Avenues for Youth

Tax-deductible

Minneapolis, MN501(c)(3)Since 1993Youth DevelopmentEIN 41-1765140Revenue $6.9M in FY2025

On file with the IRSavenuesforyouth.org1708 Oak Park Ave N, 55411-3944 · Minneapolis, MNTax-exempt since Feb 1995Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The mission of Avenues for Youth (afy) is to partner with Youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their dreams. We DO this by providing shelter, short term and transitional housing and supportive services for Youth experiencing homelessness in a safe and nurturing environment. Through such service, Avenues seeks to help Youth achieve their personal goals and find a positive transition into young adulthood.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
70¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 589 volunteers and 70 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.1M a year · 23% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
70%
of spending
Fine: 70% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$255K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 62% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $115K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$9.8M
55% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 55% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.9M
+19% vs prior year
Spent
$4.5M
To programs
70%
Net assets
$7.9M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$6.9M
FY2025▲ +19%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$3.3M
FY2022$3.0M
FY2023$3.5M
FY2024$5.8M
FY2025$6.9M
Expenses
$4.5M
FY2025▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$2.8M
FY2023$3.3M
FY2024$3.8M
FY2025$4.5M
Net assets
$7.9M
FY2025▲ +42%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$3.4M
FY2023$3.6M
FY2024$5.6M
FY2025$7.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 1995.

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

Where the money goes

70 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 70% · $3.2M Management & general 10% · $463K Fundraising 19% · $865K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

18 people listed on the 990; $255K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$144,483Pt VII · Sec A
Associate Executive Director
$110,670Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Katherine Meerse’s $144K as Executive Director is at the 62nd 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Katherine Meerse$144,483$135,137$130,462$135,507$134,783
Rachel Hatch$110,670————

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.

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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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides shelter and support services to help homeless youth achieve their dreams and transition to adulthood.

Questions for Avenues for Youth

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.2M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

During the year ended june 30, 2025, avenues for youth met the increased need we are seeing in our community by supporting more young people than in previous years, while continuing to offer strong programs and services.

$2.1Mprogram expense
02

See schedule oavenues for young families rapid rehousing programavenues for young families supports homeless-youth led families. This "rapid rehousing program" supports youth-led families by helping them locate an apartment in the community, providing temporary rent subsidies and wrapping comprehensive services around the entire family…

$719Kprogram expense
03

See schedule oin avenues for youth's conneqt host home program members of the community open their homes to youth experiencing homelessness. The program is a community and volunteer-based initiative that matches youth experiencing homelessness ages 16 - 24 with volunteers in the community recruited, screened and trained by avenues.

$301Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$115K
Grants paid · 6 grants · $691K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$286,539
Unitemized GrantFY2023$212,992
Unitemized GrantFY2022$100,397
Unitemized GrantFY2022$14,000
Unitemized GrantFY2021$14,189
Unitemized GrantFY2020$63,194

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$213K
Other incomeLn 4–11$152K
Money outPt IX
$4.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.2M
Managementcol C$463K
Fundraisingcol D$865K
Owns and owesPt X
$7.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.0M
Total assetsLn 16$17.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$9.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$4.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$128K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6K
Investment incomeLn 3$213K
Other incomeLn 4–11$152K
Total revenueLn 12$6.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$714K
SavingsLn 2$2.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$277K
Other assetsLn 15$26K
Total assetsLn 16$17.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$9.8M
Net assetsLn 32$7.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 570
VolunteersI 6589
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.5M$3.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$694K$277K
Total assetsLn 16$5.9M$17.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$312K$9.8M
Net assetsLn 32$5.6M$7.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$287K$287K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$283K$94K$121K$68K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.1M$1.5M$156K$418K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$39K$8K$15K$17K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$202K$151K$7K$43K
Payroll taxesLn 10$201K$136K$24K$41K
Legal feesLn 11b$5K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$18K$18K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$411K$224K$41K$146K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$18K$1K$17K
Office expensesLn 13$29K$20K$3K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$116K$71K$23K$22K
OccupancyLn 16$112K$99K$8K$4K
TravelLn 17$59K$37K$2K$19K
InterestLn 20$151K$151K$9
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$33K$30K$2K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$40K$32K$3K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$363K$283K$31K$49K
All other expensesLn 24e$23K$11K$9K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.5M$3.2M$463K$865K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $6.9M$4.5M$2.4M$7.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $5.8M$3.8M$2.0M$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.5M$3.3M$182K$3.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.0M$2.8M$257K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.3M$2.8M$449K$3.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,896,706 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,682,306$6,525,596
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,987$6,173
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $108,642$213,323
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$151,614
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,792,935$6,896,706
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $212,992$286,539
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,767,372$2,823,766
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $117,566$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $739,166$1,378,545
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,837,096$4,488,850
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,955,839$2,407,856
Part VI · Governance 16 of 16 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members16
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
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $6,896,706 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$127,500
VIII-1e Government grants$3,964,325
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,433,771
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$128,223
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$6,525,596
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $6,173$6,173
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $213,323$213,323
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $151,614$151,614
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,173 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $364,937$6,896,706
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,488,850 across 19 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $286,539$286,539
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $93,959 · Management $121,186 · Fundraising $68,119$283,264
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,525,163 · Management $155,963 · Fundraising $417,756$2,098,882
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $7,676 · Management $14,696 · Fundraising $16,919$39,291
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $150,818 · Management $7,437 · Fundraising $43,265$201,520
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $136,419 · Management $23,513 · Fundraising $40,877$200,809
IX-11b Legal feesFundraising $4,698$4,698
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $18,100$18,100
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $223,869 · Management $41,051 · Fundraising $146,312$411,232
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,324 · Fundraising $16,734$18,058
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $19,528 · Management $3,064 · Fundraising $6,851$29,443
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $71,356 · Management $22,968 · Fundraising $21,749$116,073
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $99,333 · Management $8,007 · Fundraising $4,205$111,545
IX-17 TravelPrograms $37,483 · Management $2,203 · Fundraising $19,342$59,028
IX-20 InterestPrograms $151,191 · Management $9$151,200
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $29,864 · Management $1,631 · Fundraising $1,121$32,616
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $32,226 · Management $3,323 · Fundraising $4,837$40,386
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $282,798 · Management $31,178 · Fundraising $48,789$362,765
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $11,188 · Management $9,135 · Fundraising $3,078$23,401
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,160,734 · Management $463,464 · Fundraising $864,652$4,488,850
Part X · Balance sheet $17,673,500 assets, 14 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $12,179,700; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $102,345$713,657
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,381,053$2,298,506
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,610,303$2,161,392
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $29,752$16,725
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $693,755$277,021
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $51,094$26,499
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,868,302$17,673,500
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $250,518$365,587
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $61,023$36,395
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $311,541$9,769,382
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,766,566$3,792,051
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,790,195$4,112,067
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,556,761$7,904,118
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,868,302$17,673,500
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $7,904,118 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,896,706
XI-2 Total expenses$4,488,850
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,407,856
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,556,761
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$60,499
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$7,904,118

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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