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Youth Mentoring Connection

EIN 95-4845105 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF YOUTH MENTORING CONNECTION IS TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF AT-RISK YOUTH BY CARING FOR THEIR WOUNDS AND SHINING A LIGHT ON THEIR GIFTS THROUGH AN ONGOING MENTORING COMMUNITY, CREATIVE EXPRESSION, AND LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES; THUS INSPIRING THEM TO BECOME THRIVING ADULTS. OUR VISION IS OF A COMMUNITY THAT BRINGS VITAL CONNECTION, LOVE, AND HEALING INTO THE LIVES OF AT-RISK YOUTH.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
-6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 50%
Employees
16
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$132,714, director/ceo/founder

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

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $1.3 million spent. FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, OVER 325 VULNERABLE YOUTH WERE PROVIDED WITH CORE MENTORING AND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. YOUTH WERE MATCHED WITH CARING ADULT MENTORS WHO EMPOWERED THEM WITH LONG-TERM AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT TO BUILD RESILIENCY THROUGH YMC'S GIFT CENTERED APPROACH. IN ADDITION TO CORE MENTORING, YMC PROVIDED OTHER POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING ECHO, URBAN OASIS FILM ACADEMY, STOKED CITY SURF CAMP, YEAR-ROUND SUNDAY SURF, RITES-OF-PASSAGE ANNUAL RETREAT, AND YOUTH SUPPORT. YMC ALSO HOSTED EVENTS FOCUSING ON POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, OPEN TO FORMER, CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE MENTEES.YMC DEEPENED ITS RECENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, INCLUDING OPTIONS FOR YOUTH, THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, NEW OPEN WORLD ACADEMY, AND THE SEED LA SCHOOL. OUR CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDED SYNERGY, SHOUT FACTORY, I HAVE A DREAM LA, HOME BOYS INDUSTRIES, STREET POETS, RHYTHM ARTS ALLIANCE, WELLNEST, TWIN TOWN TREATMENT CENTER, AND YOUTH BUILD. AN ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN LA, FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL MENTORING OF BLACK MALE YOUTH WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM.YMC'S YOUTH OUTCOMES REMAIN CONSISTENT YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH YOUTH ACHIEVING THE FOLLOWING: 91% HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS; 82% OF THOSE ENROLLING IN COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL. IN THE FOUR KEY SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING DOMAINS, 84% IMPROVED COMMUNICATION; 83% HAVE STRONGER DECISION-MAKING SKILLS; 92% INCREASED RESILIENCY; AND 88% HAVE GREATER FEELINGS OF SELF-WORTH. YMC ALSO FULLY OPENED OUR URBAN OASIS YOUTH CENTER (UOYC), CREATING A DROP-IN CENTER FOR YOUTH, AND HOLDING REGULAR EVENTS TO ENGAGE LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUILD A NEW COMMUNITY. OUR RESOURCE COORDINATOR PROVIDED VALUABLE CONNECTIONS FOR THOSE IN NEED OF SERVICES OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE DIRECTLY PROVIDE, AND WE REACHED OUTSIDE OF OUR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE MATERIAL & FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF THE EATON & PALISADES FIRES. WE PILOTED A LIFE-SKILLS WORKSHOP CALLED GROW, ADDRESSING VARIOUS TOPICS INCLUDING PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, JOB READINESS, HEALTH EDUCATION AND MONEY MANAGEMENT. OUR LONG-TIME PARTNERS STREET POETS AND RHYTHM ARTS ALLIANCE ALSO BEGAN MONTHLY WORKSHOPS IN THE SPACE, PROVIDING CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH POETRY AND AFRICAN DRUMMING CIRCLES AND DANCE. WE ALSO LAID THE GROUNDWORK TO BEGIN IN-HOUSE COUNSELING SERVICES WITH ONE OF OUR OWN STAFF MEMBERS WHO RECENTLY COMPLETED HER MFT, AND WITH A USC MASTER'S STUDENT WHO SECURED A PLACEMENT WITH US FOR THEIR INTERNSHIP.

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 August 2001.

    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.