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Charlotte Center for Literary Arts Inc

EIN 47-4988291 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 42% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Charlotte Lit's mission is to celebrate the literary arts by educating and engaging writers and readers through classes, conversations, and community.

Income
$483,284
Spending
$371,186
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
10.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
3
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$83,500, co-founder, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    42% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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. $104,555 spent. LABS. Charlotte Lit's labs are year-long immersions that combine classes, coaching, and a supportive cohort community. Authors Lab is for writers working on a novel or memoir. Chapbook Lab is for poets building a collection. Publishing Lab is for past Authors Lab writers who are working to get their books and other writing published. Writers in each cohort attend craft classes as a group, receive individual coaching and feedback on their writing, and experience extensive support from their peer group. Authors Lab had 18 writers in the 2025 cohort; Chapbook Lab had 10; Publishing Lab had 15. All Lab programs are fee-based with scholarships available.
  2. $14,765 spent. CLASSES. Charlotte Lit provides more than 100 classes per year, half of them free. Three-quarters are targeted to writers who wish to improve their craft or learn about the business side of being a writer, with another quarter targeted to anyone who appreciates literature or wants to explore their world through literature. Weekly, Charlotte Lit offers a free writing session called Pen to Paper, which draws more than 1000 people annually, mostly from the Charlotte region but also nationwide.
  3. $17,421 spent. PUBLISHING. Charlotte Lit Press published the fifth issue (Spring 2025) of "Litmosphere: Journal of Charlotte Lit" online, with 32 contributors. Charlotte Lit Press also publishes poetry collections: in 2025, three chapbooks by local writers and a full collection by poet Lola Haskins.
  4. $19,739 spent. OTHER. Charlotte Lit hosts a variety of literary arts programming, most of it free and open to the public. These include Community Conversations, author readings, a Writers in Residence program, and social events. Program expenses in this category include direct expenses for the category, plus general expenses that cannot be attributed directly to one of the other listed programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 March 2016.

    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.