Brink Literacy Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $927,213
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 11.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $111,974, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 103% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (6)
- $293,998 spent. F(r)iction is the center piece of Brinks education curriculum, as well as the publishing vehicle through which Brink mentors emerging writers (including students in our Frames Program andF(r)iction in the Classroom), amplifies diverse and underrepresented voices, encourages experimentation and genre-melding, and delves into important social issues. We publish 3 print issues annually, spanning a vibrant mix of literary fiction, genre work, creative nonfiction, poetry, and short comics. Our themed issues offer students multi-faceted views on a singular topic, activating critical thinking skills and opening the minds of readers and students. When we welcome many perspectives and publish diverse stories from many backgrounds, we foster a sense of empowered belonging and build a culture of positive and independent critical thinking. Our celebrity writers include international literary greats, such as Charlie Jane Anders, Faylita Hicks, Kwame Dawes, Rebecca Roanhorse Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Stephen Graham Jones, Carmen Maria Machado, Joyce Carol Oates, and K-Ming Chang, to name just a few. A whopping 50% of the content of each issue comes from the slush. Through this editorial ethos, not only do we support writers to tell their stories and use F(r)iction to launch the careers of debut voices, but we also seek to increase accessibility into the industry. We provide authors of different experience levels and backgrounds with the mentorship of working with professional editors and the tools needed to further hone their craft. The process of publication with F(r)iction becomes an experience of learning, knowledge-sharing, and democratization. Additionally, Brink partners with a nonprofit organization to create the Community Feature in each F(r)iction issue. Previously F(r)iction has partnered with Afghan Womens Writing Project, Girls Write Now, Lambda Literary, and PEN Americas Prison Writing Program, to name just a few.
- $277,324 spent. The Frames Comic Program is a co-created, co-facilitated, creative course that utilizes therapeutic practices and the power of storytelling to help students discover their passion, purpose, and power. This multi-module program helps our students dig into creative expression, gain vital mental health and mindfulness tools, and build essential personal resilience, communication tools, and community connection. Students develop their own graphic memoirs, all the while actively engaging in group therapeutic sessions, exploring past decisions in their lives in a safe and supportive space, and creating and mentally solidifying a positive vision and pathway for their future.
- $171,112 spent. F(r)iction in the Classroom is an innovative, co-created, choose-your-own-adventure style curriculum designed to help students discover their passion, purpose, and power. The program is taught in partnership with middle- and high-school teachers, librarians, and after-school program providers. Students have the option to collaborate with F(r)iction editors and publish their creative work with Brink and in doing so improve their resumes, receive guidance for writing in higher education, and learn to articulate their passion powerfully and effectiveyl while building a pathway to achieve their goals and aspirations.
- $51,358 spent. The Literary Tarot engages people with literary classics and encourages community connection and dialogue through the intersection of tarot, art, and reading. Brink pulled together an all-star team of 78 beloved authors including Margaret Atwood, Stephen Fry, Roxane Gay, Patrick Rothfuss, and Celeste Ng who each paired one literary work with a card in the tarot deck. As with all of Brinks projects, 100% of the proceeds go directly to our nonprofit mission to change the world through storytelling.
- $32,632 spent. Brinks publishing internship program seeks to bring underrepresented and diverse voices into the publishing industry itself. Through our fifteen-week program, interns learn the essential ins and outs of the industry and become crucial contributors to the positive social change Brink affects every day.
- Our nonprofits mission is: Brink Literacy Project harnesses storytelling as a powerful tool to change the lives of people living on the brink. With a holistic approach to healing, we simultaneously tackle the personal and external barriers that hold our communities back. By helping people rewrite negative personal narratives, find their passions and purpose, and connect to one another, Brink strives for a world where all peopleregardless of backgroundhave the drive and resilience to thrive.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 September 2012.
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.