Kentucky Author Forum Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Kentucky Author Forum's purpose is to engage and expose the university community and our community of large to the great authors of literature, public policy, and the humanities.
- Income
- $200,393
- Spending
- $327,025
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $47,000, president & producer
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 63% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $260,470 spent. Five events were staged during the 2024-2025 season which included major authors and covered diverse and significant topics. Nearly 2,800 people attended. Events were recorded for national public television distribution, podcast, and online access. The first event featured bestselling author Amor Towles discussing his collection of short stories, "Table for Two," with New York Times book critic Alexandra Jacobs. The second event included singer-songwriter and activist, Joan Baez, being interviewed about her book of poetry, "When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance", by popular radio and podcast host Diane Rehm. The third event had CNN's Chief National Security Analyst, Jim Sciutto, talking with New York Times' longtime foreign correspondent, Jane Perlez, about his book, "The Return of Great Powers." The fourth event presented author, journalist and filmmaker, Sebastian Junger, examining the near death experience covered in his book, "In My Time of Dying," with National Public Radio host Rachel Martin. The final event of the season was award-winning author Colm Toibin exploring his novel, "Long Island," with Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House.
- $18,014 spent. All staged events are recorded for national distribution via public television ("Great Conversations"), podcast ("Great Podversations"), plus posted online. National broadcasts and online access increase both the scope and inclusiveness of those served by Forums. Kentucky Educational Television is the presenting station for "Great Conversations", and makes it available to PBS affiliates nationwide. Episodes were broadcast almost 5,300 times, reaching 81% of the United States. "Great Podversations" are produced by Kentucky Author Forum and distributed by Louisville Public Media. Production began in 2020 so the Forum could continue fulfilling its mission during a time when theaters were closed due to COVID-19 precautions. These free podcasts are available globally on all major podcast apps. They were downloaded over 13,000 times.
- $2,448 spent. Kentucky Author Forum programming began in 1996 as part of a bicentennial effort of the University of Louisville. As schedules allow, authors and interviewers visit the campus. Longtime foreign correspondent and former New York Times Bureau Chief in Beijing, Jane Perlez, discussed her time in China, as well as historical and psychological aspects of its president, Xi Jinping. Ms. Perlez also talked about current U.S. relations with China and contrasted them with previous periods. Award winning journalist, author and filmmaker, Sebastian Junger, recounted his reporting during the war in Afghanistan, and his research and writing of "The Perfect Storm" plus "In My Time of Dying." Both guests answered questions from those in attendance. The events were open to the entire campus community and attendees included faculty, staff and alumni. In addition, a small dinner with Ms. Perlez allowed professors in Asian studies an opportunity to have more in depth conversations with her. Discounted tickets for the staged events in the evenings were available to the campus community. All authors and interviewers have less formal interactions with community members, educators, and civic and business leaders at Forum dinners, following the staged events. Over 200 people associated with University of Louisville participated in the various activities.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.