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Heart of Los Angeles Youth Inc

EIN 95-4397418 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, HEART OF LOS ANGELES HELPED 3,100+ YOUTH IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES OVERCOME BARRIERS THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL, FREE, INTEGRATED PROGRAMS AND PERSONALIZED GUIDANCE IN A TRUSTED, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$19.4 million
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
197
Volunteers
750
Highest pay
$240,000, 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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 182% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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. $3.1 million spent. EDUCATION: HOLA'S ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: SMART START (ELEMENTARY SCHOOL); BRIDGES (GRADES 6-10); AND COLLEGE & CAREER SUCCESS (JUNIORS, SENIORS, POSTSECONDARY) PROVIDED 509 STUDENTS WITH EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC SUPPORT, TUTORING, AND MENTORSHIP. HOLA HAS PRIORITIZED EMPLOYING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING METHODOLOGIES TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH AN ADAPTIVE APPROACH TO MEETING THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, HOLA SAW STUDENTS GETTING BACK ON TRACK ACADEMICALLY, AND STRENGTHENING THE MYRIAD SKILLS THEY NEED TO EXCEL IN COLLEGE AND THRIVE AS WORKING ADULTS. HOLA IS INCREDIBLY PROUD TO REPORT THAT 100% OF SENIORS GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT OVER 98% WILL BE ATTENDING POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-25, HOLA DISTRIBUTED $987,200 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 256 YOUTH. THIS YEAR, HOLA LAUNCHED HEART OF A MENTOR NETWORK, A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM CONNECTING HOLA SCHOLARS AND ALUMNI WITH HOLA'S LARGER NETWORK TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, PROVIDE GUIDANCE, AND IDENTIFY GOALS FOR THEIR FUTURES.
  2. $3.5 million spent. ARTS: HOLA'S VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED 75+ WEEKLY VISUAL ARTS CLASSES ACROSS 7 DIFFERENT SITES. WE SERVED 332 STUDENTS ON OUR MAIN CAMPUS IN WESTLAKE/RAMPART, AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL 102 STUDENTS AT AUGUSTUS HAWKINS NATURE PARK (AHNP) IN CENTRAL ALAMEDA, 98 STUDENTS IN THE WATTS DISTRICT THROUGH A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WATTS LABOR COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE (WLCAC), AND 890 THROUGH IN-SCHOOL ART CLASSES AT FOUR LAUSD SCHOOLS IN THE DORSEY/CRENSHAW CLUSTER, SCHOOLS IDENTIFIED AS HIGH-NEED BY THE BLACK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PLAN HEET INITIATIVE. HOLA'S FREE VISUAL ARTS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES CLASSES, PUBLIC ART PROJECTS, FIELD TRIPS, ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS, AND WELLNESS SUPPORT SERVICES.HOLA'S MUSIC DEPARTMENT IS COMPRISED OF THE YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF LOS ANGELES (YOLA AT HOLA), HOLA MUSIC STUDIOS (HMS), AND THE EISNER INTERGENERATIONAL MUSIC PROGRAM (EIMP), WHICH ITSELF CONTAINS AN INTERGENERATIONAL CHOIR, BIG BAND, AND ORCHESTRA. THE EISNER INTERGENERATIONAL MUSIC PROGRAM HAS 254 REGISTERED MEMBERS, AGES 13-76. YOLA AT HOLA, WHICH CONSISTS OF THREE ORCHESTRAS (YOUTH, SYMPHONY, AND CHILDREN'S) HAD 192 MEMBERS, WHILE HMS JAZZ AND ROCK BAND STUDENTS NUMBERED 53. IN FY 2024-25, ALL OF HOLA'S MUSIC PROGRAMS PARTICIPATED IN AN ARRAY OF PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES AT VENUES INCLUDING HOLA'S EZRALOW PERFORMANCE PAVILION, THE LEVIT PAVILION, BMO STADIUM, WILSHIRE EBELL THEATRE, THE WORLD FAMOUS WHISKEY A GO GO, AND THE WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL.HOLA'S SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH (STEAM) PROGRAMMING PROVIDED 105 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH CLASSES UTILIZING PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY ENGAGEMENT, AND FOSTERING A SUPPORTIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM (AKA HOLA SCIARTS) IS GROUNDED IN MAKER-STYLE EDUCATION, A DISTINCT MOVEMENT THAT USES DIY PROJECTS TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS AND SOLVE THEIR OWN DESIGN PROBLEMS. THE SCIARTS PROGRAM HELPS YOUTH BOOST THEIR NONCOGNITIVE ABILITIES, ANALYTICAL THINKING, RESILIENCE, AND SELF-MOTIVATION.
  3. $638,522 spent. ATHLETICS: HOLA ATHLETICS SERVED 738 STUDENTS THROUGH LEAGUE PLAY AND ATHLETIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING. IN 2024-2025, HOLA FACILITATED SOCCER LEAGUES FOR ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS WELL AS HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL THROUGH OUR CENTRAL CITY ATHLETIC LEAGUE, A JUNIOR JUMPSHOT ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL LEAGUE, A SUMMER ACTIVE CAMP, AND YEAR-ROUND HEALTHY LIVING CLASSES WHERE YOUTH LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION, EXERCISE, AND CARING FOR ONE'S WELL-BEING. IN THE SUMMER OF 2023, HOLA ATHLETICS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FHI 360 AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SPORTS DIPLOMACY, SENT 9 STUDENTS AND SUPERVISORY STAFF TO FRANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SPORTS-BASED EXCHANGE PROGRAM, DEMONSTRATING THE POWER THAT ATHLETICS HAS TO CREATE CROSS-CULTURAL BRIDGES AND FOSTER INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION.
  4. $570,624 spent. FAMILY SERVICES

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 December 1996.

    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.