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Writers Series of Traverse City

EIN 27-2470925 · Traverse City, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NATIONAL WRITERS SERIES IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ENGAGING TODAY'S MOST COMPELLING WRITERS AND THINKERS IN INTIMATE, THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR COMMUNITY WHILE INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF READERS AND STORYTELLERS THROUGH OUR RAISING WRITERS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

Income
$942,717
Spending
$899,732
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
6
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$90,200, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $301,594 spent. THE NATIONAL WRITERS SERIES BRINGS WORLD-RENOWNED AUTHORS AND INFLUENTIAL VOICES TO TRAVERSE CITY FOR ENGAGING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BOOKS, IDEAS, AND THE WORLD WE SHARE. THROUGH LIVE EVENTS, WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUDIENCES TO ENCOUNTER WRITERS UP CLOSE, EXPLORING THE STORIES AND PERSPECTIVES THAT SHAPE OUR TIME. SINCE 2010, THE ORGANIZATION HAS HOSTED MORE THAN 300 AUTHORS AND WELCOMED MORE THAN 100,000 ATTENDEES TO EVENTS ACROSS NORTHERN MICHIGAN. EVENTS ARE ALSO LIVESTREAMED NATIONALLY AND REPLAYED ON NPR AFFILIATES, EXTENDING THE REACH OF OUR PROGRAMMING BEYOND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED 24 IN-PERSON EVENTS, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 8,614 PATRONS; 7,065 IN-PERSON AND 1,549 VIRTUAL ATTENDEES.
  2. $19,476 spent. BATTLE OF THE BOOKS ENGAGES APPROXIMATELY 370 STUDENTS ANNUALLY IN A TEAM-BASED READING AND QUIZ-STYLE COMPETITION. PARTICIPANTS READ A CURATED SELECTION OF BOOKS AND COMPETE IN A COLLABORATIVE FORMAT THAT PROMOTES READING COMPREHENSION, TEAMWORK, AND CRITICAL THINKING. THE PROGRAM IS OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRAVERSE AREA DISTRICT LIBRARY. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED 56 TEAMS OF PARTICIPATING 4TH AND 5TH GRADE STUDENTS.
  3. $415,655 spent. RAISING WRITERS EXTENDS THE IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL WRITERS SERIES THROUGH FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH. THROUGH CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS, COLLEGE ESSAY COACHING, BATTLE OF THE BOOKS, AND OTHER INITIATIVES, WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THEIR VOICES, EXPAND THEIR IMAGINATIONS, AND ENGAGE WITH LITERATURE. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE APPROXIMATELY 700 STUDENTS ANNUALLY AND ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, CURIOSITY, AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 883 STUDENTS.
  4. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2013.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 2014.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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