Pacific Northwest Writers Conference
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Develop the talent of writing from pen to publication through education, accessibility to the publishing industry, and participation in an interactive, vital writer community in the Pacific Northwest.
- Income
- $281,623
- Spending
- $262,106
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 73%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $2,800, trustee
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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% 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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $101,420 spent. Annual Conference. The summer writing conference continues to be a top conference due the accessibility to agents and editors, writing advancement workshops, industry education and best practices for business and marketing. We continue to rely on 150 volunteers to ensure our events success. We have continued to see an increase in both book contracts as well as agent representation for those who attended our conference. During the year we offer a series of writing workshops at our Writers Cottage in Issaquah, Washington.
- $27,803 spent. Other miscellaneous services and programs to promote amateur writers: We assist authors by providing education and tools for the industry primarily through monthly meetings. We bring in speakers who are either published authors, writing instructors or industry experts to discuss trends in publishing, the craft of writing and how to market your novel. We provide free of charge the online Author Magazine and a half day Young Authors Day conference for children ages 8-15.
- $15,700 spent. Literary Contest. The PNWA Literary Contest is designed to teach authors the format expected for a book proposal. This skill gives them the confidence to not only pitch their novel at the conference, but submit it to a book agent or editor. Each entry submitted to the contest is read by pre-screened readers, resulting in two critiques. The 8 finalists in each category are read by either a book agent or editor who determine the first, second and third place winner in each category. In 2021 a greater number of our finalists than in the past were successful in achieving either representation from an agent, or a book contract. The Nancy Pearl Literary Contest is open to published authors. Librarians read books and we announce winners at our summer conference.
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
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.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.