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Youth on Their Own

EIN 86-0644388 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

YOUTH ON THEIR OWN SUPPORTS THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND CONTINUED SUCCESS OF YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN PIMA COUNTY. OUR VISION IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR OWN ARE EMPOWERED AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. YOTO PRIMARILY SERVES YOUTH IN GRADES 6-12 WHO ATTEND SCHOOL IN PIMA COUNTY, ARE UNACCOMPANIED STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT LIVING WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL OR ADOPTIVE PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS, AND ARE ON THEIR OWN THROUGH NO CHOICE OF THEIR OWN (FORCED TO LEAVE HOME). YOTO YOUTH ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS (E.G., COUCH HOPPING, LIVING IN CAR, RV, OR ANY PLACE NOT MEANT FOR LONG-TERM HABITATION, ETC.) OR ARE SELF-SUPPORTING STUDENTS WHO PAY FOR THEIR OWN HOUSING AND MUST PROVIDE ALL THEIR OWN BASIC NEEDS. YOTO'S CHIEF FOCUS IS EDUCATION, SPECIFICALLY A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, AS A TOOL TO DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. GRADUATION RATES FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE EXTREMELY LOW DUE TO THE STRESS OF MANAGING THEIR DAILY CIRCUMSTANCES. OVER 5,600 HOMELESS K-12 STUDENTS HAVE

Income
$8.0 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
19.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
43
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$165,085, ceo

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

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.2 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 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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. $3.9 million spent. THE MISSION OF YOTO IS TO SUPPORT THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND CONTINUED SUCCESS OF YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN PIMA COUNTY. SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP MEET YOUTH'S BASIC NEEDS SO THEY CAN FOCUS LESS ON THEIR HOUSING INSTABILITY OR FOOD INSECURITY AND MORE ON IN-SCHOOL SUCCESS. GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS WITHIN 100+ AREA SCHOOLS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO SERVE AS "YOTO LIAISONS" TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL HOMELESS STUDENTS, HELP THEM ENROLL IN YOTO, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SERVICES AVAILABLE TO YOTO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AT NO COST, INCLUDE: O ACADEMIC STIPENDS (UP TO 350/MONTH) BASED ON LEVEL OF NEED AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE; FLEXIBLE STIPENDS (E.G., BASIC NEEDS FUNDING); GRADUATION AWARDS; SCHOLARSHIPS. O BASIC NEEDS MATERIAL SUPPORT (E.G., HYGIENE SUPPLIES, SHELF-STABLE FOOD, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, ETC.) VIA THE YOTO MINI-MALL AND OTHER PERSONAL NEEDS (E.G., DENTAL CLEANINGS, HAIRCUT VOUCHERS, ETC.). O TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE (E.G., UBER HEALTH RIDES AND TAXI FARES). O ONGOING ACADEMIC SUPPORT, INCLUDING COLLEGE AND CAREER GUIDANCE. O REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND OTHER UNMET NEEDS. BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BASIC NEEDS ITEMS, AND ONE- ON-ONE GUIDANCE, YOTO GIVES YOUTH WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND REACH THEIR GOALS. UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS DEPEND ON SCHOOL-BASED SUPPORTS (TEACHERS/COUNSELORS, TUTORING, BREAKFAST/LUNCH SERVICES, ETC.) AND SOCIAL NETWORKS (FRIENDS, COACHES, TEAMMATES, ETC.) FOR POSITIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, CONSISTENCY, AND TEMPORARY HOUSING CONNECTIONS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN OUR THREE LARGEST PROGRAM SERVICE AREAS INCLUDE: YOUTH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN EARN A MONTHLY STIPEND OF UP TO 350 TO INCENTIVIZE SCHOOL PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE. YOUTH IN THE MOST UNSTABLE SITUATIONS (THOSE WHO ARE LIVING IN THEIR CAR, PARENTING, ETC.) CAN EARN THE HIGHEST STIPEND AMOUNT OF 350. TO RECEIVE A STIPEND, STUDENTS MUST MEET SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS. IN 2024-2025, 1,128,250 WAS INVESTED IN YOUTH ACADEMIC FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION, YOUTH WHO WERE FACING EVICTION OR STREET HOMELESSNESS EARNED 38,835 THROUGH OUR DIRECT CASH TRANSFERS AS PREVENTION(DCT-P) PROGRAM. BASIC NEEDS: YOTO YOUTH ARE PROVIDED ACCESS TO FREE BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, CLOTHING, HYGIENE ITEMS, AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES AT THE YOTO MINI-MALL. UBER HEALTH RIDES AND TAXI RIDES ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO ELIMINATE TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING YOTO WORKSHOPS, SCHOOL, AND WORK. IN 2024-2025, YOTO YOUTH VISITED THE ON-SITE MINI MALL 3,005 TIMES AND YOTO DISTRIBUTED 179,643 BASIC NEEDS ITEMS TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION, YOTO DISTRIBUTED, 174 CAP AND GOWN STIPENDS, 32 DENTAL SERVICES THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH MARTIN TAYLOR DENTISTRY, 112 HAIRCUT VOUCHERS, 22 NEW HOME KITS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH VIVA PIMA, 177 UBER AND TAXI RIDES, 19 DONATED BIKES THROUGH EL TOUR DE TUCSON AND 39 LAPTOPS. ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS IN FY25 ENABLED YOTO TO PROVIDE 11 GENDER AFFIRMING PRODUCTS TO TRANS YOTO YOUTH (PARTNERSHIP WITH VALIDUSA), 798 FRESH MEAL KITS (PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TUCSON FAMILY FOOD PROJECT), 2,056 1-GALLON BAGS OF PET FOOD (PARTNERSHIP WITH CODY'S FRIENDS), AND 1,987 PAIRS OF SOCKS (PARTNERSHIP WITH BOMBAS). GUIDANCE: BECAUSE YOTO YOUTH ARE ON THEIR OWN, THEY OFTEN LACK THE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE THAT COMES FROM A CARING PARENT. YOTO PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE, ENCOURAGEMENT, COLLEGE AND CAREER ASSISTANCE, AND CONNECTIONS TO OTHER SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, YOTO SERVES AS AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED SUPPORT NAVIGATING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS. YOTO'S SCHOOLS PROGRAM COORDINATORS ARE VITAL TO YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN SERVICES AND HELPING STUDENTS STAY IN SCHOOL. ALUMNI PROGRAM COORDINATORS PROVIDE WORKSHOPS TO SUPPORT YOUTH'S POST-SECONDARY PLANS. IN FY25, 62 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN A FAFSA WORKSHOP, 20 YOUTH ATTENDED A RESUME WORKSHOP, 23 YOUTH ATTENDED THE PIMA FOR YOTO EVENT, WHICH IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN YOTO, PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, EARN TO LEARN, AND PIMA COUNTY ONE STOP. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, A TOTAL OF 1,459 YOUTH WERE ENROLLED IN YOTO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN FY25, 78% OF YOTO YOUTH REPORTED THAT GUIDANCE GIVEN BY YOTO SUPPORTED THEM IN ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS AND 94% FELT WELCOMED WHEN THEY VISITED THE MINI MALL. YOTO SCHOOL LIAISONS ARE SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND OTHER KEY SCHOOL STAFF AT EACH OF THE SCHOOLS IN PIMA COUNTY. IN ADDITION TO THEIR PAID ROLES AT SCHOOL SITES, THESE INDIVIDUALS ALSO VOLUNTEER TO HELP FACILITATE THE YOTO PROGRAM ON THEIR CAMPUS. 54.2% OF YOTO LIAISONS HAD AN AVERAGE BETWEEN 2-10 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS. THE MISSION OF YOTO IS TO SUPPORT THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND CONTINUED SUCCESS OF YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN PIMA COUNTY. SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP MEET YOUTH'S BASIC NEEDS SO THEY CAN FOCUS LESS ON THEIR HOUSING INSTABILITY OR FOOD INSECURITY AND MORE ON IN-SCHOOL SUCCESS. GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS WITHIN 100+ AREA SCHOOLS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO SERVE AS "YOTO LIAISONS" TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL HOMELESS STUDENTS, HELP THEM ENROLL IN YOTO, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SERVICES AVAILABLE TO YOTO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AT NO COST, INCLUDE: O ACADEMIC STIPENDS (UP TO 350/MONTH) BASED ON LEVEL OF NEED AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE; FLEXIBLE STIPENDS (E.G., BASIC NEEDS FUNDING); GRADUATION AWARDS; SCHOLARSHIPS. O BASIC NEEDS MATERIAL SUPPORT (E.G., HYGIENE SUPPLIES, SHELF-STABLE FOOD, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, ETC.) VIA THE YOTO MINI-MALL AND OTHER PERSONAL NEEDS (E.G., DENTAL CLEANINGS, HAIRCUT VOUCHERS, ETC.). O TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE (E.G., UBER HEALTH RIDES AND TAXI FARES). O ONGOING ACADEMIC SUPPORT, INCLUDING COLLEGE AND CAREER GUIDANCE. O REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND OTHER UNMET NEEDS. BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BASIC NEEDS ITEMS, AND ON

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.