Nonprofit · EIN 94-2506933
NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW
Tax-exempt · OAKLAND, CA 94612
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $15,871,698 | $17,337,828 | -$1,466,130 | $20,838,374 | $1,513,115 | $19,325,259 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $18,263,729 | $19,797,644 | -$1,533,915 | $22,780,127 | $1,919,804 | $20,860,323 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $13,795,088 | $19,032,286 | -$5,237,198 | $25,256,809 | $2,715,416 | $22,541,393 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $15,090,421
- of which government grants
- $1,919,296
- Program service revenue
- $220,310
- Investment income
- $553,329
- Net rental income
- $7,638
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $47,507
- Other revenue
- $7,638
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $1,226,334
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $507,247
- Other salaries and wages
- $9,511,941
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $12,640,046
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $3,180
- Accounting fees
- $38,500
- Occupancy
- $434,949
- Travel
- $478,489
- Depreciation
- $3,832
- Program services (functional)
- $13,580,004
- Management and general (functional)
- $2,201,876
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,555,948
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $22,780,127
- Total assets, end of year
- $20,838,374
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,513,115
- Net assets, end of year
- $19,325,259
- Publicly traded securities
- $8,707,834
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $10,525,120
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $8,800,139
- Gross receipts
- $19,962,253
- Employees
- 109
- Volunteers
- 35
- Year formed
- 1978
- 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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shakti Belway | Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 37.5 | $322,842 | $34,935 |
| Rebecca Gudeman | Senior Director, Health Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $202,655 | $46,895 |
| Jason Sutton | Senior Controller Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $194,004 | $40,249 |
| Neha Desai | Senior Director, Immigration Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $214,835 | $10,576 |
| Francis Guzman | Senior Director, Youth Justice Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $201,457 | $19,204 |
| Beulah Bloxom | Senior Director, Human Resources Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $202,511 | $17,623 |
| Karla James | Dep. Dir. Finance & Ops. (end 1/25) Officer | 37.5 | $145,967 | $3,503 |
| Sophie Fanelli | President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Denise Forte | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary Bissell | Treasurer (end 7/25) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mohammad Barkeshli | Treasurer (start 7/25) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Luis Vergara | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Lex Brainerd | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Preetha Chakrabarti | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| June Dipchand | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
7 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mishaela Duran | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Frank Figgers | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Jason Okonofua | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Lisa Rieger | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Lori Schechter | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Sandeep Solanki | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Mona Tawatao | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 23 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shakti Belway | Executive Director Trustee or director, Officer | 37.5 | $312,007 | $27,683 |
| Brenda Shum | Senior Directing Attorney (end 9/24) Key employee | 37.5 | $266,038 | $31,988 |
| Karla James | Dep. Dir. Finance & Operations Officer | 37.5 | $240,774 | $33,464 |
| Rebecca Gudeman | Senior Director, Health Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $176,517 | $41,174 |
| Laura Francois | Senior Dir., Compassionate Ed. Sys. Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $185,725 | $29,228 |
| Neha Desai | Senior Director, Immigration Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $193,928 | $9,494 |
| Francis Guzman | Senior Director, Youth Justice Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $185,325 | $17,082 |
| Kate Walker-Brown | Sr. Dir., Collab. Responses to CSE Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $188,960 | $7,325 |
| Mary Bissell | President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mona Tawatao | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Denise Forte | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brian Rocca | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Preetha Chakrabarti | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| June Dipchand | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Peter B Edelman | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sophie Fanelli | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Frank Figgers | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Laura K Lin | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary E McCutcheon | Board Member (end 12/24) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jason Okonofua | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Lori Schechter | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sandeep Solanki | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Christopher Wu | Board Member (end 12/24) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 22 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shakti Belway | Dep. Dir. Pol. & Litig./ED (Ts.9/23) Trustee or director, Officer | 37.5 | $297,464 | $25,966 |
| Karla James | Dep. Dir. Finance & Operations Officer | 37.5 | $290,233 | $15,545 |
| Brenda Shum | Senior Directing Attorney Key employee | 37.5 | $197,054 | $38,990 |
| Kristen Weber | Senior Director, Child Welfare Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $177,476 | $28,740 |
| Rebecca Gudeman | Senior Director, Health Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $178,874 | $26,778 |
| Neha Desai | Senior Director, Immigration Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $193,685 | $9,601 |
| Kate Walker-Brown | Sr. Dir., Collab. Responses to CSE Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $192,192 | $7,466 |
| Francis Guzman | Senior Director, Youth Justice Highest-paid employee | 37.5 | $179,842 | $15,866 |
| Jesse Hahnel | Executive Director (End 2/23) Trustee or director, Officer | 37.5 | $190,610 | $5,023 |
| Mary Bissell | President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mona Tawatao | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Denise Forte | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Brian Rocca | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Elida Bautista | Board Member (End 9/23) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Peter B Edelman | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sophie Fanelli | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Laura K Lin | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary E McCutcheon | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jason Okonofua | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Lori Schechter | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sandeep Solanki | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Christopher Wu | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 428 13TH ST FL 5, OAKLAND, CA 94612-2617
- In care of
- % JASON SUTTON
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Shakti Belway, 428 13th Street FL 5, Oakland, CA 94612
- Signed the 990
- Shakti Belway, Executive Director
- Phone
- (510) 835-8098
- Website
- www.youthlaw.org
- Return prepared by
- Harrington Group CPAs LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 94-2506933 or by the name NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW.
- 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
For over 50 years, the National Center for Youth Law has put children and youth at the heart of the pursuit of justice. Guided by their insights, we use litigation, policy change, partnerships, and research to ensure that every child's rights are protected and every voice is heard.
Program accomplishments
- Education: 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.Expenses $3,616,047
- 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 sexual exploitation of children and youth, our collaborative work shifts the response from criminalization to healing and centering the voices of survivors in policy discussions. A key part of NCYL's work in this area is also training providers, advocates, and communities on laws that protect adolescents' confidentiality, ensuring that every youth can seek help for their physical and mental well-being without fear or stigma.Expenses $3,489,633 · grants $295,084
- 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.Expenses $3,191,771 · grants $931,250
- Legal Strategies: NCYL defends the rights of children across the country, and our lawsuits focus on bringing about systemic change in each of our core issue areas. At a time when democratic institutions and civil rights protections are under increasing strain, NCYL's legal work helps hold public systems accountable to the children and families they are meant to serve.Expenses $2,067,931 · revenue $220,310
- Children's Human Rights & Dignity: NCYL believes that no circumstance strips a child of their inherent dignity, whether that circumstance is migration, family crisis, or poverty. As co-counsel in Flores, NCYL represents children in federal immigration custody, advocating for humane conditions and reuniting children with their families in accordance with the law. We also lead efforts to dismantle practices that harm children in the foster system, fight to ensure that youth have access to health care and education, and promote youth-centered, community-centered, and family-centered policies that preserve families and reduce reliance on the foster system.Expenses $1,175,052
- Other small programs unrelated to the significant programs currently listed.Expenses $39,570
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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 94-2506933
- 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
- 1978
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $20,838,374
- Income (IRS master file)
- $19,962,253
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $15,871,698 | $17,337,828 | $20,838,374 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $18,263,729 | $19,797,644 | $22,780,127 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $13,795,088 | $19,032,286 | $25,256,809 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $23,935,846 | $17,513,667 | $31,323,967 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | 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 94-2506933).
Questions about NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW
- What is the EIN of NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW is 94-2506933.
- Is NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1978.
- Are donations to NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW 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 NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Shakti Belway.
- Who are the officers and directors of NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 22 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $322,842 (Shakti Belway, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $15,871,698, expenses of $17,337,828 and total assets of $20,838,374 at year end.
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