotional intelligence training to benefit a larger community. In addition, YESS Institute partnered with the Denver Office for Children's Affairs to develop a virtual version of the Healthy Lifestyles Cannabis, Vaping and Opioid educational curriculum for middle and high school students.
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
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 June 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 September 2001.
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: The May Institute Inc (Randolph, MA), EIN 04-2197449. 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.