RURAL YOUTH INSTITUTE Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

RURAL YOUTH INSTITUTE

EIN 93-2311046 · Student Services (B80)

What they do

The Rural Youth Institute is Dedicated to Enhancing Rural Youth Development By Strengthening The Leadership and Capacity of Professionals Working With Young People. By Bridging Research and Practice, The Rural Youth Institute Seeks to Innovate Youth Development By Offering Immersive Learning Labs, Transformative Research, Comprehensive Training and Strategic Advocacy to Strengthen Youth-serving Organizations. By Employing Evidence-based Strategies, The Rural Youth Institute Aims to Foster Innovation In The Youth Development Field to Elevate The Aspirations of Rural Youth.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $72.60 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 2025The 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

23.04%of revenue went to mission work72.6% of expenses · Program services

3.45%of revenue went to fundraising10.9% of expenses

$31.74spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

5.25%of revenue went to management and office costs16.5% of expenses

$3.30in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

91.2%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.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $102,309 for MEGAN TAFT (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 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 2025

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$596,817

Mission workProgram services$137,50623.04% of revenue72.6% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$31,3495.25% of revenue16.5% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$20,5663.45% of revenue10.9% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$407,39668.26% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$189,42131.74% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

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

2025CurrentExpense mix: 72.6% mission · 16.5% management · 10.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 31.74% of revenue

2024Expense mix: 95.4% mission · 4.3% management · 0.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 39.79% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 48.4% mission · 0.0% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 6.98% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$596,817

Expenses$189,421

Annual surplus $407,396 Revenue was higher than expenses 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)$137,506 · 72.6% of expenses

Management and office costs$31,349 · 16.5% of expenses

Fundraising$20,566 · 10.9% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$596,817

Expenses$189,421

Assets$624,905

Income$596,817

Contributions$544,420

Mission work (program services)$137,506

Fundraising$20,566

Grants given$99,250

Average grant$14,179

Management and general$31,349

Accounting fees$3,500

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2025

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

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

MEGAN TAFTEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $102,309Base $99,692 · Other $2,617

DONALD CARPENTERPRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR (END 12/2025) · 4 hrs/week $46,582Base · Other $46,582

ERIN CINELLITREASURER AND DIRECTOR (END 12/2025) · 10 hrs/week $40,398Base · Other $40,398

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)

MEGAN TAFTEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DONALD CARPENTERPRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR (END 12/2025)

ERIN CINELLITREASURER AND DIRECTOR (END 12/2025)

BRANDON LEPPANENVICE PRES. AND DIRECTOR (START 2025)

CATHERINE BIDDLEDIRECTOR

JASON JUDDPRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR

JON DOTYTREASURER AND DIRECTOR

KRISTY OUELLETTEDIRECTOR

OWEN MCCARTHYSECRETARY AND DIRECTOR (END 6/2025)

SAMANTHA LOTT-HALEDIRECTOR (START 2025)

SHANNON COFFINDIRECTOR (START 2025)

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2024
Location: PO BOX 31, YARMOUTH, ME 04096-0031
County: Cumberland
In care of: Jason Judd
Primary officer: Jason Judd, President

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@ruralyouthinstitute.org Phone(207) 730-1154

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2025
Tax period began: January 1, 2025
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: BAKER NEWMAN & NOYES
NTEE classification: Student Services (B80)
IRS tax category: Student Services
Grant-giving organization: Yes