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Poetic Justice Incorperated

EIN 47-5673816 · Tulsa, OK

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

POETIC JUSTIC INC IS DEDICATED TO BRINGING POETRY AND WRITING TO INCARCERATED WOMEN. THROUGH OUR 5 WEEK CLASSES AT DIFFERENT PRISONS AND JAILS, POETIC JUSTIC USES A PERSONAL CURRICULUM TO COVER THE FOUNDATIONS OF POETRY INSTRUCTION IN AN INTENSIVE WRITING WORKSHOP. POETIC JUSTIC ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO FIND THEIR OWN VALUE THROUGH WORDS. THIS RESULTS IN A SENSE OF SELF WORTH, WHICH LEADS TO HOPE, WHICH LEADS TO POSITIVE CHANGE.

Income
$299,112
Spending
$311,449
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
4
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$48,000, 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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 (3)
  1. $142,213 spent. OKLAHOMA PROGRAMIN 2025, OVER 300 INCARCERATED WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN POETIC JUSTICE CLASSES AT 5 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, BOTH JAILS AND PRISONS.
  2. $110,690 spent. CALIFORNIA PROGRAMOVER 200 WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN POETIC JUSTICE CLASSES AT 3 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS: COUNTY JAIL AND 2 PRISONS.
  3. JOURNALISM PROGRAMIN 2025, BOTH NEWSPAPERS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO BOTH PRISONS--OVER 2000 READERS. THE NEWSPAPERS ALSO WON NATIONAL AWARDS FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE.

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 January 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.