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826la

EIN 38-3722092 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

826LA IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING STUDENTS AGES 6 TO 18 WITH THEIR CREATIVE AND EXPOSITORY WRITING SKILLS AND TO HELPING TEACHERS INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS TO WRITE.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
13.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
26
Volunteers
832
Highest pay
$162,330, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $732,216 spent. TUTORING:826LA'S TUTORING PROGRAMS SERVED 207 STUDENTS TWICE WEEKLY, PROVIDING CONSISTENT HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND CREATIVE WRITING INSTRUCTION THAT CULMINATED IN THE PUBLICATION OF STUDENT CHAPBOOKS. AT OUR ECHO PARK AND MAR VISTA WRITING CENTERS, THE WRITE ON! AFTER SCHOOL (WO!AS) PROGRAM FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS AND TUESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT TUTORING (TNT) FOR OLDER STUDENTS OFFERED DAILY ACADEMIC SUPPORT ALONGSIDE DEDICATED WRITING SESSIONS. GUIDED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, STUDENTS RESPONDED TO CREATIVE PROMPTS AND ENGAGED IN A RIGOROUS EDITING PROCESS. THIS YEAR'S EFFORTS RESULTED IN TWO PROFESSIONALLY PUBLISHED COLLECTIONS: WHISPERS OF THE AVENUE AND LET ME TELL YOU HOW THE WORLD GOT LIKE THIS.
  2. $525,135 spent. IN-SCHOOLS SUPPORT:DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, 826LA REACHED A RECORD 4,475 STUDENTS THROUGH DIRECT CLASSROOM PARTNERSHIPS AND SPECIALIZED WRITERS' ROOMS AT MANUAL ARTS, ROOSEVELT, AND VENICE HIGH SCHOOLS. BY INTEGRATING CREATIVE AND EXPOSITORY WRITING INTO SCHOOL CURRICULA, THE PROGRAM FOSTERS A ROBUST CULTURE OF LITERACY. A KEY HIGHLIGHT WAS THE PUBLICATION OF IS THE OVEN ON?, A MEMOIR-STYLE COOKBOOK FEATURING 48 RECIPES AND ESSAYS ON FOOD TRADITIONS, PRODUCED BY CULINARY STUDENTS AT MANUAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL. FURTHERMORE, 826LA HOSTED TWO SIGNATURE COLLEGE ACCESS EVENTS: WRITE YOUR FUTURE, WHERE STUDENTS RECEIVED ONE-ON-ONE COACHING ON UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AND CAL STATE UNIVERSITY PERSONAL STATEMENTS, AND A SECONDARY WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS.
  3. $332,621 spent. FIELD TRIPS:826LA HOSTED 2,918 STUDENTS FROM 42 SCHOOLS THROUGH INTERACTIVE SESSIONS AT OUR WRITING CENTERS AND VIA OUR TRAVELING FIELD TRIP PROGRAM. DESIGNED TO SPARK A LIFELONG LOVE FOR WRITING, THESE TRIPS GUIDE STUDENTS THROUGH COLLECTIVE BRAINSTORMING AND ORIGINAL STORYTELLING. TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS, 826LA PROVIDED BUS SCHOLARSHIPS TO SCHOOLS FACING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES A UNIQUE "INSTANT PUBLISHING" MODEL, WHERE STUDENT STORIES ARE BOUND INTO BOOKS DURING THEIR VISIT. THIS YEAR, THE PROGRAM TRANSFORMED NEARLY 3,000 YOUNG LEARNERS INTO PUBLISHED AUTHORS, SIGNIFICANTLY BOOSTING THEIR ACADEMIC CONFIDENCE AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WRITTEN WORD.
  4. $317,498 spent. WORKSHOPS:WE EXPANDED OUR CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS TO SERVE 641 STUDENTS, A NOTABLE INCREASE OF OVER 500 PARTICIPANTS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. LED BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS, INCLUDING EMMY-WINNING WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS, THESE 32 WORKSHOPS WERE HOSTED AT OUR WRITING LABS AND PRESTIGIOUS PARTNER SITES LIKE THE HAMMER MUSEUM AND THE GREEN BUS ARTSPACE. BY BLENDING WRITING WITH DISCIPLINES SUCH AS FILM, POETRY, AND SCIENCE FICTION, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AND EXPLORE THEIR PERSONAL IDENTITIES.

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 October 2005.

    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.