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Passes our checks

Pen Faulkner

EIN 52-1431622 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PEN/FAULKNER FOUNDATION CHAMPIONS THE BREADTH AND POWER OF FICTION IN AMERICA.

Income
$861,252
Spending
$713,816
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
7
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$108,745, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 June 30, 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. $157,131 spent. WRITERS IN SCHOOLS BRINGS A DIVERSE RANGE OF AUTHORS, ALONG WITH FREE COPIES OF THEIR CULTURALLY RELEVANT BOOKS, INTO DC CLASSROOMS TO SERVE STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-12 AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF READERS AND WRITERS. WE CONDUCTED 75 AUTHOR VISITS, ALONG WITH 50 WRITING WORKSHOPS AND THREE YEAR-LONG RESIDENCIES.
  2. $99,730 spent. OUR LITERARY PROGRAMS BRING TOGETHER HIGHLY-ACCLAIMED WRITERS TODISCUSS THE URGENT ISSUES THAT SURROUND THEIR WORK AND LET FICTION SERVE ASA SPRINGBOARD FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE. OVER THE PAST 45+ YEARS, THEY HAVE FEATURED AUTHORS READING FROM THEIR WORK AND ENGAGING INTHRILLING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING CONVERSATIONS.
  3. $116,566 spent. THE PEN/FAUKNER AWARD HONORS THE BEST PUBLISHED WORKS OF FICTION BY AMERICAN PERMANENT RESIDENTS IN A CALENDAR YEAR. THREE WRITERS ARE CHOSEN ANNUALLY BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PEN/FAULKNER FOUNDATION TO SERVE AS JUDGES, ENSURING THAT OUR AWARDS SELECTION PROCESS IS FREE OF COMMERCIAL INFLUENCE. THESE JUDGES SELECT AN INITAL LONGLIST OF TEN BOOKS, FOLLOWED BY FIVE FINALISTS, AND FINALLY ONE WINNER AS THE "FIRST AMONG EQUALS."

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 1988.

    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.