Mikva Challenge develops youth to be empowered, informed, and active citizens who will promote a just and equitable society. Through its work, Mikva Challenge looks to build a stronger, inclusive democracy that values youth voice. Mikva Challenge programs serve over 100,000 middle and high school age students located in illinois, washington DC metro area and the los angeles area of california. Mikva Challenge provides training and materials for educators in action civics in states across the country.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
63¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 190 volunteers and 209 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 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $680K a year · 11% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
63%
of spending
Worth a look: 63% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$791K
to officers and key staff · 11% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 11% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
22
named funders · $1.2M
Looks good: 22 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$851K
11% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 11% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$7.7M
+25% vs prior year
Spent
$6.9M
To programs
63%
Net assets
$6.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$7.7M
FY2025▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.3M
FY2021$6.1M
FY2022$5.7M
FY2023$6.2M
FY2024$6.2M
FY2025$7.7M
Expenses
$6.9M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.4M
FY2021$4.5M
FY2022$5.1M
FY2023$5.7M
FY2024$6.5M
FY2025$6.9M
Net assets
$6.9M
FY2025▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$3.8M
FY2021$5.3M
FY2022$5.7M
FY2023$6.2M
FY2024$6.0M
FY2025$6.9M

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 Nov 1997.

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

Where the money goes

63 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 63% · $4.4M Management & general 23% · $1.6M Fundraising 14% · $943K

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

26 people listed on the 990; $791K 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
Chief Executive Officer
$212,000Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Strategy Officer
$141,341Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Director of Partner Sites
$111,868Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director of Illinois Program
$109,627Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director of DC Programs
$109,496Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director of Finance & Operations
$106,769Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Vernee Green’s $212K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 85th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M education 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Vernee Green$212,000$213,680$210,000$157,239$120,091$95,930
Linda Platt—$164,240————
Robyn Lingo—$151,745$145,430$121,436$108,191$103,084
Jill Bass$141,341$133,396$129,410$123,131$106,527$102,431
Brian Brady————$136,685$118,425
Michelle Morales—————$121,380
Mary Carlson———$109,347$113,791$108,075
R Tolteka Cuauhtin$111,868$105,927————

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 Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation INC executive salaries →

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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

Empowers youth to become active, informed citizens promoting a just society through civic education.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $4.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Curricula, coaching and event support for civic educators-mikva's teacher-facing work provides educators in its chapter and partner sites with civic engagement curricula, professional development, coaching, and support to organize local events for youth in their school or district.

$1.7Mprogram expense
02

Youth policy making councils- mikva's youth policy making councils empower high school aged youth in each of our chapter sites to conduct research on key issues in their school district and city government.

$1.7Mprogram expense
03

National youth civic covenings-as mikva continues to expand to serve youth in more cities across america, our national youth civic convenings (such as soapbox nation and our youth summit) bring young people from different backgrounds together to share their own experiences, learn from and develop empathy for each other, and work together…

$540Kprogram 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 22 funders →
Grants paid · 14 grants · $1.5M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$428,136
Unitemized GrantFY2024$40,496
Unitemized GrantFY2023$355,367
Unitemized GrantFY2023$11,004
Unitemized GrantFY2023$1,475
Unitemized GrantFY2022$287,661
Unitemized GrantFY2022$61,018
Unitemized GrantFY2022$1,192
Unitemized GrantFY2021$102,150
Unitemized GrantFY2021$12,885
Unitemized GrantFY2020$114,131
Unitemized GrantFY2020$11,320
Unitemized GrantFY2019$71,248
Unitemized GrantFY2019$43,580

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$7.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$123K
Money outPt IX
$6.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.4M
Managementcol C$1.6M
Fundraisingcol D$943K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.5M
Total assetsLn 16$7.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$851K
PeoplePt VI, VII
26
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$879K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$523K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$123K
Total revenueLn 12$7.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$2.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$539K
Total assetsLn 16$7.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$851K
Net assetsLn 32$6.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5209
VolunteersI 6190
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$2.2M$2.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.4M$1.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$826$0
Total assetsLn 16$6.6M$7.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$618K$851K
Net assetsLn 32$6.0M$6.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$469K$469K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$226K$149K$43K$34K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.0M$2.0M$579K$455K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$44K$29K$9K$7K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$391K$257K$75K$59K
Payroll taxesLn 10$276K$181K$53K$42K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.3M$411K$609K$272K
Office expensesLn 13$27K$18K$7K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$135K$89K$36K$10K
OccupancyLn 16$199K$141K$30K$28K
TravelLn 17$303K$204K$81K$18K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$460K$397K$52K$12K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$826$538$166$122
InsuranceLn 23$39K$26K$11K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$35K$28K$5K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.9M$4.4M$1.6M$943K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $7.7M$6.9M$826K$6.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $6.2M$6.5M−$302K$6.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $6.2M$5.7M$551K$6.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.7M$5.1M$550K$5.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $6.1M$4.5M$1.6M$5.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $5.3M$4.4M$888K$3.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $7,736,490 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,655,287$6,310,265
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,416,482$1,383,092
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $119,853$122,762
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$5,867−$79,629
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,185,755$7,736,490
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $367,846$468,632
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,647,901$3,951,039
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,472,473$2,491,100
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,488,220$6,910,771
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$302,465$825,719
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
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 $7,736,490 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $12,750 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$523,138
VIII-1e Government grants$878,925
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,908,202
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$6,310,265
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,383,092$1,383,092
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $122,762$122,762
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$92,379−$92,379
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,383,092 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $43,133$7,736,490
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,910,771 across 15 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $468,632$468,632
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $148,698 · Management $43,491 · Fundraising $34,208$226,397
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,979,059 · Management $578,832 · Fundraising $455,292$3,013,183
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $29,180 · Management $8,535 · Fundraising $6,713$44,428
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $256,867 · Management $75,128 · Fundraising $59,094$391,089
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $181,239 · Management $53,008 · Fundraising $41,695$275,942
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $411,167 · Management $608,843 · Fundraising $271,853$1,291,863
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $17,682 · Management $7,217 · Fundraising $2,049$26,948
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $88,872 · Management $36,272 · Fundraising $10,298$135,442
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $141,384 · Management $30,212 · Fundraising $27,740$199,336
IX-17 TravelPrograms $204,333 · Management $81,147 · Fundraising $17,527$303,007
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $396,635 · Management $51,676 · Fundraising $11,519$459,830
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $538 · Management $166 · Fundraising $122$826
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $25,781 · Management $10,522 · Fundraising $2,987$39,290
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $27,806 · Management $4,855 · Fundraising $1,897$34,558
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,377,873 · Management $1,589,904 · Fundraising $942,994$6,910,771
Part X · Balance sheet $7,727,360 assets, 15 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,210,575$2,525,811
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,962,901$2,378,747
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $796,038$662,754
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $236,081$156,062
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $826$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,367,531$1,465,017
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $52,994$538,969
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,626,946$7,727,360
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $496,976$299,913
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $59,897$550,601
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $617,751$850,514
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,583,827$2,681,471
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,425,368$4,195,375
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,009,195$6,876,846
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,626,946$7,727,360
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,876,846 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$7,736,490
XI-2 Total expenses$6,910,771
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$825,719
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,009,195
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$41,932
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,876,846

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

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