Authoring Action
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To transform the lives of youth and adults through the power of creative writing, spoken word, visual and media arts, film-making and leadership education that promotes positive systemic change.
- Income
- $225,983
- Spending
- $319,053
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $61,083, 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
Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 73% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $164,421 spent. Two 16-week intensives, 1 each Fall/Spring and 4-week summer intensive that includes 10 court ordered youth per session to learn creative writing process, music and film collaboration to develop short films or raps/lyrics/spoken word. Funded by the NC Department of Public Safety Grant to Forsyth County Juvenile Justice Council.
- $101,093 spent. Voices from the Dwelling was a series of creative writing workshops, which culminated in community wide engagements. Authoring Action and The Dwelling partnership produced Creative Writing Workshops and Community Wide Engagements that amplifies the voices of Winston Salems unhoused and housing insecure. Through a series of Authoring Action Creative Writing workshops and with support of local collaborating musicians, authors from The Dwelling have written monologues, poems, stories, and songs that give a glimpse into the full personhood of people living on the margins of our community. Their stories challenge the stereotypes that exist about people experiencing homelessness, and name the realities of the broken systems that may unwittingly contribute to the oppressive qualities of homelessness, individually, culturally and systemically. We also provide writing workshops in program partnership with Senior Services through the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness. Keys for Kids, founded by Ben Folds, provides free keyboard classes to children and youth.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 August 2005.
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 November 4, 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.