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YOUTH ON THEIR OWN

TUCSON, AZ · EIN 860644388 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE P850 · Human Services · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.yoto.org
revenue
$5.1M
expenses
$4.6M
net assets
$14.3M
employees
42
volunteers
145
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

SUPPORT HS GRADUATION AND CONTINUED SUCCESS OF YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN PIMA COUNTY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Youth On Their Own (YOTO) is a dropout prevention program that supports high school graduation and continued success for youth experiencing homelessness in Pima County, Arizona. The organization provides financial assistance, basic human needs, and guidance to help students overcome barriers to education. YOTO also engages in advocacy to influence public policies impacting homeless youth.

named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

Advocacy Activities
Raises public awareness about systems-level challenges impacting homeless youth and advocates for policy changes in areas such as K-12 public education funding, postsecondary education access, affordable housing, basic needs, and tax incentives for donors.
Alumni Program
Helps students prepare for life after high school by providing guidance, mentoring, and training in educational scholarship opportunities, career path assessment, and job placement.
Basic Human Needs
Provides free basic needs items such as food, hygiene items, household goods, and school supplies through the Mini Mall, and transportation assistance (bus passes, bicycles).
Financial Assistance
Monthly Stipend Program providing up to $350 to students for daily needs, contingent on school attendance.
Guidance
Offers referrals to social service and healthcare agencies, including housing referrals, personal counseling, one-on-one success coaching, medical/dental/vision care, and employment opportunities.
activities · 7 clusters

what they do

  • Support Services for Homeless Students 2 activities
    • Advocacy for Homeless Youth Policies
      Supports dedicated federal funding for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and has adopted a board-approved Advocacy Platform to guide its advocacy efforts.
    • Advocacy for Homeless Youth Policies
      Supports dedicated federal funding for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and has adopted a board-approved Advocacy Platform to guide its advocacy efforts.
  • Job Readiness Training 2 activities
    • Alumni Mentoring and Career Preparation Program
      Offers an Alumni Program that provides mentoring and training in scholarship pursuit, career path assessment, and job placement preparation, including assistance with applications, resumes, and interviews.
    • Alumni Mentoring and Career Preparation Program
      Offers an Alumni Program that provides mentoring and training in scholarship pursuit, career path assessment, and job placement preparation, including assistance with applications, resumes, and interviews.
  • Back-to-School Supplies Distribution 2 activities
    • Basic Needs Support for Homeless Youth
      Operates a Mini Mall providing free food, hygiene items, household goods, and school supplies to students, available for in-person pickup or delivery to schools. The organization distributed 179,643 basic needs items between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
    • Basic Needs Support for Homeless Youth
      Operates a Mini Mall providing free food, hygiene items, household goods, and school supplies to students, available for in-person pickup or delivery to schools. The organization distributed 179,643 basic needs items between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
  • Needs-Based Educational Financial Aid 2 activities
    • Financial Assistance for Homeless Youth
      Provides eligible high school students experiencing homelessness with a monthly stipend of up to $350 to support daily needs, contingent on regular school attendance. The organization provided $1,539,086 in direct financial assistance to youth between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
    • Financial Assistance for Homeless Youth
      Provides eligible high school students experiencing homelessness with a monthly stipend of up to $350 to support daily needs, contingent on regular school attendance. The organization provided $1,539,086 in direct financial assistance to youth between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
  • Student Wellness & Support Services 2 activities
    • Referral Services for Homeless Youth
      Provides referrals to social service and healthcare agencies to support students' overall well-being and graduation.
    • Referral Services for Homeless Youth
      Provides referrals to social service and healthcare agencies to support students' overall well-being and graduation.
  • Program Evaluation & Impact Assessment 2 activities
    • Research on Program Impact
      Conducts studies to gather data from past program participants to assess and improve its services.
    • Research on Program Impact
      Conducts studies to gather data from past program participants to assess and improve its services.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Transportation Assistance for Homeless Youth
      Provides monthly bus passes and bicycles to support students' transportation needs for school, work, and healthcare appointments.
    • Transportation Assistance for Homeless Youth
      Provides monthly bus passes and bicycles to support students' transportation needs for school, work, and healthcare appointments.
financials · form 990 · fy2021

the money

revenue
Total revenue$5.12M
Contributions & grants$4.96M97%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$144K3%
Other revenue$15K
expenses
Total expenses$4.62M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$1.82M
Grants paid out$1.93M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$14.49M
Cash$1.00M
Investments$4.79M
Liabilities$206K
Net assets$14.29M
Liquid reserves15.0 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -10.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ELIZABETH SLATER CEO 40 $145K
MATTHEW PALMER DIR OF FINAN 40 $87K
TODD BROWN DIR OF FINAN 40 $9K
board members · 19
  • AMANDA KIPPERT — MEMBER
  • AMANDA MCCRAW — MEMBER
  • CORI RODRIGUEZ — MEMBER
  • DEB SALAIZ — TREASURER
  • ELAINE BABCOCK — MEMBER
  • ENRIQUE ALDANA — MEMBER
  • ERIC DUPREE — MEMBER
  • JAY PESKOE — PAST PRESIDE
  • JULIE STEVENSON — PRESIDENT EL
  • KRISTINA SCOTT — MEMBER
  • LINDA MONTES-COTA — SECRETARY
  • LORENZO GONZALEZ — MEMBER
  • MICHELLE SINGER — MEMBER
  • PAOLA PONCE — MEMBER
  • SEAN DENLINGER — PRESIDENT
  • SEAN MURRAY — MEMBER
  • TOM HOYT — MEMBER
  • TONY CAZZATO — MEMBER
  • VIVIANA FIMBRES — MEMBER
relationships · 43

who they work with

  • Abbett Family Foundation Funder — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Angel Charity Funder — Provided a $100,000 grant in 1990 for YOTO’s stipend program.
  • Arizona Complete Health Funder — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Arizona Department of Education Government — Source of data on homeless students in Pima County used to inform YOTO's work.
  • Bank of America Funder — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Bombas Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Caring Hearts & Hands of Queen Creek Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Caterpillar Funder — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Cox Communications Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Desert Diamond Casino Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Desert Financial Credit Union Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • El Charro Cafe Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Falbaum-Crowley Investment Group Funder — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Family Housing Resources Funder — Provided a $20,000 match during YOTO Giving Week.
  • Goji Labs Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Hazen & Company Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Hollingsworth & Kelly Attorneys Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Hughes Federal Credit Union Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Login Business Solutions Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Long Realty Cares Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Manheim Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Martin Taylor Dentistry Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Government — YOTO supports dedicated federal funding for this federal program.
  • Nextrio Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Nova Home Loans Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • PICOR Funder — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Pima Federal Credit Union Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • Rising Real Estate Services Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • SetEnv Partner — Community sponsor of Youth On Their Own
  • St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Partner — Hosted initial community meeting and supported the founding of the SAFE House for homeless girls.
+ 13 more