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The Muse Writers Center

EIN 56-2532348 · Norfolk, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MUSE WRITERS CENTER FOSTERS AND CELEBRATES THE LITERARY ARTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, NETWORKING, AND SUPPORT FOR ASPIRING AND EXPERIENCED WRITERS OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND MEANS; ENGAGING AND CREATIVE OUTREACH; AND DIVERSE AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT LITERARY EVENTS.

Income
$607,506
Spending
$599,625
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
11
Volunteers
111
Highest pay
$67,534, executive di

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 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 (1)
  1. $547,750 spent. THE MUSE WRITERS CENTER ACCOMPLISHED MUCH IN 2025,. WE MAINTAINED OUR RESOURCE CENTER FOR LOCAL WRITERS, PROVIDING SPACE FOR WRITERS TO WRITE AND NETWORK. WE CONTINUED TO CATALOG OUR LITERARY LIBRARY OF MORE THAN 4,000 VOLUMES, INCLUDING A LARGE INTERNATIONAL POETRY COLLECTION. THIS YEAR, WE CONTINUED OUR IN-PERSON, HYBRID, AND ONLINE EVENTS, PROGRAMS, AND CLASSES. WE PROVIDED 180 LOW COST CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS WHICH SERVED 1,017 STUDENTS (FROM AGE 6 TO POST-RETIREMENT). TUITION ASSISTANCE/SCHOLARSHIPS WERE GIVEN TO 554 OF THESE STUDENTS, AND WE ALSO AWARDED SEVERAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. IN 2025, WE UTILIZED 86 CONTRACTED TEACHING ARTISTS AND FACILITATORS. THE MUSE VASTLY EXPANDED OUTREACH, BRINGING CREATIVE WRITING TO SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS, AND MILITARY & VETERANS GROUPS, AS WELL AS CONTINUING OUR WORDS FOR WELLNESS PROGRAM WHICH USES CREATIVE WRITING AS A WELLNESS TOOL FOR THOSE DEALING WITH SEVERE ILLNESS, DOMESTIC TRAUMA, LONELINESS, DISABILITY, HOMELESSNESS, BEREAVEMENT, AND LOSS. OVERALL IN 2025, WE HELPED GIVE WRITERS A VOICE, ORGANIZING CLASSES, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, READINGS, OPEN MICS, AND WRITERS EVENTS THAT REACHED 12 658 ADULTS, TEENS, AND KIDS. WE ALSO HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO ENJOY 111 VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATED THEIR HARD WORK TO HELP WITH VARIOUS EVENTS AS WELL AS IN THE RESOURCE CENTER AND WITH OUR ONLINE PROGRAMMING. THE MUSE WRITERS CENTER ACCOMPLISHED MUCH IN 2025,. WE MAINTAINED OUR RESOURCE CENTER FOR LOCAL WRITERS, PROVIDING SPACE FOR WRITERS TO WRITE AND NETWORK. WE CONTINUED TO CATALOG OUR LITERARY LIBRARY OF MORE THAN 4,000 VOLUMES, INCLUDING A LARGE INTERNATIONAL POETRY COLLECTION. THIS YEAR, WE CONTINUED OUR IN-PERSON, HYBRID, AND ONLINE EVENTS, PROGRAMS, AND CLASSES. WE PROVIDED 180 LOW COST CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS WHICH SERVED 1,017 STUDENTS (FROM AGE 6 TO POST-RETIREMENT). TUITION ASSISTANCE/SCHOLARSHIPS WERE GIVEN TO 554 OF THESE STUDENTS, AND WE ALSO AWARDED SEVERAL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. IN 2025, WE UTILIZED 86 CONTRACTED TEACHING ARTISTS AND FACILITATORS. THE MUSE VASTLY EXPANDED OUTREACH, BRINGING CREATIVE WRITING TO SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS, AND MILITARY & VETERANS GROUPS, AS WELL AS CONTINUING OUR WORDS FOR WELLNESS PROGRAM WHICH USES CREATIVE WRITING AS A WELLNESS TOOL FOR THOSE DEALING WITH SEVERE ILLNESS, DOMESTIC TRAUMA, LONELINESS, DISABILITY, HOMELESSNESS, BEREAVEMENT, AND LOSS. OVERALL IN 2025, WE HELPED GIVE WRITERS A VOICE, ORGANIZING CLASSES, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, READINGS, OPEN MICS, AND WRITERS EVENTS THAT REACHED 12 658 ADULTS, TEENS, AND KIDS. WE ALSO HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO ENJOY 111 VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATED THEIR HARD WORK TO HELP WITH VARIOUS EVENTS AS WELL AS IN THE RESOURCE CENTER AND WITH OUR ONLINE PROGRAMMING.

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 November 2006.

    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.