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Mystery Writers of America Inc

EIN 13-5546742 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA ("MWA") IS THE PREMIER ORGANIZATION FOR MYSTERY WRITERS, PROFESSIONALS ALLIED TO THE CRIME WRITING FIELD, ASPIRING CRIME WRITERS, AND THOSE WHO ARE DEVOTED TO THE GENRE. MWA IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING HIGHER REGARD FOR CRIME WRITING AND RECOGNITION.

Income
$826,028
Spending
$861,113
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
14.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
1
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$176,078, executive dir.

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $314,088 spent. EDGAR AWARDS - ANNUAL EDGAR AWARDS DINNER GRANTS AWARDS TO AUTHORS HONORING THEIR EXCELLENCE IN BOOKS, SHORT STORIES, MEDIA AND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT.
  2. $229,825 spent. MWA SYMPOSIUM/WORKSHOPS - WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES RUN FOR MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS FOR PROMOTIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES. PROGRAM ALSO DEVOTED TO THE MYSTERY GENRE; SPONSORS LITERARY EVENTS FEATURING READINGS FROM NOTED CRIME WRITERS. SPONSORS PROGRAMS TO ADVANCE LITERACY USING THE DONATED SERVICES OF WRITERS WHO ACT AS READERS, MENTORS AND SPOKESPEOPLE IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS AROUND THE US.
  3. $52,646 spent. MEMBERSHIPS AND OTHER PROGRAMS THE MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA WEBSITE HAS MANY SERVICES FOR MEMBERS WHICH ARE HELPFUL IN BUILDING AND SUSTAINING THEIR WRITING CAREERS VIA EDUCATION (LIKE MWA UNIVERSITY), NATIONAL CONFERENCES, NEWSLETTERS AND PUBLICITY. THE WEBSITE ALSO IS THE PORTAL FOR EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE EDGAR AWARDS, FROM THE HISTORY TO AWARD SUBMISSIONS TO UPCOMING EVENTS.
  4. $37,486 spent. THE THIRD DEGREE - OUR NATIONAL NEWSLETTER, IS DISTRIBUTED MONTHLY TO THE MEMBERSHIP AND INCLUDES ARTICLES ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF WRITING, THE GENRE, AND THE ORGANIZATION.

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 December 2004.

    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.

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