Youth Frontiers 
The information on this page was last updated 1/27/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Today's youth are tomorrow's leaders. At Youth Frontiers, we're working to build a better tomorrow by inspiring young people to live lives of character.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Youth Frontiers
5215 Edina Industrial Blvd.
Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Website: www.youthfrontiers.org
Phone: (952) 922-0222
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 411598977
CEO/President: Joe Cavanaugh/ Nicole Sullivan
Chairman: Jon Reissner
Board size: 5
Founder: Joe Cavanaugh
Ruling year: 1988
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Our next generation of leaders is grounded in character.
Mission statement
Youth Frontiers' mission is to provide experiences that inspire character, civility and community. We offer student retreats focused on timeless values like kindness, courage and respect. Youth Frontiers also offers programming for educators, parents and community leaders to support the adults at the forefront of turning today's youth into tomorrow's leaders.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Leadership Training
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1414 of 1435 | 24 of 25 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1418 of 1435 | 25 of 25 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1366 of 1435 | 24 of 25 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1099 of 1436 | 18 of 25 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 9% | 75% | 20% | 16% | 18% | 21% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 36% | 13% | 12% | 13% | 20% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 97% | 48% | 65% | 74% | 74% | 96% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 9% | 26% | 16% | 18% | 16% | 27% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 3% | 52% | 35% | 26% | 26% | 4% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 69% | 78% | 75% | 73% | 55% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 102% | 140% | 84% | 66% | 82% | 74% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 85% | 97% | 65% | 50% | 60% | 41% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | -2% | -40% | 16% | 34% | 18% | 26% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | -3% | -35% | 15% | 44% | 26% | 37% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 10% | 18% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.28 | 0.83 | 0.57 | 0.60 | 0.62 | 0.42 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.14 | 1.47 | 1.31 | 1.37 | 1.76 | 1.72 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.70 | 1.21 | 0.75 | 0.82 | 1.10 | 0.72 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 15.53 | 13.72 | 14.04 | 11.79 | 13.49 | 8.99 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 0.11 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.61 | 9.19 | 14.88 | 13.39 | 10.14 | 14.91 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 32% | 27% | 31% | 45% | 60% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 13% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 63% | 82% | 128% | 115% | 88% | 96% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $3,580,363 | $4,684,890 | $4,263,262 | $1,799,934 | $1,993,815 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $260,959 | $338,883 | $220,881 | $500,621 | $452,699 |
| Short-term investments | $223,130 | $662,085 | $393,694 | $397,955 | $431,666 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,064,452 | $5,685,858 | $4,877,837 | $2,698,510 | $2,878,180 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $602,514 | $492,218 | $497,667 | $453,230 | $428,340 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,296,251 | $1,296,904 | $1,301,213 | $1,607,453 | $1,653,933 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,898,765 | $1,789,122 | $1,798,880 | $2,060,683 | $2,082,273 |
| Total assets | $5,963,217 | $7,474,980 | $6,676,717 | $4,759,193 | $4,960,453 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $186,341 | $237,871 | $308,175 | $96,250 | $156,263 |
| Other current liabilities | $109,958 | $166,980 | $105,660 | $103,811 | $163,791 |
| Total current liabilities | $296,299 | $404,851 | $413,835 | $200,061 | $320,054 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $660,142 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $1,623,872 | $1,634,008 | $1,644,750 | $1,954,370 | $2,001,180 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $1,623,872 | $1,634,008 | $1,644,750 | $1,954,370 | $2,661,322 |
| Total liabilities | $1,920,171 | $2,038,859 | $2,058,585 | $2,154,431 | $2,981,376 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $3,635,325 | $5,085,621 | $4,070,314 | $2,208,714 | $1,623,519 |
| With donor restrictions | $407,721 | $350,500 | $547,818 | $396,048 | $355,558 |
| Net assets | $4,043,046 | $5,436,121 | $4,618,132 | $2,604,762 | $1,979,077 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $1,680,828 | $3,315,738 | $4,479,889 | $2,681,703 | $2,669,326 |
| Program service revenue | $1,693,734 | $1,672,271 | $1,522,847 | $927,237 | $103,515 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $186,149 | $123,596 | $32,466 | $14,682 | $17,993 |
| Other revenue | ($33,156) | ($35,950) | ($9,481) | $0 | ($1,286) |
| Total other revenue | $1,846,727 | $1,759,917 | $1,545,832 | $941,919 | $120,222 |
| Total revenue | $3,527,555 | $5,075,655 | $6,025,721 | $3,623,622 | $2,789,548 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $3,410,940 | $3,310,064 | $3,000,872 | $2,172,474 | $1,140,329 |
| Management and general | $244,386 | $269,476 | $266,992 | $300,802 | $369,302 |
| Fundraising | $1,267,250 | $677,954 | $732,430 | $484,062 | $549,296 |
| Total expenses | $4,922,576 | $4,257,494 | $4,000,294 | $2,957,338 | $2,058,927 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($1,395,021) | $818,161 | $2,025,427 | $666,284 | $730,621 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($1,395,021) | $818,161 | $2,025,427 | $666,284 | $730,621 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Joseph Cavanaugh | CEO and Board Member | $318,326 |
| Nicole Sullivan | President | $209,112 |
| Riley Moynihan | Director of Development | $139,172 |
| Timothy Bell-Kemp | Director of Finance and Administration | $125,784 |
| Sebastian Davin | Executive Producer | $123,835 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2025
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 1/27/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1987, Joe Cavanaugh met a student named Diane who told him about being treated unkindly at school. She said, "There are these kids who make fun of me every day. Can you do anything to stop them?" This question was the catalyst that inspired Joe to launch Youth Frontiers. He wanted to build school communities where every person is treated with dignity and respect. Today, in all Youth Frontiers programs, we tell students that they - as well as the people in their communities - matter. We show them that there is power behind their actions.
Youth Frontiers exists to inspire character and build community. In community, we hold one another accountable for behaviors and we stand up for one another. When we are connected and feel a sense of belonging, we treat people better. We treat ourselves better.