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Westport Writers Workshop I Inc

EIN 47-2637118 · Westport, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WESTPORT WRITERS' WORKSHOP IS AN INDEPENDENT LITERARY ARTS CENTER OFFERING ENRICHING, SUPPORTIVE CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES, AS WELL AS FREE LITERARY READINGS TO THE PUBLIC. OUR WORKSHOP ALSO PROVIDES FREE WRITING WORKSHOPS TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$432,696
Spending
$448,031
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
7
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$42,655, executive director

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: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 86 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
  1. $272,363 spent. WORKSHOPS:SINCE 2003, THE WESTPORT WRITERS' WORKSHOP HAS BEEN OFFERING WORKSHOPS FOR EVERY LEVEL OF WRITER, FROM NOVICE TO PUBLISHED! INSTRUCTORS OFFER FRIENDLY, SUPPORTIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE, INSPIRE, AND SPARK YOUR IMAGINATION. WITH OVER 100 WORKSHOPS A YEAR TO CHOOSE FROM, WE WELCOME WRITERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS AND GENRES. WORKSHOPS ARE OFFERED IN MORNINGS, AFTERNOONS, AND EVENINGS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL SATURDAY-ONLY WORKSHOPS AND A ONE-WEEK WRITING-INTENSIVE PROGRAM.
  2. $31,400 spent. COACHING AND EDITING:THE ORGANIZATION'S INSTRUCTORS AND EDITORS PROVIDE PRIVATE, ONE-ON-ONE MANUSCRIPT CONSULTATIONS AND COACHING, INCLUDING HOUR-BY-HOUR COACHING, PARTIAL AND FULL MANUSCRIPT EDITING, AND QUERY LETTER CRITIQUES.
  3. $22,505 spent. SPECIAL EVENTS:THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A VARIETY OF SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING BOOK LAUNCHES, CONFERENCES, AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR WRITERS.
  4. $7,986 spent. MENTORING:THE ORGANIZATION'S MENTORING PROGRAM IS AN EIGHT-WEEK ONE-ON-ONE PROGRAM OF PERSONAL INSTRUCTION IN THE CRAFT OF ART & WRITING, FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL WRITING PROJECTS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 March 2015.

    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 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.