YOUTH SPEAKS INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

YOUTH SPEAKS INC

EIN 91-2134499 · Youth Development Programs (O50)

What they do

YOUTH SPEAKS CREATES SAFE SPACES to EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION of LEADERS, SELF-DEFINED ARTISTS, and VISIONARY ACTIVISTS THROUGH WRITTEN and ORAL LITERACIES. WE CHALLENGE YOUTH to FIND, DEVELOP, PUBLICLY PRESENT, and APPLY THEIR VOICES AS CREATORS of SOCIETAL CHANGE. ULTIMATELY, WE HOPE to SHIFT THE PERCEPTIONS of YOUTH BY COMBATING ILLITERACY, ALIENATION, and SILENCE, CREATING A GLOBAL MOVEMENT of BRAVE NEW VOICES BRINGING THE NOISE FROM THE MARGINS to THE CORE. SINCE 1996, YOUTH SPEAKS HAS CHAMPIONED A LOCALIZED, NATIONAL, and INCREASINGLY GLOBAL MOVEMENT of YOUNG PEOPLE BOLDLY DECLARING THEMSELVES PRESENT.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $63.40 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders11 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

93.40%of revenue went to mission work63.4% of expenses · Program services

23.34%of revenue went to fundraising15.8% of expenses

$147.24spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

30.50%of revenue went to management and office costs20.7% of expenses

$1.59in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

77.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $1,356,638 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $171,602 for LIZ SUK (EXECUTIVE DIR.). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$2,871,702

Mission workProgram services$2,682,30693.40% of revenue63.4% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$875,91430.50% of revenue20.7% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$670,12023.34% of revenue15.8% of expenses

Total expenses$4,228,340147.24% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 63.4% mission · 20.7% management · 15.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 147.24% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 76.2% mission · 10.6% management · 13.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 154.75% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 42.1% mission · 45.7% management · 12.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 57.76% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 29.8% mission · 64.8% management · 5.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 137.41% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 69.8% mission · 22.4% management · 7.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 24.77% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 79.1% mission · 12.9% management · 8.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 122.10% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 80.7% mission · 11.7% management · 7.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.60% of revenue

2016Expense mix: 84.7% mission · 9.4% management · 5.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 120.58% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$2,871,702

Expenses$4,228,340

Annual shortfall $1,356,638 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$2,682,306 · 63.4% of expenses

Management and office costs$875,914 · 20.7% of expenses

Fundraising$670,120 · 15.8% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$2,871,702

Expenses$4,228,340

Assets$6,725,807

Income$2,871,702

Contributions$2,212,254

Mission work (program services)$2,682,306

Fundraising$670,120

Grants given$1,521,145

Average grant$23,048

Management and general$875,914

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

LIZ SUKEXECUTIVE DIR. · 40 hrs/week $171,602

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (11)

LIZ SUKEXECUTIVE DIR.

ALYSON PALMERBOARD MEMBER

BIJAL PARIKHTREASURER

CESAR LUNABOARD MEMBER

EMILY LEYSVICE-CHAIR

JEN HEIFFERONBOARD MEMBER

STEVE COXBOARD MEMBER

TIM HAYDOCKSECRETARY

TONY FRANCISCHAIR

VIVEK VENUGOPALBOARD MEMBER

WES HARTBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2001
Location: 265 SHOTWELL ST UNIT B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110
County: City and County of San Francisco
In care of: LIZ SUK
Primary officer: LIZ SUK, Executive Dir.

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(415) 255-9035

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CHEK TAN AND COMPANY LLP
NTEE classification: Youth Development Programs (O50)
IRS tax category: Youth Development Programs
Grant-giving organization: Yes