Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Urban Word Nyc Inc

EIN 32-0250944 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF URBAN WORD NYC (THE ORGANIZATION) CHAMPIONS AND ELEVATES YOUNG, MARGINALIZED VOICES AS LEADERS AT THE INTERSECTION OF LITERARY ARTS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN WORD, URBAN WORD EQUIPS YOUTH WITH THE TOOLS, TRAINING, AND PLATFORMS TO REWRITE THE NARRATIVES THAT SHAPE THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. AS ONE OF THE NATION'S OLDEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH LITERARY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, URBAN WORD LEADS BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE NATIONAL YOUTH POET LAUREATE PROGRAM, CULTIVATING A NETWORK OF POETS, CIVICALLY ENGAGED LEADERS, AND EDUCATORS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATIVE CHANGEMAKERS.

Income
$676,600
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 43%
Employees
6
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$135,850, director, national youth poet laureate

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 66% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (1)
  1. $931,896 spent. PROVIDING PLATFORMS FOR CRITICAL LITERACY, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP THROUGH FREE AND UNCENSORED WRITING, COLLEGE PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES. WORKSHOPS ARE STUDENT-CENTERED ENVIRONMENTS WHERE YOUNG WRITERS CAN EXPERIMENT, EXPLORE AND EVENTUALLY PERFORM THEIR WORK. PERFORMANCES HELP TEENS ANNUALLY WITH FREE WRITING AND PERFORMANCEOPPORTUNITIES THAT ENGAGE EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, ARTISTIC AND PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT WITH VARIOUS COMPETITIONS AND OPEN MIC NIGHTS.URBAN WORD HOLDS VARIOUS TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT AIM TO EXAMINE CRITICAL ISSUES AFFECTING TODAYS YOUTH, WHILE PROVIDING CREATIVE AND PRACTICAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THEM.

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 October 13, 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 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 June 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 2009.

    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.

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.