Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Pen and Brush Inc

EIN 13-5311420 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 102 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

PEN AND BRUSH PROVIDES A PLATFORM TO SHOWCASE THE WORK OF EXCELLENT FEMALE ARTISTS AND WRITERS TO A BROADER AUDIENCE WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF EFFECTING REAL CHANGE WITHIN THE MARKETPLACE. WE ENCOURAGE AND MENTOR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS AND AIM TO EXPOSE THE STEREOTYPES AND MISCONCEPTIONS THAT PERPETUATE GENDER-BASED EXCLUSION, LACK OF RECOGNITION AND THE DEVALUATION OF SKILL THAT IS STILL EXPERIENCED BY WOMEN IN THE ARTS AND LITERATURE.

Income
$186,059
Spending
$849,139
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
6
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$112,959, 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

Weak: 35 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 356% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 102 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $572,386 spent. PEN AND BRUSH UTILIZES ITS COMPLETE ARSENAL OF RESOURCES TO FURTHER THE CAREERS OF WOMEN, WOMEN IDENTIFYING, AND NON-BINARY ARTISTS AND WRITERS. WE TAKE AN ARTIST-FIRST APPROACH, CENTERING ALL STRATEGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND PROGRAMING AROUND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS/WRITERS. PEN AND BRUSH MENTORS, SUPPORTS, ADVISES, EXHIBITS, PUBLISHES, AND PROMOTES VOICES WHO ARE CREATING IMPACTFUL WORK THAT IS SO ENGRAINED IN A LARGER CULTURAL DIALOGUE THAT TO DENY IT RECOGNITION IS TO PERPETUATE A CORRUPT AND INCOMPLETE CANON OF THE HISTORY OF ART AND LITERATURE. IN THIS WAY, THE ORGANIZATION EXPOSES AND FOSTERS THE WORK OF ARTISTS AND WRITERS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND A WIDE VARIETY OF INFLUENCERS INCLUDING SCHOLARS, COLLECTORS, CURATORS, GALLERISTS, AGENTS, PRESS, INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLISHERS TO ESTABLISH AND SUSTAIN CAREER GROWTH, EQUITABLE OUTCOMES, AND FILTER THEIR WORK INTO THE FIELD SO THAT CULTURE CAN BEGIN TO ACCURATELY REFLECT OUR WORLD.

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 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 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 February 1965.

    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.