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Golden Crown Literary Society

EIN 20-8417315 · Northfield, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GOLDEN CROWN LITERARY SOCIETY (GCLS) IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT, VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS EDUCATION AND THE PROMOTION AND RECOGNITION OF SAPPHIC LITERATURE. OUR GOALS ARE TO: (1) PROVIDE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE TO NEW AND ESTABLISHED AUTHORS IN DEVELOPING THEIR CRAFT; (2) SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN QUALITY SAPPHIC WRITING BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR READERS AND WRITERS TO INTERACT; AND (3) TO RECOGNIZE AND PROMOTE SAPPHIC LITERARY WORK.

Income
$291,909
Spending
$368,057
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 31, 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. $166,171 spent. PRESENT AN ANNUAL 3-DAY EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR AUTHORS, READERS, EDITORS, AND OTHERS WITHIN THE SAPPHIC LITERATURE COMMUNITY. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED.
  2. $80,697 spent. THE GCLS WRITING ACADEMY IS A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM FOR NEW WRITERS WHO ALREADY HAVE AT LEAST PART OF A NOVEL WRITTEN AND WHO QUALIFY REGARDING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SKILLS/ATTRIBUTES. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THE STUDENTS 'BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING', COVERING THE BASICS OF GRAMMAR AND WRITING, AND THEN MOVING ON TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF WRITING, RESEARCH METHODS, GENRE SPECIFIC SKILLS, THE LIFE OF A WRITER, PREPARING TO BE PUBLISHED, AND ENDS WITH A MENTORING EXPERIENCE. MORE THAN 2 DOZEN STUDENTS PARTICIPATED AND MORE THAN 40 MENTORS AND TEACHERS PROVIDED EXPERTISE IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025.
  3. $68,282 spent. VARIOUS PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR VARIOUS EVENTS, TECHNOLOGY, AND AWARDS
  4. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ANY OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAM SERVICE AREAS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2010.

    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 August 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 June 2014.

    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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