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National Center for Youth Law

EIN 94-2506933 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

For over 50 years, the National Center for Youth Law has put children and youth at the heart of the pursuit of justice. Guided by their insights, we use litigation, policy change, partnerships, and research to ensure that every child's rights are protected and every voice is heard.

Income
$15.9 million
Spending
$17.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
109
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$357,777, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 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 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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, 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 (6)
  1. $3.6 million spent. Education: Through research, collaboration, and advocacy, we work with students, educators, and public-agency partners to turn schools into positive, compassionate environments where every student - especially those in the foster system, the justice system, or those experiencing homelessness - belongs and is respected. We challenge discriminatory discipline, fight to strengthen education services, and provide cutting-edge research so that students' voices and experiences guide the decisions that shape their learning.
  2. $3.5 million spent. Children's Health & Wellbeing: National Center for Youth Law's ("NCYL's") health & wellbeing work improves the lives of children and youth across issue areas. Led by youth with lived experience, our Reproductive Health Equity Project for Foster Youth (RHEP) tears down policy barriers that keep young people from accessing sexual and reproductive health care services. Our advocacy to help children and youth flourish includes strengthening approaches to mental health. NCYL also works to transform the child welfare system to better support youth and families. With respect to combating commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth, our collaborative work shifts the response from criminalization to healing and centering the voices of survivors in policy discussions. A key part of NCYL's work in this area is also training providers, advocates, and communities on laws that protect adolescents' confidentiality, ensuring that every youth can seek help for their physical and mental well-being without fear or stigma.
  3. $3.2 million spent. Youth Justice & Equity: Together with youth, their families, community leaders, and system officials, NCYL is working to create a justice system that fosters growth rather than punishment. We spearhead campaigns to erase burdensome juvenile fines and fees in states across the country, and through coalition building, communication strategies, training and technical assistance, work to build a justice landscape where all young people can heal and thrive.
  4. $2.1 million spent. Legal Strategies: NCYL defends the rights of children across the country, and our lawsuits focus on bringing about systemic change in each of our core issue areas. At a time when democratic institutions and civil rights protections are under increasing strain, NCYL's legal work helps hold public systems accountable to the children and families they are meant to serve.
  5. $1.2 million spent. Children's Human Rights & Dignity: NCYL believes that no circumstance strips a child of their inherent dignity, whether that circumstance is migration, family crisis, or poverty. As co-counsel in Flores, NCYL represents children in federal immigration custody, advocating for humane conditions and reuniting children with their families in accordance with the law. We also lead efforts to dismantle practices that harm children in the foster system, fight to ensure that youth have access to health care and education, and promote youth-centered, community-centered, and family-centered policies that preserve families and reduce reliance on the foster system.
  6. $39,570 spent. Other small programs unrelated to the significant programs currently listed.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 September 1978.

    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.