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Passes our checks

Junior Achievement USA

EIN 91-0604913 · Auburn, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak28 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT'S PURPOSE IS TO INSPIRE AND PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCEED IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY. OUR PROVEN LESSONS IN FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORK READINESS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ALIGN WITH NATIONAL AND STATE STANDARDS, AND POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
36
Volunteers
2,816
Highest pay
$464,757, ceo/president

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: 28 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 61% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (2)
  1. $2.3 million spent. 2,729 VOLUNTEERS HELPED JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT BRING LIFE-CHANGING SKILLS IN FINANCIAL LITERACY, CAREER READINESS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO 59,886 STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS WITH EXPANDED OUTREACH TO YOUNG ADULTS (18YR-25YR) THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON STATE AND NORTHERN IDAHO.
  2. $871,673 spent. OUR EDUCATION CENTER PROVIDES EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES, HELPING STUDENTS EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND THE REAL WORLD. IN JA BIZTOWN, STUDENTS OPERATE A CITY. IN JA FINANCE PARK, STUDENTS SIMULATE ADULT LIFE, LEARNING ABOUT BUDGETING AND PERSONAL FINANCE.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 May 1994.

    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.