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First Place for Youth

EIN 94-3341034 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$34.4 million
Spending
$31.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 70%
Employees
220
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$321,138, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (4)
  1. $23.6 million spent. MY FIRST PLACE, A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM, PROVIDES STABILITY FOR CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH THROUGH SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT SERVICES. YOUTH RECEIVE SUPPORT WITH MOVE-IN COSTS, RENT, FOOD, SELF-RELIANCE PLANNING, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION SERVICES. STEPS TO SUCCESS IS THE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM OF MY FIRST PLACE, PROVIDING CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH WITH INTENSIVE ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING AND SUPPORT IN COMPLETING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE, ENROLLING IN COLLEGE, SECURING FINANCIAL AID, AND TUTORING. STEPS TO SUCCESS ALSO SUPPORTS YOUTH WITH EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, CAREER PLANNING, AND IN BUILDING THEIR WORKPLACE SKILLS, INCLUDING JOB SEARCH AND JOB RETENTION. THE PROGRAM IS OPERATING IN SIX COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA (ALAMEDA, CONTRA COSTA, LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, SANTA CLARA, AND SOLANO) AND IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
  2. $2.2 million spent. INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS PROGRAM ("ILSP") AND FIRST FOUNDATION IS OFFERED TO YOUTH IN SAN FRANCISCO AND SOLANO COUNTIES. THROUGH ILSP, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY FINDING AND PERMANENCY SERVICES, LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. FIRST FOUNDATION IS AN EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT BEGINS WITH HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES WHO ARE WILLING TO COMMIT TO THE PROGRAM THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL, THE ORGANIZATION'S STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT DESIGNED TO HELP INCREASE ON-TIME HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES ALONG WITH WORKSHOPS ON EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $702,691 spent. THE GOAL OF THE MY FIRST PLACE NETWORK IS TO CREATE A GROUP OF PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO USE MY FIRST PLACE TO DELIVER STRONG OUTCOMES FOR TRANSITION AGE YOUTH AND ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVED POLICIES AND SUPPORT FOR THESE YOUTH IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. MY FIRST PLACE PROVIDES AFFILIATES IN THE NETWORK WITH DEEP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT IN THE AREAS OF PROGRAM, FUNDRAISING AND POLICY TO IMPLEMENT THE MY FIRST PLACE MODEL SUCCESSFULLY.
  4. $406,493 spent. YOUTH TRANSITIONS PARTNERSHIP ("YTP") PROVIDES INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, COACHING AND SKILL BUILDING TO DISCONNECTED AND VULNERABLE YOUTH WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS. SERVICES INCLUDE COMMUNITY-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT, SKILL BUILDING CLASSES, AND ROUND-THE-CLOCK COACHING TO SUPPORT YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND SUCCESS IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND IN THEIR LIVING SITUATION. INTERVENTION STRATEGIES INCLUDE SPECIFIC SKILL BUILDING IN THE AREAS OF EMOTIONAL REGULATION, INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS, AND DISTRESS TOLERANCE, AS WELL AS CASE COORDINATION ACROSS THE CONTINUUM OF AVAILABLE SERVICES. YTP SERVES YOUTH THROUGHOUT ALAMEDA COUNTY.

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 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 October 13, 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 June 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 June 2000.

    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 October 21, 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.