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Poets & Writers Inc

EIN 13-2682458 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FOSTER THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF POETS AND WRITERS, TO PROMOTE COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE LITERARY COMMUNITY, AND TO HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH LITERATURE CAN BE APPRECIATED BY THE WIDEST POSSIBLE PUBLIC.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 39%
Employees
28
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$233,676, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $1.9 million spent. POETS & WRITERS IS A NATIONAL ARTS SERVICE ORGANIZATION, PROVIDING WRITERS OF POETRY AND LITERARY PROSE ACCESS TO CONTENT, LEARNING, AND COMMUNITY TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN THE WRITING LIFE, AND FOSTERING COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE LITERARY COMMUNITY. POETS & WRITERS MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED SIX TIMES A YEAR AND DELIVERS TO ITS READERS PROFILES OF NOTED AUTHORS AND PUBLISHING PROFESSIONALS, PRACTICAL HOW-TO ARTICLES, AND THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF GRANTS AND AWARDS AVAILABLE IN PRINT. POETS & WRITERS MAGAZINE IS DISTRIBUTED TO 42,000 PAID MEMBER/SUBSCRIBERS AND IS SOLD ON NEWSSTANDS NATIONWIDE.
  2. $517,575 spent. POETS & WRITERS' WEBSITE, PW.ORG, OFFERS ONLINE-ONLY EDITORIAL FEATURES AND A SUITE OF CAREFULLY VETTED DATABASES OF WRITING CONTESTS, LITERARY MAGAZINES, SMALL PRESSES, LITERARY AGENTS, MFA PROGRAMS, REVIEW OUTLETS, AND MORE. ALSO ONLINE ARE THE POETS & WRITERS DIRECTORY, WHICH LISTS MORE THAN 11,000 PUBLISHED WRITERS, THE NATIONAL LITERARY EVENTS CALENDAR, AND POETS & WRITERS GROUPS, A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING TOOL THAT ENABLES WRITERS TO FORM, JOIN, AND MANAGE WRITING GROUPS.
  3. $668,505 spent. THE READINGS & WORKSHOPS PROGRAM MAKES MINI-GRANTS TO WRITERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC LITERARY EVENTS AND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EVENT ORGANIZERS. WE OFFER A SERIES OF ONLINE COURSES IN BOTH THE BUSINESS AND CRAFT OF WRITING. JURIED PROGRAMS AND FELLOWSHIPS SUCH AS THE MAUREEN EGEN WRITERS EXCHANGE AWARD AND GET THE WORD OUT PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EARLY CAREER WRITERS AND THE JACKSON POETRY PRIZE RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN AMERICAN POETRY.
  4. $245,029 spent. GET THE WORD OUT IS A NEW PUBLICITY INCUBATOR THAT HELPS EARLY-CAREERAUTHORS DEVELOP A STRATEGIC MARKETING PLAN. PARTICIPANTS ARE SELECTEDTHROUGH A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS. MAPPING THE MAZE IS ANONLINE WORKSHOP THAT DEMYSTIFIES THE PUBLISHING PROCESS TO HELP WRITERSCHART A PATH TO PUBLICATION. IT INTRODUCES WRITERS FROM AROUND THECOUNTRY TO AGENTS, EDITORS, AND OTHER PUBLISHING PROFESSIONALS.ADDITIONAL ONLINE COURSES ARE PLANNED. POETS & WRITERS ALSO SPONSORSTWO PROMINENT LITERARY AWARDS: THE MAUREEN EGEN WRITERS EXCHANGE AWARDAND THE JACKSON POETRY PRIZE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.