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Authors Guild Fdn Inc

EIN 23-7248599 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AUTHORS GUILD FOUNDATION EDUCATES AUTHORS, ADVOCATES FOR THEIR RIGHTS, AND PROMOTES THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING, PUBLISHING, FREE SPEECH, AND COPYRIGHT.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
27
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$408,530, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 September 30, 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 (2)
  1. $1.3 million spent. COPYRIGHT DEFENSE: THE FOUNDATION ASSISTS ALL AMERICAN AUTHORS THROUGH ITS ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE PUBLISHING ECOSYSTEM AND AUTHORS RIGHTS AS WELL AS MONITOR LEGAL AND LEGISTLATIVE MATTERS REGARDING CHANGES TO COPYRIGHT LAW AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT MIGHT HAVE AN EFFECT ON ALL AUTHORS THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SOCIAL MEDIA. IT FILED AMICUS BRIEFS WHEN PERTINTENT COPYRIGHT MATTERS AROSE.
  2. $579,277 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS IMPORVE THE CONDITION AND WELFARE OF AMERICAN AUTHORS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ON THE BUSINESS OF WRITING THROUGH FREE AND TICKETED SEMINARS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND INFORMATION RESOURCES PROVIDED THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, TELE CONFERENCE PROGRAMS AND ITS WORLD THINKING DAY EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1972.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.