Insideout Literary Arts Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BY IMMERSING STUDENTS IN THE JOY AND POWER OF POETRY AND LITERARY SELF- EXPRESSION, INSIDEOUT INSPIRES THEM TO THINK BROADLY, CREATE BRAVELY AND SHARE THEIR VOICES WITH THE WIDER WORLD. GUIDED BY PROFESSIONAL WRITERS AND CELEBRATED BY PUBLICATIONS AND PERFORMANCES, YOUTH LEARN THAT THEIR STORIES AND IDEAS MATTER AND THAT THEIR PENS CAN LAUNCH THEM OFF THE PAGE INTO EXTRAORDINARY LIVES.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 23.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 64
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $84,162, executive di
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 23.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
- $1.1 million spent. NARRATIVE FOR 990 (FY2024) 2023/24 WAS A PARTICULARLY EXCITING YEAR FOR INSIDEOUT AS WE REFINED OUR STAFFING STRUCTURE; GREW COMMUNITY PROGRAMS; AND ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL. WE INCREASED ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, EXPANDED OUR NATIONAL PROFILE, AND BOLSTERED THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF AND TEACHING ARTISTS. IN TOTAL, WE SERVED 3,016 STUDENTS IN 27 SCHOOLS, PUBLISHED 26 INDIVIDUAL ANTHOLOGIES OF STUDENT WRITING; ENGAGED 292 TEENS WITH AFTER-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS AT 15 SITES; AND PARTNERED WITH 48 ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES, AND PUBLIC ART TO UPWARDS OF 1,942 PEOPLE ACROSS METRO-DETROIT. WE ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR 2ND ANNUAL DETROIT YOUTH POETRY CONAN ALL-DAY, TEEN-FOCUSED CONFERENCE ON THE CAMPUS OF WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY. IT CONNECTED YOUTH WITH MICHIGAN POET LAUREATE (AND INSIDEOUT PROGRAM GRADUATE) NANDI COMER AND NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD RECIPIENT ROSS GAY FOR WRITING WORKSHOPS, CAREER-DISCOVERY, COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND MORE. DEMONSTRATING THE UNDENIABLE NEED AND DESIRE TEENS HAVE TO CONNECT IN REAL-WORLD SPACES, THIS EVENT BROUGHT 86 STUDENTS TOGETHER (33% INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE OVER LAST YEAR) FOR MASTERCLASSES WITH THE VISITING POETS AS WELL AS A BEVY OF WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CRAFT. THIS YOUTH-CENTERED INITIATIVE FEATURED 11 WRITING AND CAREER FOCUSED WORKSHOPS; DISTRIBUTION OF 150 BOOKS; PERFORMANCES BY 50 YOUTH, NANDI COMER AND ROSS GAY; AS WELL AS BREAK-OUT SESSIONS, DECOMPRESSION ROOMS, MEALS, AND PRIZES. IT INCLUDED SIGNIFICANT PARTNERSHIPS WITH WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITYS ENGLISH DEPARTMENT AND FORMER INSIDEOUT STUDENT/CURRENT WAYNE STATE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ROBERT LAIDLER AS WELL AS THE DETROIT CREATIVITY PROJECT, RACQUET UP, AND THRIVING TOGETHER. THE GROWTH IN INSIDEOUTS COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING IS A SOURCE OF INSTITUTIONAL PRIDE AND AN AREA WE INTEND TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING WITH INTENTIONALITY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. IN 2023/24 WE WERE PLEASED TO SEE THROUGH THRIVING TOGETHER, A FOUR-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DETROIT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY IN WHICH 10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSA CORE GROUP WHO PARTICIPATED FOR 2+ YEARSENGAGED IN ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUSED, HANDS-ON WRITING PROJECTS. THEY LEARNED TO EXPRESS COMPLEX IDEAS AND FACILITATE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WHILE STRENGTHENING THEIR OWN UNDERSTANDING OF CREATIVE WRITING, POETRY, AND SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE AS TOOLS FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. IN THIS FINAL YEAR, THE COLLABORATION OF 15 ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS EMPOWERED STUDENTS TO LEAD PRESENTATIONS AND ORGANIZE PERFORMANCES AT THE BIONEERS CONFERENCE, THE MICHIGAN INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT SOLAR CELEBRATION, AND DETROIT YOUTH POETRY CON. WE WERE ALSO PROUD TO ENHANCE OUR WORK WITH THE HANNAN CENTER AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DEARBORNS ARTS AND AGENCY PROGRAM TO CONNECT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND SENIOR CITIZENS FOR WHOS YOUR NEIGHBOR, A DAY-LONG PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EXPLORE COMMONALITIES, DEFINE COMMUNITY, AND INSPIRE CREATIVE WRITING AND PERFORMANCE ACROSS GENERATIONS. IN APRIL, INSIDEOUT CELEBRATED POETRY MONTH WITH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS. WE EXPANDED AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH SHAKESPEARE IN DETROIT TO INCLUDE IN-SCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL SONNET WORKSHOPS; INCREASED OUTREACH TO STUDENTS IN DETROIT AND DEARBORN WITH THE RETURN OF POETRY BILLBOARDS; CELEBRATED ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH WITH THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF THE ARTSEXPANDING REPRESENTATION FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES FROM SALINA AND FORDSON; AND INCREASED LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INSIDEOUT YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD. THESE STUDENT LEADERS PLANNED AND HOSTED A POETRY PICNIC IN VALADE PARK, INVITING FRIENDS & FAMILY AND ENGAGING PASSERS-BY WITH READING AND WRITING EXERCISES TO CLOSE OUT POETRY MONTH WITH ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL AND WELL-ATTENDED YOUTH-LED PUBLIC EVENTS. YOUTH KNOW WHAT THEY WANT, AND INSIDEOUT IS PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO PUT THEIR IDEAS INTO ACTION. ENGAGING STUDENT LEADERS ON THIS LEVEL, AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE FAIR PAY AND AGENCY THEY NEED TO DEVELOP AND MARKET OUTREACH EVENTS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF INSIDEOUTS COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, REPRESENTATION, AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTS. THIS APPROACH PROVED MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN ANTICIPATED AND RESULTED IN INCREASED PUBLIC ACTIVITY WITHOUT ADDING WORK TO STAFF, WHILE ALSO CREATING EMPOWERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO FEEL HEARD, VALUED, AND SUPPORTED. AS A RESULT OF THEIR SUCCESS, STUDENT LEADERS WERE TASKED WITH ORGANIZING A PRIDE EVENT IN JUNE. THEIR PRIDE & ALLIES OPEN-MIC AT NEXT CHAPTER BOOKS WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY WITH 17 YOUTH PERFORMERS AND ~50 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE COORDINATING THESE ACTIVITIES, ONE STUDENT REFLECTED, IT WAS MY FIRST TIME REALLY ASKING FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES TO SHOW UP FOR SOMETHING, AND I DIDNT KNOW IF ANYONE WOULD, AND SO MANY PEOPLE DID. IT WAS GREAT OUR IN-SCHOOL WORK AND AFTERSCHOOL CITYWIDE POETS PROGRAMS WERE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL, CREATING JOBS FOR 36 TEACHING ARTISTS AND IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF 3,016 STUDENTS IN 27 SCHOOLS AND AT 15 COMMUNITY SITES. NARRATIVE FOR 990 (FY2024) 2023/24 WAS A PARTICULARLY EXCITING YEAR FOR INSIDEOUT AS WE REFINED OUR STAFFING STRUCTURE; GREW COMMUNITY PROGRAMS; AND ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL. WE INCREASED ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, EXPANDED OUR NATIONAL PROFILE, AND BOLSTERED THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF AND TEACHING ARTISTS. IN TOTAL, WE SERVED 3,016 STUDENTS IN 27 SCHOOLS, PUBLISHED 26 INDIVIDUAL ANTHOLOGIES OF STUDENT WRITING; ENGAGED 292 TEENS WITH AFTER-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS AT 15 SITES; AND PARTNERED WITH 48 ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES, AND PUBLIC ART TO UPWARDS OF 1,942 PEOPLE ACROSS METRO-DETROIT. WE ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR 2ND ANNUAL DETROIT YOUTH POETRY CONAN ALL-DAY, TEEN-FOCUSED CONFERENCE ON THE CAMPUS OF WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY. IT CONNECTED YOUTH WITH MICHIGAN POET LA
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
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 September 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 January 1996.
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.