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Writers Guild Foundation

EIN 23-7024900 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1966, THE WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE HISTORY AND CRAFT OF WRITING FOR THE SCREEN. THROUGH ITS LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, THE FOUNDATION ENGAGES, EDUCATES, AND INSPIRES EMERGING WRITERS-ESPECIALLY THOSE BELONGING TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS-AND PRESERVES THE RICH HISTORY OF WRITING IN HOLLYWOOD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
15.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
10
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$137,672, past exec. dir

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

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

Governance

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.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $659,164 spent. THE WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION SHAVELSON-WEBB LIBRARY & ARCHIVETHE SHAVELSON-WEBB LIBRARY PROVIDES A QUIET SPACE FOR ANYONE-NOT JUST WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA (WGA) MEMBERS-TO READ SCRIPTS, CONSULT WITH OUR LIBRARIANS, AND WRITE. IT IS FREE TO VISIT, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND HOME TO OVER 50,000 ITEMS AVAILABLE TO REVIEW, PRIMARILY FILM, TELEVISION, RADIO, AND VIDEO GAME SCRIPTS, INCLUDING ONLINE RESOURCES LIKE VIRTUAL EVENTS AND BLOG SERIES. THE ARCHIVE IS HOME TO RARE AND UNIQUE COLLECTIONS THAT TELL THE STORY OF THE PAST 110 YEARS OF SCREENWRITING HISTORY, INCLUDING GUILD HISTORICAL MATERIALS, PRODUCED AND UNPRODUCED SCIPTS, MEMORABILIA, ORAL HISTORIES, AND PERSONAL ITEMS OF FILM, TELEVISION AND RADIO WRITERS.
  2. $209,032 spent. WRITERS ACCESS SUPPORT STAFF TRAINING PROGRAMSTHE WRITERS ACCESS SUPPORT STAFF TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES WRITERS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, DISABLED, OVER OF THE AGE OF 50, ETC.) WITH TOOLS AND EDUCATION TO BECOME A WRITERS' ASSITANT AND SCRIPT COORDINATOR, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THESE POSITIONS OFTEN SERVE AS THE FIRST STEP ON THE LADDER OF A SUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITING CAREER; AS SUCH, THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO BE A STEP TOWARDS GREATER INCLUSIVITY AT BOTH THE "ENTRY LEVEL AND IN THE FUTURE, ON ALL WRITING STAFFS. WGF PROVIDES ALL COMPONENTS OF THE VWP AT NO COST TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
  3. $166,508 spent. VETERANS WRITING PROJECTTHE VETERANS WRITING PROJECT DEVELOPS THE WRITING SKILLS OF MILITARY VETERANS FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT AND PERSONAL FULFILLMENT. SERVING 60-80 VETERANS EACH YEAR, PARTICIPANTS ARE EDUCATED ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SCREENWRITING AND MENTORED BY WGA-ENROLLED WRITERS. UPON COMPLETION OF THE YEARLONG PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS LEAVE WITH A FINISHED SCREENPLAY OR TV PILOT AND THE SKILLS AND TOOLS NEEDED FOR MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. WGF PROVIDES ALL COMPONENTS OF THE VWP AT NO COST TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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? 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 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 August 1968.

    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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