Passes our checks

Just Buffalo Literary Center Inc

EIN 22-2995665 · Buffalo, NY

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

What it says it does

CREATING AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE LITERARY ARTS.

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

Reserves
20 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20
It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

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

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
11 of 11 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.
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

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

Programs described in its return (2)

$669,626 spent. JUST BUFFALO LITERARY CENTER'S PROGRAMMING PROVIDES MULTIPLE POINTS OF ENTRY FOR ENGAGING WITH THE LITERARY ARTS. THIS ORGANIZATION PRESENTS WRITERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION, THE COUNTRY, AND THE WORLD THROUGH READINGS,LECTURES, AND WRITING WORKSHOPS, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF LOCAL WRITERS TO BRING THEIR WORK TO A LIVE AUDIENCE THROUGH FEATURED READING EVENTS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE BABEL AUTHOR SERIES, WRITING CENTER, SILO CITY READING SERIES,LIT CITY PUBLIC ART, ADULT WORKSHOPS, THE CIVIL WRITES PROJECT, AN ACCESSIBLE AND INFORMATION-RICH WEBSITE, AND LITERARY BUFFALO WHICH SERVES AS A MARKETING AND OUTREACH PLATFORM AND CENTRAL HUB FOR LITERARY ACTIVITY IN THE REGION.
$217,949 spent. THE JUST BUFFALO WRITING CENTER PROVIDES FREE YEAR-ROUND AFTER SCHOOL WRITING WORKSHOPS, MENTORING, MEET-THE-AUTHOR, PERFORMANCE, PUBLICATION, AND FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS 12-18 YEARS OLD. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, JUST BUFFALO ENGAGES STUDENTS IN DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR WRITING AND CREATIVITY, AND IS FOSTERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LITERARY VOICES. THE WRITING CENTER HAS BECOME THE NUCLEUS OF ALL OF JUST BUFFALO'S EDUCATION PROGRAMMING WHICH OVER THE PAST 45-PLUS YEARS HAS SUCCESSFULLY CONNECTED TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS TO SUPPORT CREATIVE GROWTH, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN THE LITERARY ARTS FOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES.

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

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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.