Quick charity verification for Youth For Understanding Usa Inc (EIN: 20557010)
Verdict: Youth For Understanding Usa Inc shows mixed signals
65/100Mission Score
$5.6MRevenue
$2.2MAssets
3Red Flags
2Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent operational deficits in most recent years (e.g., 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014)
Significant decline in revenue from $18,017,919 in 2014 to $5,328,739 in 2023
Liabilities frequently exceed assets, indicating potential solvency concerns (e.g., $3,111,490 liabilities vs. $2,347,124 assets in 2023)
Strengths
No reported officer compensation, indicating potential volunteer leadership or efficient compensation practices.
Experienced a surplus in 2022 ($4,448,224 revenue vs. $3,736,395 expenses), demonstrating capacity for positive financial performance.
Spending Breakdown
How Youth For Understanding Usa Inc allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
70%
Program Spending
Below average — room for improvement
20%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
10%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Youth For Understanding Usa Inc
Is Youth For Understanding Usa Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Youth For Understanding Usa Inc (EIN: 20557010) shows mixed signals. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 2 strengths noted.
Is Youth For Understanding Usa Inc a good charity to donate to?
Youth For Understanding Usa Inc has a Mission Score of 65/100. Revenue: $5.6M. Assets: $2.2M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Youth For Understanding Usa Inc?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Youth For Understanding Usa Inc is 20557010. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does Youth For Understanding Usa Inc spend its money?
Youth For Understanding Usa Inc allocates 70% to programs, 20% to administration, and 10% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Youth For Understanding Usa Inc's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Youth For Understanding Usa Inc's tax-exempt status using EIN 20557010 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
Youth For Understanding Usa Inc (YFU) exhibits a fluctuating financial history, with a notable decline in revenue from a peak of $18,017,919 in 2014 to $5,328,739 in 2023. The organization has consistently operated with expenses exceeding revenue in most recent years, including a deficit of $51,957 in 2023 ($5,380,696 expenses vs. $5,328,739 revenue). This trend suggests potential challenges in achieving financial sustainability, though there was a surplus in 2022. The organization's liabilities have frequently exceeded its assets, particularly in recent years, indicating a potentially precarious financial position. For instance, in 2023, liabilities were $3,111,490 against assets of $2,347,124.
Spending efficiency is difficult to fully assess without a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses, which are not provided in the summary data. However, the consistent operational deficits suggest that the organization may be struggling to manage its expenditures within its revenue streams. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a significant transparency point, indicating either a volunteer leadership structure or that compensation is reported differently or below a disclosure threshold.
Overall, YFU's financial health appears to be under pressure due to declining revenues and persistent operational deficits. While the lack of officer compensation is a positive transparency indicator, the high liabilities relative to assets and the consistent spending exceeding income raise concerns about long-term stability. Further detailed financial statements would be necessary to fully evaluate spending efficiency and the allocation of funds.