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Cave Canem Foundation Inc

EIN 13-3932909 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CULTIVATE THE ARTISTIC AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POETS; PROMOTE PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF THE MANY VOICES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
7
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$167,273, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 190% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $897,428 spent. ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANNUAL RETREAT CONSISTS OF A WEEK-LONG FLAGSHIP WRITING RETREAT PROVIDING BLACK POETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND WRITE ALONGSIDE PEERS AND WORLD-CLASS FACULTY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT GREENBURG, PA. PRIZES EXTEND AN AVENUE TO THE PUBLISHING SECTOR FOR BLACK POETS. AMONG OUR THREE AWARDS, THE EPONYMOUS CC POETRY PRIZE (ESTABLISHED IN 2000) IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AWARD, GIVEN TO A POET FOR A FULL LENGTH, DEBUT COLLECTION, ALONG WITH MONETARY SUPPLEMENT. PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCES AND CONVENING SUCH AS AWP AND DODGE POETRY FESTIVAL. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE GRANTS & RE-GRANTING AND RESIDENCES.
  2. $189,346 spent. READINGS ARE HOSTED VIRTUALLY AND IN VENUES ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. FOUR READING SERIES FEATURE RECENT PUBLICATIONS (NEW WORKS), DEBUT COLLECTIONS (FIRST BOOKS), TALKS WITH PREEMINENT POETS (IN CONVERSATION), AN ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM (LEGACY SERIES), AND MORE.
  3. $122,088 spent. REGIONAL WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE U.S. PROVIDE EMERGING ADULT POETS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE RIGOROUS INSTRUCTION WITH ACCOMPLISHED POETS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 October 1997.

    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 October 21, 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.