Wevalidateyoungpeoplebydevelopinglifeskillsthroughmentoringandmediaartstraining.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 45 volunteers and 16 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $61K a year · 9% of revenue · last 3 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 3 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$152K
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.3 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $469K
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.0M
+46% vs prior year
Spent
$1.0M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$210K
By yearFY2019–FY2024
Revenue
$1.0M
FY2024▲ +46%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2019$92K
FY2020$142K
FY2021$181K
FY2022$375K
FY2023$714K
FY2024$1.0M
Expenses
$1.0M
FY2024▲ +66%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2019Not on file
FY2020Not on file
FY2021Not on file
FY2022$303K
FY2023$619K
FY2024$1.0M
Net assets
$210K
FY2024▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2019$25K
FY2020$41K
FY2021$32K
FY2022$99K
FY2023$194K
FY2024$210K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Aug 2001.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $764K Management & general 26% · $264K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

6 people listed on the 990; $152K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$120,000Pt VII · Sec A
$32,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Sydnee Stewart’s $120K as CEO is at the 44th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1552 $1–10M youth development nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2021FY2020FY2019
Sydnee Stewart$120,000—$4,923$7,688
Johna Rivers—$7,615$33,462$20,423
Larry Hughes$32,000———
Shawn Jackson——$15,999$3,200

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Better Youth INC executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Empowers youth through life skills, mentoring, and media arts training.

Questions for Better Youth INC

Tap to ask. Better Youth INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Better Youth INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $764K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The AIM-N-Inspire program is an exciting opportunity to explore and learn media at a professional level. Students can unlock their possibilities through the creative disciplines of animation, interactive gaming, media production and virtual and mixed realities.

$545Kprogram expense
02

Registered Apprenticeship Program

RAP - designed in collaboration with industry experts, employers, and community partners. Our unique program is tailored for system-impacted youth aged 18 and over, creating a pathway to success for those with lived experience in the child welfare system.

$164Kprogram expense
03

Real to Reel is our annual music and arts festival that empowers youth through creative storytelling. Youth have the opportunity to see the best of local and international film submissions. Attendees can enjoy panels from accomplished guests with filmmaking expertise.

$55Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 7 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $210K · 2024–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$209,643

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$878K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$164K
Other incomeLn 4–11$482
Money outPt IX
$1.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$764K
Managementcol C$264K
Owns and owesPt X
$210K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$194K
Total assetsLn 16$210K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$878K
Government grantsLn 1e$435K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$164K
Investment incomeLn 3$22
Other incomeLn 4–11$482
Total revenueLn 12$1.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$194K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$194K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$15K
Other assetsLn 15$1K
Total assetsLn 16$210K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$210K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 516
VolunteersI 645
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$216K$194K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$15K$15K
Total assetsLn 16$232K$210K
LiabilitiesLn 26$38K$0
Net assetsLn 32$194K$210K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$210K$210K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$152K$122K$30K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$287K$209K$77K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$8K$8K
Payroll taxesLn 10$31K$10K$21K
Legal feesLn 11b$8K$8K
Accounting feesLn 11c$11K$5K$5K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$76K$56K$20K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$5K$581$5K
Office expensesLn 13$30K$30K
Information technologyLn 14$60K$59K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$44K$26K$18K
TravelLn 17$22K$18K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$3K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$19K$19K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$63K$41K$23K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.0M$764K$264K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $1.0M$1.0M$15K$210K 990 PDF
FY2023 $714K$619K$95K$194K 990 PDF
FY2022 $375K$303K$72K$99K 990 PDF
FY2021 $181K$32K 990 PDF
FY2020 $142K$41K 990 PDF
FY2019 $92K$25K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,043,046 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $713,927$878,278
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$164,264
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2$22
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $296$482
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $714,225$1,043,046
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$209,643
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $325,603$477,407
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $293,576$340,635
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $619,179$1,027,685
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $95,046$15,361
Part VI · Governance 4 of 4 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,043,046 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$435,094
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$443,184
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$878,278
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $164,264$164,264
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $22$22
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $482$482
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $164,264 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $504$1,043,046
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,027,685 across 16 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $209,643$209,643
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $122,000 · Management $30,000$152,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $209,435 · Management $77,214$286,649
IX-9 Other employee benefitsManagement $7,594$7,594
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $9,864 · Management $21,300$31,164
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $7,500$7,500
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $5,400 · Management $5,400$10,800
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $55,929 · Management $19,641$75,570
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $581 · Management $4,581$5,162
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $30,305$30,305
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $58,909 · Management $1,417$60,326
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $26,250 · Management $17,630$43,880
IX-17 TravelPrograms $17,934 · Management $4,325$22,259
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $2,933$2,933
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $18,672$18,672
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $40,511 · Management $22,717$63,228
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $763,956 · Management $263,729 · Fundraising $0$1,027,685
Part X · Balance sheet $209,548 assets, 9 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $216,230$193,548
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $15,000$15,000
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,000$1,000
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $232,230$209,548
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $264$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $38,004$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $38,268$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $193,962$209,548
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $232,230$209,548
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $209,548 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,043,046
XI-2 Total expenses$1,027,685
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$15,361
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$193,962
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$224
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$209,548

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.