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Key West Literary Seminar Inc

EIN 59-2807058 · Key West, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE KEY WEST LITERARY SEMINAR IS TO PROMOTE THE UNDERSTANDING AND DISCUSSION OF IMPORTANT LITERARY WORKS AND THEIR AUTHORS, TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT NEW VOICES IN AMERICAN LITERATURE, AND TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE KEY WEST'S LITERARY HERITAGE WHILE PROVIDING RESOURCES THAT STRENGTHEN LITERARY CULTURE.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
6
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$106,897, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 84 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 March 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. $1.1 million spent. DURING THE COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCED PROGRAMS IN SUPPORT OF ITS MISSION, INCLUDING: THE 42ND ANNUAL KEY WEST LITERARY SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP PROGRAM, FEATURING MORE THAN 50 AUTHORS AND A TOTAL AUDIENCE OF APPROXIMATELY 900 PEOPLE. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PACKAGES WERE AWARDED TO DOZENS OF TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, AND WRITERS WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PERFORMED HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION WORK ON THE ELIZABETH BISHOP HOUSE AND BEGAN INSTALLATION OF THE ELIZABETH BISHOP GARDEN.
  2. KWLS WRITERS' WORKSHOP PROGRAM
  3. PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WRITERS, TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 September 1987.

    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.