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Junior Achievement of Southern Ca

EIN 95-1799192 · Los Angeles, CA

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

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSPIRES AND PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCEED IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY. OUR PROGRAMS TEACH THE BUSINESS OF LIFE, THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS OF EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS AND BUSINESSES.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
13.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
26
Volunteers
1,593
Highest pay
$327,295, president & 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 88% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% 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 88% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    60 of 60 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. $3.1 million spent. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT'S (JA'S) VISION IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO LEARN FROM AND BE INSPIRED BY EXPERIENCED ADULT VOLUNTEERS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. JA PROGRAMS SERVE STUDENTS IN ALL GRADES K-12 WITH CURRICULUM BUILT AROUND THREE CORE PILLARS: ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND WORK READINESS. JA PROGRAMS ARE GENERALLY PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS AS SUPPLEMENTS TO REGULAR CLASSROOM WORK. LESSONS COMBINE THE THREE PILLARS AROUND REAL-WORLD CONCEPTS IN WAYS THAT ARE GRADE-APPROPRIATE. JA CAPSTONE AND FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM INCLUDE STUDENT JA JOB SHADOW VISITS TO CORPORATIONS, CLASS TRIPS TO THE JA FINANCE PARK REAL-LIFE BUDGET SIMULATION, AND STUDENT COMPETITIONS WHERE TEAMS IN THE "JA COMPANY PROGRAM" DISPLAY THEIR ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECTS. JA STRIVES TO SERVE STUDENTS THAT ARE MOST AT-RISK, WITH A FOCUS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE "GRADUATION PATHWAYS" MODEL, WHICH PROVIDES SUCCESSIVE YEARS OF JA PROGRAMMING TO STUDENTS AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR EDUCATIONAL CAREER FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.

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.