YOUTHLINK

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

41 N 12TH ST, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55403-1325

In care of

% THE ORGANIZATION

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

RICH MELZER, 41 NORTH 12TH STREET, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55403

Signed the 990

RICH MELZER, CEO

Phone

(612) 252-1200

Website

WWW.YOUTHLINKMN.ORG

Return prepared by

SDK CPA

Mission

TO BE A COMMUNITY IN WHICH ALL YOUTH, WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR LIVING SITUATION, HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND DREAMS. THE AGENCY DOES THIS BY SUPPORTING, RESOURCING, AND EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR JOURNEY TO SELF-RELIANCE.

Program accomplishments

• DROP-IN / OUTREACH / BASIC NEEDS: FOR OVER 50 YEARS, THE YOUTHLINK DROP-IN CENTER HAS BEEN A LOW BARRIER, INCLUSIVE REFUGE AND COMMUNITY OF SAFETY FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 16-24 EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA SURROUNDING DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY. NEARLY 3,000 UNDUPLICATED YOUTH ARE SERVED ANNUALLY; DISPROPORTIONATELY 90% ARE BIPOC YOUTH (74% IDENTIFY AS AFRICAN AMERICAN AND 6% AS NATIVE). YOUNG PEOPLE COMING TO YOUTHLINK ACCESS A NONJUDGMENTAL, YOUTH-CENTERED COMMUNITY WHERE HEALTHY, TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS ARE CREATED IN AUTHENTIC, MEANINGFUL WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE TO TRANSITION TO SAFETY, STABILITY, AND WELLBEING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DROP-IN / OUTREACH / BASIC NEEDS (CONTINUED FROM PART III): YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED TO CHART THEIR JOURNEYS BY BELIEVING IN AND USING THEIR OWN POTENTIAL (NOT THEIR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES) TO ACHIEVE STABILITY, SELF-RELIANCE, AND WELL-BEING. FOUR COMPONENTS FRAME THE SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE DROP-IN: STREET OUTREACH, CRISIS/BASIC NEEDS RESPONSE, INTERVENTION SERVICES, AND AFTER CARE. GOALS ARE TO DECREASE LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS, TEMPORARY SHELTER, AND HOUSING STABILIZATION; INCREASE ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS FOLLOWED BY INTERVENTION DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE STABILITY, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATION; PREVENT PRECARIOUSLY HOUSED YOUTH FROM BECOMING HOMELESS FOR THE FIRST TIME; CONNECT YOUTH DURING OUTREACH INTERVENTION TO DROP-IN (CRISIS AND BASIC NEED SERVICES), INTERVENTION (RAPID REHOUSING, STABILITY, INTENSIVE WRAP-AROUND CASE MANAGEMENT), AND AFTERCARE (INTENTIONAL AFTER CASE SERVICES). THE OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO MAKE HOMELESNES RARE, BRIEF, AND NONRECURRING FOR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.AS A BARRIER-FREE REFUGE AND HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE SERVICE, OFTEN THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IS STREET OUTREACH. YOUTHLINK USES A "PEER" MODEL OF STREET OUTREACH WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE YOUTH ASSISTING TO ESTABLISH TRUST AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE (16-24) ON THE STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS. AT DROP-IN, CRISIS/BASIC NEEDS RESPONSE INCLUDES FOOD, SHOWERS, CLOTHES, WASHERS/DRYERS, HEALTH CARE, RESPITE SPACE, COMPUTER LAB, MAIL ACCESS, CELL PHONES AND CHARGING STATIONS, CHILD ADVOCACY ASSISTANCE, BUS PASSES AND TOKENS. INTERVENTION SERVICES INCLUDE CHEMICAL/ADDICTION INTERVENTIONS, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, BENEFITS AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE, HELP TO OBTAIN VITAL DOCUMENTS (ID'S, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD ACCESS, ETC), EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES, RAPID REHOUSING, HOUSING VOUCHERS, HOUSING AND LANDLORD ADVOCACY, COURT ADVOCACY, AND ACCESS TO THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CENTER NETWORK OF MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER SERVICE PARTNERS ALL LOCATED UNDER ONE ROOF. YOUTHLINK VOICES OF YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, COMPRISED OF LIVED EXPERIENCE YOUTH, PROVIDES CONTINUOUS INPUT TO LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAMMING, AND MENTORING TO OTHER YOUTH IN THE DROP-IN.EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION:YOUTHLINK OPERATES AS A RESPONSIVE, ADAPTIVE, PARTNERSHIP-BASED ORGANIZATION. OUR ONSITE CAREER AND EDUCATION PATHWAYS PROGRAM STRENGTHENS THE SERVICES OFFERED BY ENGAGING ONSITE PARTNERS WITH EMPLOYMENT EXPERTISE, INCLUDING GOODWILL EASTER SEALS AND HIRED (CAREER AND EMPLOYMENT AGENCYS) TO PARTNER WITH YOUTH TO ASSESS WORK READINESS, DETERMINE CAREER INTERESTS, BUILD RESUMES, IDENTIFY INTERNSHIPS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND SECURE JOB PLACEMENTS FOR YOUTH. YOUTHLINK PROVIDES WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES TO YOUTH WHILE THEY ARE EXPERIENCING FIRST JOBS TO SUPPORT LONGTERM SUCCESS. ADDITIONALLY, YOUTHLINK PROVIDES PREPARATION FOR GED COMPLETION, GUIDANCE TO STAY IN HIGH SCHOOL, TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO ENTER POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROCESS AS WELL.YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CENTER:THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF MULTISERVICE COMMUNITY PARTNERS LOCATED ONSITE TO REDUCE ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS AND SERVE THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE (16-24) AT RISK OF OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. YOUTH ACCESSING SERVICES AT THE DROP-IN HAVE ACCESS TO THESE PARTNERS AND YOUTHLINK STAFF WORK WITH THESE PARTNERS AND YOUTH TO CO-CREATE INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS TO FURTHER ENSURE THEIR LONG-TERM SUCCESS. SERVICES AND RESOURCES INCLUDE THE AFOREMENTIONED EDUCATION AND CAREER RESOURCES, PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, ARTS AND RECORDING OPPORTUNITIES, MENTORING, AND EVENTS LIKE HEALTH FAIRS, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION FAIRS, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING CELEBRATIONS.DROP-IN / EXTENDED HOURS: EXPERT-FACILITATED PEER SUPPORT GROUP FROM 6PM-8PM EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR YOUTH THAT HAVE BEEN VICTIMZED OR SEXUALLY EXPLOITED. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH TO PROCESS TRAUMA AND UNDERTAKE THEIR JOURNEY TO HEALING.
  Expenses $2,731,250 · grants $567,869
• HOUSING STABILITY: ACCESS TO HOUSING STABILITY RESOURCES IS A PRIORITY FOR YOUTH. THIS STARTS THE FIRST DAY A YOUNG PERSON COMES IN CONTACT WITH A STAFF PERSON. YOUTHLINK IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES IN THE TWIN CITIES.YOUTHLINK PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE YOUTH AT 42-UNIT NICOLLET SQUARE APARTMENTS, A PARTNERSHIP WITH BEACON INTERFAITH HOUSING COLLABORATIVE, AND 46 BEDS AT DOWNTOWN VIEW APARTMENTS, A PARTNERSHIP WITH PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III) IN ADDITION, YOUTHLINK PROVES SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES TO YOUTH IN OVER 50 SCATTERED SITE UNITS ANNUALLY. ELIGIBLE YOUTH CAN LEASE A ONE-BEDROOM OR AN EFFICIENCY APARTMENT WHILE SURROUNDED BY AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF SUPPORT. SUPPORT INCLUDES CASE MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS ACCESS TO THE FULL SCOPE OF DROP IN AND YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CENTER SERVICES AND RESOURCES, INCLUDING MENTAL AND CHEMICAL HEALTH CARE, EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER SERVICES, GROUP SUPPORT, AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
  Expenses $1,737,848 · grants $579,194

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

41-1341773

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1979

Accounting year ends

September

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Human services (P300)

Assets (IRS master file)

$6,563,108

Income (IRS master file)

$6,276,047

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 41-1341773).

Questions about YOUTHLINK

What is the EIN of YOUTHLINK?

The employer identification number (EIN) of YOUTHLINK is 41-1341773.

Is YOUTHLINK tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1979.

Are donations to YOUTHLINK tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does YOUTHLINK file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of YOUTHLINK due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did YOUTHLINK last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.

Who is the principal officer of YOUTHLINK?

The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names RICH MELZER.

Who are the officers and directors of YOUTHLINK?

The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 18 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $165,742 (RICH MELZER, CEO).

How much revenue does YOUTHLINK have?

On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $6,242,301, expenses of $5,880,503 and total assets of $6,563,108 at year end.

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