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Get Lit Words Ignite Inc

EIN 26-4644018 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GET LIT WORDS IGNITE INSPIRES LITERACY, WELLNESS, CREATIVITY, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH SPOKEN WORD POETRY AND MEDIA.IN 2023-24, GET LIT DIRECTLY SERVED 8,000 TEENS, AND REACHED 50,000 YOUTH THROUGH ALL PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND PERFORMANCES. 85% OF THOSE WE SERVED ARE FROM UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS AND ENROLLED IN TITLE I SCHOOLS, AND 92% ARE YOUTH OF COLOR.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
47
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$252,874, founder/executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 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

    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 June 30, 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. $957,760 spent. OUR NEW CREATIVE SUITE OF PROGRAMS INCLUDE: FILM LAB, CREATIVE CAMP, AND CREATIVE CAREER LAB (CCL). FILM LAB IS A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM FOR OUR HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH WEEKLY WORKSHOPS IN ALL ASPECTS OF FILMMAKING. EACH SEMESTER, THE CLASS IS BROKEN INTO 4 WEEKS OF PRE-PRODUCTION, 4 WEEKS OF PRODUCTION, AND 4 WEEKS OF POST-PRODUCTION. GUESTS AND MENTORS FOR FILM LAB HAVE INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WGA, MONKEYPAW PRODUCTIONS, LIONSGATE, TOLLIN PRODUCTIONS, ARTISTS FIRST, AND AWARD-WINNING CINEMATOGRAPHERS, DIRECTORS, AND LIGHTING TECHNICIANS. CREATIVE CAREER LAB (CCL) IS A YEAR-LONG JOB TRAINING PROGRAM IN CREATIVE FIELDS THAT CULMINATES IN PARTICIPANT PLACEMENT IN PAID FULL-TIME JOBS WITH OUR ENTERTAINMENT AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL TRAINING, PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT, 1 ON 1 MENTORSHIP, AND JOB PLACEMENT. IT ALSO INCLUDES FINANCIAL AND MEDIA LITERACY TRAINING; "SOFT" SKILLS SUCH AS COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, AND PROFESSIONALISM; CAREER PLANNING; AND INVALUABLE NETWORKING. GET LIT RECEIVED A MAJOR GRANT FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR SUPPORT OF THE CREATIVE CAREER LAB. OUT OF 30 STATEWIDE RECIPIENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT GRANT (CALCRG), WE ARE THE ONLY ARTS ORGANIZATION GRANTEE, AND ONE OF ONLY FIVE WHO RECEIVED THE FULL $3M GRANT OVER 3 YEARS.
  2. $420,208 spent. OUR PROGRAMS SPAN FROM CLASSROOM TO CAREER INCLUDING TRAINING IN HIGH-DEMAND FIELDS, LEADING TO LIFE-CHANGING CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES, INTERNSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND JOBS. THEY INCLUDE: IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM: OUR ROBUST CURRICULA FOR THE CLASSROOM ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THE DEEP STUDY AND PERFORMANCE OF CLASSIC/CONTEMPORARY POEMS COMBINED WITH THE CREATION AND PERFORMANCE OF ORIGINAL RESPONSE POEMS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES UNI(VERSE), OUR PIONEERING INTERACTIVE LITERACY AND POETRY PLATFORM FOR THE CLASSROOM; CORE PROGRAMMING: FREE WEEKLY POETRY AND PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS, OPEN MICS; CLASSIC SLAM: OUR ANNUAL TEEN POETRY COMPETITION; GET LIT PLAYERS: AWARD-WINNING TEEN PERFORMANCE TROUPE; AND OUR NEW CREATIVE SUITE OF PROGRAMS, DESCRIBED BELOW.
  3. $344,088 spent. IN 2024-25, WE TAUGHT THE GET LIT CURRICULA TO 6,000 STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, WE SERVED 1,600 YOUTH WITH OUR VARIOUS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, FOR A TOTAL OF 7,600 YOUTH DIRECTLY SERVED. THESE YOUTH ARE FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT GREATER LOS ANGELES, INCLUDING STUDENTS IN GRADES 4-12, YOUNG ADULTS IN EARLY COLLEGE OR CAREER EXPLORATION, AND TRANSITION AGE YOUTH AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. 85% OF THESE STUDENTS ARE FROM UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS AND ENROLLED IN TITLE I SCHOOLS, AND 92% ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR. 48% OF STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS FEMALE WITH 95 LANGUAGES SPOKEN ACROSS OUR STUDENT POPULATION. WE REACHED AN ADDITIONAL 50,000 YOUTH THROUGH ALL PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND PERFORMANCES, SUCH AS WITH OUR GET LIT PLAYERS' ASSEMBLIES.THE CLASSIC SLAM COMPETITION IS THE CULMINATION OF OUR IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM. OUR 14TH ANNUAL CLASSIC SLAM HELD IN MAY 2025 HAD 240 STUDENT COMPETITORS AND A LIVE COMMUNITY AUDIENCE OF 3,000 AT THE L.A. THEATRE CENTER (QUARTER- AND SEMI-FINALS) AND DYNASTY TYPEWRITER (FINALS). JUDGES INCLUDED WELL-KNOWN ACTRESS FIVEL STEWART, AWARD WINNING ARTIST ILL CAMILLE, PRODUCER TYLER COLE, BLAIR GREEN OF NBC/UNIVERSAL, AND KORYN FRYE-FUINTES OF NETFLIX.
  4. $428,264 spent. OUR TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES OUR ANNUAL DAY-LONG POETIC CONVERGENCE, IN WHICH TEACHERS ARE TRAINED IN GET LIT'S METHODS AND PHILOSOPHY, AND IN HOW TO EFFECTIVELY USE OUR UNIQUE CURRICULUM. THE 2024 POETIC CONVERGENCE WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER AT GET LIT'S HEADQUARTERS IN KOREATOWN. IT FEATURED POETRY TEACHING WORKSHOPS BY POETS/EDUCATORS MARLENE CARTER AND BRENDAN CONSTANTINE, AND A KEYNOTE ON HOW TO HELP STUDENTS FIND THEIR AUTHENTIC VOICE BY ROGER LOVE, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING AUTHORITIES ON VOICE.CREATIVE CAMP IS A MONTH-LONG EXPERIENCE IN WHICH STUDENTS LEARN THE PRINCIPLES OF CINEMATOGRAPHY, SOUND RECORDING, EDITING, AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF VISUAL STORYTELLING THROUGH THEIR INTERPRETATION OF POEMS FROM GET LIT'S ANTHOLOGY. EACH PARTICIPANT PRODUCES A SHORT FILM, MIXTAPE, OR SPOKEN-WORD PERFORMANCE, DEPENDING ON THEIR FOCUS IN THE PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 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 September 2009.

    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.