GOLD2023

Youth Outlook

Safe. Supported. Celebrated.

NAPERVILLE, IL   |  www.youth-outlook.org

Mission

Youth Outlook celebrates, empowers, advocates for, and provides services to meet the ever-evolving needs of LGBTQ+ youth and their families, friends, and communities.

Ruling year info

1999

Executive Director

Nancy Mullen

Main address

1828 OLD NAPERVILLE RD

NAPERVILLE, IL 60563 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

Questioning Youth Center

EIN

36-4223806

NTEE code info

Youth Development Programs (O50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GLSEN’s 2017 study of school climates in Illinois showed that only 16% of Illinois LGBTQ students attend a school with comprehensive anti-bullying/harassment policy that specifically addressed LGBTQ issues. Youth Outlook’s recent intakes of LGBTQ youth show: 42% have experienced suicidal ideation, and 12% have attempted suicide, which is two times higher than heterosexual youth; 40% were experiencing or had previously experienced homelessness due to their orientation or identity; 35% reported drug and/or alcohol use as a coping mechanism; and 35% reported verbal harassment or assault at school and/or home. The consequences of this can be devastating: 25% of LGBTQ youth drop out of high school entirely, and smoking, drinking, depression, and suicide attempts are significantly higher than among heterosexual youth.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Drop-in Centers

Weekly programs cover a broad range of topics, including physical health, mental health, substance abuse, legal rights, coming out, spirituality, HIV/STI prevention, and healthy relationships. Located in the towns of Naperville, DeKalb, Geneva, Ottawa, and Sterling.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
LGBTQ people

Weekly programs for transgender and gender-expansive youth.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
LGBTQ people

A group for parents/caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth that is aimed at strengthening family bonds and understanding. Parents meet Youth Outlook staff, discuss the needs of their children and how they can be supported at home and school, learn about other community resources, and explore how to be an advocate for their child.

Population(s) Served
Parents

Youth leadership training gives LGBTQ+ youth the capacity to take leading roles within Youth Outlook, their schools, their jobs, and their communities.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
LGBTQ people

Youth Outlook fights prejudice and discrimination against LGBTQ+ youth by advocating for change among community professionals who serve youth (teachers and administrators, social workers, health care providers, juvenile justice workers, etc.). We also speak directly to other youth groups and students in various university courses. Youth Outlook discusses the challenges faced by sexual minority youth and how they can best be supported during their adolescence. The goal for this work is to shift the cultures and policies in area schools and other youth-serving organizations to be more inclusive and just.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Goals for Youth Outlook's work include:
•Have a positive impact on the atmosphere in area schools and youth-serving organizations by promoting understanding, respect, and inclusion.
•Increase LGBTQ+ young people's sense of well-being and decrease their sense of isolation
•Decrease instances of self-medicating “escape" behaviors such as drug and alcohol use.
•Increase knowledge of safer sex behaviors.

Multiple research studies have shown that the most effective way to combat the challenges facing LGBT youth is to increase their “protective factors," such as caring adults, safe school atmospheres, family acceptance, high self-esteem, and positive role models. Youth Outlook provides these protective factors through direct service with youth, and also through community advocacy that aims to change cultures.

Youth Outlook serves Youth Outlook serves LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-21 in the the far western suburbs of Chicago, far northwest Cook County, and rural northern Illinois, specifically DuPage, Kane, DeKalb, LaSalle, and Whiteside counties. Our programs, which serve 300 youth per year, provide developmentally appropriate wellness and education programming for LGBTQ+ adolescents; and encourage youth to work towards positive change in their schools and communities. Programs are held weekly or bi-weekly at each site, year-round.

Since our founding in 1998, Youth Outlook has served more than 3,000 youth and delivered community advocacy programs for over 8,000 adults. Recognition for this work includes the Excellence in Service to LGBTQ+ Youth Award from the Human Rights Campaign Illinois Chapter in 2002, and the Outstanding Commitment in Community Service award in 2017 from Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs in honor of LGBT History Month.

Repeatedly, our surveys show that whether a youth attends a drop-in center one time or 20, nearly 100% report a decrease in feelings of isolation and a decrease in depression. Youth also reported an increase in safer sex behaviors and an increase in their sense of self-confidence.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    LGBTQ+ youth 12-24 participate in our drop-in centers. LGBTQ+ youth and their families in grades Kindergarten-6th grade participate in a family drop-in program. Parents and adult caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth participate in their own educational and social-emotional support. We also serve educators, businesses, community members, and health practitioners who want to be educated on best practices for building inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ youth.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    During a community connection event with leaders from area organizations, we were encouraged to reach out to BIPOC-centered groups for additional feedback regarding the needs of the BIPOC LGBTQ+ community and how we might best address them. This has created a goal for staff to engage with several groups whether LGBTQ+ focused or not for feedback.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We act on the feedback we receive

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback

Financials

Youth Outlook
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Youth Outlook

Board of directors
as of 04/25/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Stephanie Wargin

Dawn Reeves Design

Darlene Lynch, Ph.D.

School of Social Work, Indiana University Northwest

Marie Grover

Self-employed, Marketing and Advertising

Ken Brown, Esq.

Attorney, retired

Margaret Chaidez, ADAC

Play Illinois

Emily Simonson, MPA, MAIR

US Water Alliance

Emily Burnett, MA

Society of Women Engineers

Jenaleigh Turner, LSW

DuPage Pads

Cecilia Fischer-Benitez

Latinas in Tech

Kristen Panice

Reposition Inc.

Rebecca Albertini, MBA, SHRM-SCP, CAE

National Louis University

Kristen Panice

Reposition Inc.

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/16/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Non-binary
Sexual orientation
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, or other sexual orientations in the LGBTQIA+ community

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 02/16/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.