National Center for Youth Law
National Center for Youth Law reported $15.9 million in revenue and $17.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $78.33 went to program services, $12.70 to management and general costs and $8.97 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 95.1% of the total. Government grants made up 12.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $357,777 (Executive Director). 49 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 11% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $16MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 78.3% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.7% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 95.1% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 12.1% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.4% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $357,777 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.06% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 49 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 13.4 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 15 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEducation: Through research, collaboration, and advocacy, we work with students, educators, and public-agency partners to turn schools into positive, compassionate environments where every student - especially those in the foster system, the justice system, or those experiencing homelessness - belongs and is respected. We challenge discriminatory discipline, fight to strengthen education services, and provide cutting-edge research so that students' voices and experiences guide the decisions that shape their learning
Children's Health & Wellbeing: National Center for Youth Law's ("NCYL's") health & wellbeing work improves the lives of children and youth across issue areas. Led by youth with lived experience, our Reproductive Health Equity Project for Foster Youth (RHEP) tears down policy barriers that keep young people from accessing sexual and reproductive health care services. Our advocacy to help children and youth flourish includes strengthening approaches to mental health. NCYL also works to transform the child welfare system to better support youth and families. With respect to combating commercial…
Youth Justice & Equity: Together with youth, their families, community leaders, and system officials, NCYL is working to create a justice system that fosters growth rather than punishment. We spearhead campaigns to erase burdensome juvenile fines and fees in states across the country, and through coalition building, communication strategies, training and technical assistance, work to build a justice landscape where all young people can heal and thrive
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Director Director/trustee, officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $322,842 | $0 | $34,935 | $357,777 |
| Senior Director, Health Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $202,655 | $0 | $46,895 | $249,550 |
| Senior Controller Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $194,004 | $0 | $40,249 | $234,253 |
| Senior Director, Immigration Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $214,835 | $0 | $10,576 | $225,411 |
| Senior Director, Youth Justice Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $201,457 | $0 | $19,204 | $220,661 |
| Senior Director, Human Resources Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $202,511 | $0 | $17,623 | $220,134 |
| Dep. Dir. Finance & Ops. (end 1/25) Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $145,967 | $0 | $3,503 | $149,470 |
49 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Center for Youth Law (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $507K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b15 · 14 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5109
- Volunteers Part I, line 635
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Robert Half Legal Temporary Staffing | $156,635 |
| Parachute Technology Inc IT Consulting Services | $129,663 |
| Lake Research Project Messaging Research | $103,255 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
25 private foundations reported grants to National Center for Youth Law totaling $5.5M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from National Center for Youth Law's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Center for Youth Law, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 National Center for Youth Law spent in 2025, $78.33 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Good Neighbor SocietyManchester, IA · revenue $16M · programs 88.2% · 2025
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All unclassified charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of National Center for Youth Law's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, National Center for Youth Law reported that 78.3% of its $17.3 million in expenses went to program services, 12.7% to management and general and 9.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Center for Youth Law pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Center for Youth Law reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $357,777, for the role of Executive Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Center for Youth Law get its money?
Of $15.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 95.1% came from contributions and grants (including 12.1% from government grants) and 1.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Center for Youth Law a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-2506933 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202632089349300048 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502069349301235 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202432559349300348 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312099349301221 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202202079349301500 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142439349300834 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202002349349300215 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-2506933: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.