Alliance for Youth Action logo

Alliance for Youth Action

Grantmaker Washington, DC EIN: 46-2914731 Website

Alliance for Youth Action is a public charity based in Washington, DC, formed in 2013. It supports youth civic engagement and organizing through network capacity building, national coordination, and grants to youth-led organizations.

Key facts about Alliance for Youth Action

In short: Alliance for Youth Action gave $5.4M across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $224K), top state North Carolina. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

EIN
46-2914731
Latest 990 filing
Form 990 filing, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$5,382,498
Grants made (2024)
24
Average grant
$224,271
Median grant
$125,000
New grantees (estimate)
50% first-time grantees (12 of 24, 2024)
Total assets
$1,405,579
Primary geography
North Carolina (18% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing

Total Assets

$1.4M

-45.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$5.4M

+677.2% YoY

Grant Count

24

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$224K

+482.9% YoY

Is Alliance for Youth Action open to new grantees?

50%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 12 of 24 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $97K; repeat grants $351K. How we count

Medians: $75K first-time, $239K repeat.

  • 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 2644% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s stated mission is to advance locally led democracy with inclusive processes and equitable outcomes, engaging young people as voters, organizers, and leaders. Its filing describes work in civic engagement, voter education, and capacity building. This includes year-round local civic and electoral programs, voter guides and candidate information, and training and coaching for network organizations in areas such as operations, finance, programs, data, communications, and development.

The website identifies five shared issue areas: abortion access and reproductive justice, climate and environmental justice, housing, reimagining public safety, and voting rights. It also describes capacity building, support for emerging youth-led organizations, and national coordination as parts of its work.

Grantee missions illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. Leaders Igniting Transformation Action Fund says it builds homegrown leadership, engages and organizes young leaders, and advocates for policy change and systemic equity. Engage Miami describes its work as developing a culture of local youth civic participation. The Georgia Youth Justice Coalition for Action describes itself as a youth-led collaborative that gives young Georgians a role in democracy. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the Alliance reported 24 grants totaling $5,382,498. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $971,000, with a median of $125,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Alliance’s website describes a network of affiliates across 19 states, alongside new chapters in three additional states. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were North Carolina (18%), Wisconsin (16%), Nevada (12%), Arizona (12%), and Montana (10%).

Grant Distribution by State

22states

Share of all 24 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

DenverMiamiLas VegasMilwaukeeMissoulaPhoenixRaleighSeattleYoungstownPortlandSaint PaulTopekaWashingtonChicagoJacksonSan AntonioSan FranciscoAtlantaDoverNorthampton

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M17 grants202014 grants202117 grants202218 grants202324 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $196K (2021) to $5.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $5.4M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

North Carolina Asian Americans Together in Action: $971KNorth Carolina Asian AmericansTogether in Action$971KLeaders Igniting Transformation Action Fund: $783KLeaders IgnitingTransformation Action Fund$783KOne Asian Pacific Island Americans Nevada: $670KOne Asian Pacific IslandAmericans Nevada$670KPoder: $513KPoder$513KForward Montana: $363KForward Montana$363KEngage Miami: $339KEngage Miami$339KThe Voter Participation Center: $250KThe Voter Participation Center$250KGeorgia Youth Justice Coalition for Action Inc: $200KGeorgia Youth JusticeCoalition for Action Inc$200KTides Advocacy: $140KTides Advocacy$140KPac for Georgia's Youth: $126KPac for Georgia's Youth$126K

The largest 2024 recipient was North Carolina Asian Americans Together in Action ($971K). Together the top 10 received $4.4M.

Grant Size Distribution

90 grants across all recorded years

33<$50K17$50–100K29$100–250K6$250–500K5$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 90 (37%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
North Carolina Asian Americans Together in Action Raleigh, NCCapacity Building, Civic Engagement, Voter Education$971,000
Leaders Igniting Transformation Action Fund Milwaukee, WICivic Engagement, Voter Education$782,500
One Asian Pacific Island Americans Nevada Las Vegas, NVCapacity Building, Civic Engagement, Issue Campaigns, Voter Education$669,710
Poder Phoenix, AZCapacity Building, Civic Engagement, Voter Education$512,710
Forward Montana Missoula, MTCapacity Building, Civic Engagement, Issue Campaigns, Voter Education$363,000
Engage Miami Miami, FLCivic Engagement, Issue Campaigns, Voter Education$338,500
The Voter Participation Center Washington, DCCivic Engagement$250,000
Georgia Youth Justice Coalition for Action Inc Atlanta, GACapacity Building, Civic Engagement$200,000
Tides Advocacy San Francisco, CACapacity Building, Civic Engagement, Voter Education$140,368
Pac for Georgia's Youth Atlanta, GAVoter Education$126,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $1,405,579 $8,074,207 $9,195,298 $5,382,498
2023 $2,568,422 $3,041,054 $1,900,680 $692,528
2022 $1,484,101 $3,116,406 $3,665,483 $1,595,250

The 2024 grant total covered 24 grants.

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,405,579$2,568,422$1,484,101
Revenue$8,074,207$3,041,054$3,116,406
Expenses$9,195,298$1,900,680$3,665,483
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$7,390$341$40
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing include Jonathan Paik, chair; Kim Rogers, vice chair; Aaron Merkin, treasurer; and Ben Wessel, secretary. The filing lists Resha Thomas as secretary through June and Ben Wessel as a board member through June. Other listed board members are Victoria Cepeida-Mojarro, Tracey Corder, Kellie Dupree, Juan Escalante, and Alison Ge.

Alliance for Youth Action is led by Dakota Hall, President & Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Dakota Hall

    President & Executive Director

    Executive Director → President & Executive Director, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    20 hrs/week

    $4K (2021) → $114K (2024)

  • Jonathan Paik

    Chair

    Board Member → Chair, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • William Koontz

    Chief Financial Officer

    On filings since 2023

    10 hrs/week

    $32K (2023) → $42K (2024)

  • Aaron Merkin

    Treasurer

    Treasurer & Board Member → Treasurer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ben Wessel

    Board Member & Secretary

    Board Member → Board Member & Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Sloan

    Board Member

    Treasurer & Board Member → Board Member, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Juan Escalante

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paola Ramos

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tracey Corder

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alexandra Acker Lyons

    Board Member

    Chair → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kim Rogers

    Vice Chair

    Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Resha Thomas

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Colleen Loper

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Natalia Salgado

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kunoor Ojha

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alison Ge

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Beth Huang

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kellie Dupree

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kritihika Harish

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Victoria Cepeida-Mojarro

    Board Member

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (7)
  • Former: Alexandra Acker-Lyons (2020–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Daniel Gonzales (2020–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Oscar Boleman (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Pao Ramos (2021–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Sarah Audelo (2020–2021) — Executive Director
  • Former: Jonathan Paik Vice Chair (2020) — Board Member
  • Former: Resha Thomas Secretary (2020) — Board Member · Filing note: From

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Dakota Hall — President & Executive Director: $114KDakota HallPresident & Executive Director$114KWilliam Koontz — Chief Financial Officer: $42KWilliam KoontzChief Financial Officer$42K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $114K, to Dakota Hall (President & Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 650 Massachusetts Avenue Nw 600, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 827-4412
Website: https://allianceforyouthaction.org

Frequently asked questions about Alliance for Youth Action

How much does Alliance for Youth Action give each year?

Alliance for Youth Action gave $5.4M across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $693K across 18 grants.

What is Alliance for Youth Action's typical grant size?

Alliance for Youth Action's median grant in 2024 was $125,000, and its average grant was $224,271, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from Alliance for Youth Action that year got $97K on average.

Where does Alliance for Youth Action give grants?

Alliance for Youth Action's top state is North Carolina, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. The next largest states were Wisconsin (16%) and Nevada (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Miami, FL (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants), Denver, CO (3 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (2 grants).

Does Alliance for Youth Action give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Alliance for Youth Action's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic Engagement" (4 grants), "Voter Education" (4 grants) and "Capacity Building, Civic Engagement, Voter Education" (3 grants).

Who are Alliance for Youth Action's largest grantees?

Alliance for Youth Action's largest 2024 grantees include North Carolina Asian Americans Together in Action ($971,000), Leaders Igniting Transformation Action Fund ($782,500) and One Asian Pacific Island Americans Nevada ($669,710), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Alliance for Youth Action?

Alliance for Youth Action reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $8.1M.

What does Alliance for Youth Action fund?

The organization’s stated mission is to advance locally led democracy with inclusive processes and equitable outcomes, engaging young people as voters, organizers, and leaders. Its filing describes work in civic engagement, voter education, and capacity building. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Alliance for Youth Action?

In filing year 2024, the Alliance reported 24 grants totaling $5,382,498. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $971,000, with a median of $125,000.

What is Alliance for Youth Action's EIN?

Alliance for Youth Action's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2914731. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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