Lake Erie Ink- a Writing Space for Youth
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
A WRITING SPACE FOR YOUTH PROVIDES CREATIVE EXPRESSION.
- Income
- $661,970
- Spending
- $548,905
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 40%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $71,222, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
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 May 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 (1)
- $463,398 spent. IN 2025, LAKE ERIE INK WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE CREATIVE EXPRESSION OPPORTUNITIES TO 3,876 YOUTH IN GRADES 1-12 ACROSS THE GREATER CLEVELAND COMMUNITY. WE WORKED WITH 44 PROGRAM PARTNERS AT 57 SITES, INCLUDING 47 SCHOOLS. OUR TEACHERS LED WORKSHOPS IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING CORE PROGRAMMING AT LEI'S MAIN SITE (MOVED FROM COVENTRY NEIGHBORHOOD TO SOUTH TAYLOR ROAD IN DECEMBER), INCLUDING SUMMER CAMPS, EVENING PROGRAMS, AND WEEKEND WORKSHOPS. 60 VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS SUPPORTED OUR PROGRAMMING THIS YEAR. LEI STAFF AND TEACHERS FACILITATED WORKSHOPS ON EVERYTHING FROM BASIC LITERACY SKILLS AND PERSONAL NARRATIVE TO PLAYWRITING, POETRY AND COMICS. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMS INVOLVING NARRATIVE TABLETOP ROLE-PLAYING GAMES. LAKE ERIE INK HOSTED TWO VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THIS YEAR, WRITERS' CLUB AND TEEN EDITORS AND PUBLISHED OUR 9TH ANTHOLOGY OF TEEN WRITING. WE HOSTED KIDS' COMIC CON EVENTS AT THE PIVOT CENTER AND MOCA, SERVING 147 YOUTH IN GRADES 2-12 IN THESE EVENTS. LAKE ERIE INK BROUGHT CREATIVE WRITING AND ART ACTIVITIES TO A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING CLEVELAND HEIGHTS' JUNETEENTH AND LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATIONS, AS WELL AS CLEVELAND CITY'S PRIDE. WE PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, SHAKER HISTORICAL SOCIETY, CAIN PARK ARTS FESTIVAL, AND THE CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST. WE PUBLISHED A THIRD CREATIVE COMMUNITY COOKBOOK. THIS YEAR, WE PARTICIPATED IN 24 COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH EVENTS. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THIS YEAR WAS OUR MOVE FROM THE COVENTRY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH HAD BEEN LEI'S HOME SINCE ITS INCEPTION, TO OUR NEW LOCATION ON SOUTH TAYLOR ROAD. THE MOVE NECESSITATED A LOT OF ADJUSTMENT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AS OUR NEW STOREFRONT SPACE HAS LESS ROOM THAN OUR PREVIOUS LOCATION, AND IS CONFIGURED DIFFERENTLY, SO WE HAVE TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW TO USE THE SPACE WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF. ONE STUDENT FROM CLEVELAND HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL SAID THAT LEI PROGRAMS GAVE THEM "IMMENSE CREATIVE FREEDOM," WHILE ANOTHER APPRECIATED BEING "IN CONTROL OF MY WORK." LEI ALSO HAS AN IMPACT ON THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS WE WORK WITH. PARTNERSHIPS WITH TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A WIDER IMPACT AS WELL. A TEACHER AT MARY BETHUNE NOTED THAT, "SEVERAL STUDENTS BECAME ENGAGED WITH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL THROUGH LAKE ERIE INK...IT IS VERY REWARDING TO SEE STUDENTS BRANCH OUT AND BECOME CONNECTED WITH A WIDER WRITING COMMUNITY." IN 2025, LAKE ERIE INK WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE CREATIVE EXPRESSION OPPORTUNITIES TO 3,876 YOUTH IN GRADES 1-12 ACROSS THE GREATER CLEVELAND COMMUNITY. WE WORKED WITH 44 PROGRAM PARTNERS AT 57 SITES, INCLUDING 47 SCHOOLS. OUR TEACHERS LED WORKSHOPS IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING CORE PROGRAMMING AT LEI'S MAIN SITE (MOVED FROM COVENTRY NEIGHBORHOOD TO SOUTH TAYLOR ROAD IN DECEMBER), INCLUDING SUMMER CAMPS, EVENING PROGRAMS, AND WEEKEND WORKSHOPS. 60 VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS SUPPORTED OUR PROGRAMMING THIS YEAR. LEI STAFF AND TEACHERS FACILITATED WORKSHOPS ON EVERYTHING FROM BASIC LITERACY SKILLS AND PERSONAL NARRATIVE TO PLAYWRITING, POETRY AND COMICS. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMS INVOLVING NARRATIVE TABLETOP ROLE-PLAYING GAMES. LAKE ERIE INK HOSTED TWO VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THIS YEAR, WRITERS' CLUB AND TEEN EDITORS AND PUBLISHED OUR 9TH ANTHOLOGY OF TEEN WRITING. WE HOSTED KIDS' COMIC CON EVENTS AT THE PIVOT CENTER AND MOCA, SERVING 147 YOUTH IN GRADES 2-12 IN THESE EVENTS. LAKE ERIE INK BROUGHT CREATIVE WRITING AND ART ACTIVITIES TO A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING CLEVELAND HEIGHTS' JUNETEENTH AND LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATIONS, AS WELL AS CLEVELAND CITY'S PRIDE. WE PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, SHAKER HISTORICAL SOCIETY, CAIN PARK ARTS FESTIVAL, AND THE CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST. WE PUBLISHED A THIRD CREATIVE COMMUNITY COOKBOOK. THIS YEAR, WE PARTICIPATED IN 24 COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH EVENTS. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THIS YEAR WAS OUR MOVE FROM THE COVENTRY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH HAD BEEN LEI'S HOME SINCE ITS INCEPTION, TO OUR NEW LOCATION ON SOUTH TAYLOR ROAD. THE MOVE NECESSITATED A LOT OF ADJUSTMENT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AS OUR NEW STOREFRONT SPACE HAS LESS ROOM THAN OUR PREVIOUS LOCATION, AND IS CONFIGURED DIFFERENTLY, SO WE HAVE TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW TO USE THE SPACE WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF. ONE STUDENT FROM CLEVELAND HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL SAID THAT LEI PROGRAMS GAVE THEM "IMMENSE CREATIVE FREEDOM," WHILE ANOTHER APPRECIATED BEING "IN CONTROL OF MY WORK." LEI ALSO HAS AN IMPACT ON THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS WE WORK WITH. PARTNERSHIPS WITH TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A WIDER IMPACT AS WELL. A TEACHER AT MARY BETHUNE NOTED THAT, "SEVERAL STUDENTS BECAME ENGAGED WITH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL THROUGH LAKE ERIE INK...IT IS VERY REWARDING TO SEE STUDENTS BRANCH OUT AND BECOME CONNECTED WITH A WIDER WRITING COMMUNITY."
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 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 May 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 October 2011.
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.