Nonprofit · EIN 91-2134499
YOUTH SPEAKS INC
Tax-exempt · SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $2,871,702 | $4,228,340 | -$1,356,638 | $6,725,807 | $938,821 | $5,786,986 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $2,520,230 | $3,899,960 | -$1,379,730 | $8,026,958 | $925,977 | $7,100,981 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $5,083,905 | $2,936,682 | $2,147,223 | $9,383,494 | $902,482 | $8,481,012 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $2,212,254
- of which government grants
- $748,983
- Program service revenue
- $224,498
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- $434,950
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $171,602
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,727,810
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,195,926
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Travel
- $171,278
- Depreciation
- $31,465
- Program services (functional)
- $2,682,306
- Management and general (functional)
- $875,914
- Fundraising (functional)
- $670,120
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $8,026,958
- Total assets, end of year
- $6,725,807
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $938,821
- Net assets, end of year
- $5,786,986
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $1,809,670
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $5,395,561
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $391,425
- Gross receipts
- $2,871,702
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 17
- Year formed
- 1996
- State of legal domicile
- CA
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 June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LIZ SUK | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $171,602 |
| STEVE COX | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JEN HEIFFERON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TONY FRANCIS | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| WES HART | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TIM HAYDOCK | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| EMILY LEYS | VICE-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| CESAR LUNA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| BIJAL PARIKH | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| ALYSON PALMER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| VIVEK VENUGOPAL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE LEE | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $171,602 |
| LAURA BRIEF | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TONY FRANCIS | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| JENNY FAN RAJ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| RENEE DUPREE | CO-HAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| TIM HAYDOCK | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| EMILY LEYS | VICE-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| CESAR LUNA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| COREY PONDER | CO-HAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| ALYSON PALMER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JEN HEIFFERON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| STEVE COX | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHINAKA HODGE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE LEE | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $171,602 |
| LAURA BRIEF | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| ERIC SONSINO | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| TONY FRANCIS | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| JENNY FAN RAJ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| RENEE DUPREE | CO-HAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| DROR BAR-ZIV | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TIM HAYDOCK | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| EMILY LEYS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CESAR LUNA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| COREY PONDER | CO-HAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| ALYSON PALMER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| EVAN BISSELL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JEN HEIFFERON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| STEVE COX | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHINAKA HODGE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 265 SHOTWELL ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110-1955
- In care of
- % JAMES KASS
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- LIZ SUK, 265 SHOTWELL ST UNIT B, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110
- Signed the 990
- LIZ SUK, Executive Dir.
- Phone
- (415) 255-9035
- Website
- www.youthspeaks.org
- Return prepared by
- CHEK TAN AND COMPANY LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 91-2134499 or by the name YOUTH SPEAKS INC.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
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.
Program accomplishments
- NATIONAL & FIELD BUILDING PROGRAMS - (1) BRAVE NEW VOICES -- YOUTHSPEAKS FIRST FOUNDED THE BRAVE NEW VOICES (OR "BNV") FESTIVAL AS THENATIONAL YOUTH POETRY SLAM IN 1998, AFTER THE SUCCESS OF THE LOCAL WORKIN THE BAY AREA. THE FIRST SLAM HAD FOUR TEAMS; WE NOW HAVE 55COMPETING TEAMS AND FIVE TO TEN NON-COMPETING TEAMS JOIN US EACH YEAR.BNV IS ABOUT BRINGING TOGETHER YOUNG POETS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE SOTHAT THEY CAN CREATE NEW PATHWAYS TOWARD ARTISTIC GROWTH, CIVICENGAGEMENT, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. BNV TAKES PLACE IN A DIFFERENT CITYEACH YEAR, AND REACHES UP TO 200,000 PEOPLE EACH FESTIVAL. BEGINNING INFY14, THE PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE BNV NETWORK INITIATIVE, ACOMPREHENSIVE MULTI-YEAR INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS ANDORGANIZATIONS IN THE FIELD OF ARTS EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH GRANTS, CONSULTING SERVICES, FELLOWSHIPS, AND OTHER RESOURCES,FROM WITHIN THE EXISTING BNV NETWORK AND BEYOND, TO BECOME STRONGER,MORE SUSTAINABLE, AND MORE IMPACTFUL ORGANIZATIONS. (2) THE BIGGERPICTURE IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN YOUTH SPEAKS, AND THE UNIVERSITY OFCALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO CENTER FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS DESIGNED TOCOMBAT THE RISING EPIDEMIC OF TYPE 2 DIABETES BY EMPOWERING YOUTH TOCHANGE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DISEASE, AND WORK TO CHANGE THESOCIAL, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT HAVE LED TO ITS SPREAD,IN THE BAY AREA AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. WE AIM TO INSPIRE YOUNGPEOPLE TO CHALLENGE AND NAME THE INSTITUTIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL ANDSOCIAL CAUSES OF TYPE 2 DIABETES. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT BY RAISING THEIRVOICE, TAKING ACTION AND JOINING THE CONVERSATION, THEY WILL INEVITABLYALTER THE TRAJECTORY OF THE DISEASE, AND PROVIDE YOUTH WITH A VIRTUALPLATFORM, AND REAL LIFE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR STORIES TOBE HEARD. (3) LIFE IS LIVING IS A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTTHAT TESTS IDEAS ABOUT ENGAGING YOUTH, PRESENTING PUBLIC ART, FOSTERINGLITERACY AND STORYTELLING, DEVELOPING ARTS AUDIENCES, ESTABLISHINGNON-TRADITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, TRANSFORMING THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICEMOVEMENT, AND CATALYZING COMMUNITY-BUILDING.Expenses $2,100,582
- BAY AREA PROGRAMS - EVERY TIME A THOUGHT IS PUT INTO WORDS, IT IS A CREATIVE ACT (THUS THE TERM, LANGUAGE ARTS). THE SAME WAY A STUDENT RECOGNIZES AND IS ABLE TO PRACTICE VISUAL ARTS BY LEARNING IMAGES, DRAWING, PAINTING, AND/OR SCULPTING, A PERSON'S LANGUAGE SKILLS EXPAND THE MORE S/HE COMMUNICATES IDEAS, PROBLEMS, FEELINGS, AND SOLUTIONS. OUR LOCAL PROGRAMMING SITS AT THE CORE OF YOUTH SPEAKS. PROGRAMS SUCH AS OUR AFTER SCHOOL WORKSHOPS, IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES, UNCER 21 OPEN MIC, BRINGING THE NOISE FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., TEEN POETRY SLAM, UNIFIED DISTRICT POETRY CLAM, OAKLAND POET LAUREATE, QUEERIOSITY AND MC OLYMPICS, FULLY EMBODY OUR UNIQUE PEDAGOGY WHICH COMBINES ARTS EDUCATION, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, PERFORMANCE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR STRENGTH AS A NATIONAL LEADER IS INTRINSICALLY CONNECTED TO THE DEPTH AND EXCELLENCE OF OUR CORE LOCAL PROGRAMS AND PEDAGOGY. YOUTH SPEAKS IS ALSO ACTIVELY CREATING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS AS PART OF BAY AREA PROGRAM. WE DEVELOPED THE FIRST SOUND INSTITUTE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, TO BRING TOGETHER ARTISTS AND SECONDARY EDUCATORS FROM ACROSS THE BAY AREA AND BEYOND TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO OUR PEDAGOGY, OUR PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERPINNINGS OF OUR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND OUR ARTS DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES.Expenses $558,838
- THEATER PROGRAM - YOUTH SPEAKS THEATER PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO PRODUCING LITERARY PERFORMANCE IN THE VERSE OF OUR TIME. AESTHETICALLY URBAN, PEDAGOGICALLY FREIREAN, OUR THEATER PROGRAM DERIVES PERSONAL PERFORMED NARRATIVES OUT OF INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION. THOUGH ITS METHODOLOGY INCLUDES DANCE, MUSIC, AND FILM, THE COMPANY'S EMPHASIS IS SPOKEN STORYTELLING.WE SUPPORT THE CREATION OF VERSE-BASED WORK THAT IS SPOKEN THROUGH THE BODY, ILLUSTRATED BY VISUAL AND SONIC SCORES, AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE IMPORTANT SOCIAL ISSUES AND MOVEMENTS OF THE IMMEDIATE MOMENT. YOUTH SPEAKS THEATER PROGRAM IS ALSO CENTRALLY FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATER ARTISTS, TECHNICAL PERSONNEL AND LEADERS, INCLUDING WRITERS, DIRECTORS, PERFORMERS AND PRODUCERS, THROUGH OUR EMERGING ARTISTS FELLOWSHIP. EMERGING ARTISTS FELLOWS ARE ALUMNI OF YOUTH SPEAKS YOUTH PROGRAMS AND THE BRAVE NEW VOICES NETWORK.Expenses $22,886
- OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: YOUTH SPEAKS CONVENED A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF 10 NETWORK ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS CALIFORNIA TO BE TRAINED IN THE DELIVERY OF BEST PRACTICES IN SPOKEN WORD PROGRAMMING BASED IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PRINCIPLES. YOUTH SPEAKS ALSO PARTNERED WITH UCSFS CENTER FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO THE INCREASE OF TYPE II DIABETES IN CERTAIN POPULATIONS THROUGH CULTURAL WORK TO DRIVE BEHAVIORAL CHANGE.
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 June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 91-2134499
- 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
- 2001
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Youth development (O50)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $6,725,807
- Income (IRS master file)
- $2,871,702
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $2,871,702 | $4,228,340 | $6,725,807 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $2,520,230 | $3,899,960 | $8,026,958 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $5,083,905 | $2,936,682 | $9,383,494 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
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 91-2134499).
Questions about YOUTH SPEAKS INC
- What is the EIN of YOUTH SPEAKS INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of YOUTH SPEAKS INC is 91-2134499.
- Is YOUTH SPEAKS INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2001.
- Are donations to YOUTH SPEAKS INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does YOUTH SPEAKS INC 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 YOUTH SPEAKS INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did YOUTH SPEAKS INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of YOUTH SPEAKS INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names LIZ SUK.
- Who are the officers and directors of YOUTH SPEAKS INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 11 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $171,602 (LIZ SUK, Executive Dir.).
- How much revenue does YOUTH SPEAKS INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,871,702, expenses of $4,228,340 and total assets of $6,725,807 at year end.
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