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Log Cabin Literary Center Inc

EIN 82-0488067 · Boise, ID

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CABIN IS A COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT WITH A MISSION TO ENGAGE READERS, SUPPORT WRITERS, AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH STORIES.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
31
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$103,599, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $397,283 spent. IT'S PROBABLY NO SPOILER THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF LITERATURE. WE ALSO BELIEVE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN A WRITER AND READER IS A SACRED BOND. FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, THE CABIN'S READINGS & CONVERSATIONS SERIES HAS FEATURED LITERARY SUPERSTARS, BESTSELLING AUTHORS, AND HIGH-PROFILE THINKERS TO JUMPSTART COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ON CRITICAL ISSUES. FROM MACARTHUR FELLOWS TO NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNERS, SOME OF OUR PAST AUTHORS INCLUDE TA-NEHISI COATES, ANN PATCHETT, JESMYN WARD, JENNIFER EGAN, REZA ASLAN, MATTHEW DESMOND, ANTHONY DOERR, COLSON WHITEHEAD, TARA WESTOVER, GLORIA STEINEM, AND DAVID GRANN.A READINGS & CONVERSATIONS LECTURE IS TYPICALLY AN ORIGINAL TALK BY THE AUTHOR ON THE SUBJECT OF THEIR CHOICE. IT CAN BE ABOUT THEIR CURRENT BOOK, UPCOMING PROJECTS, PAST WORKS, RELEVANT CULTURAL ISSUES, AND MORE. THE TALK RUNS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND IS FOLLOWED BY A 20ISH MINUTE Q&A FROM THE AUDIENCE, MODERATED BY KURT, THE CABIN'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
  2. $48,842 spent. WE BELIEVE BETTER WRITERS MAKE BETTER STUDENTS. OUR WRITERS IN THE SCHOOLS (WITS) PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER CREATIVITY, COMMUNICATION, AND SELF-DISCOVERY. WORKING IN 3RD12TH GRADE CLASSROOMS AND JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE TREASURE VALLEY, THE CABIN'S PROFESSIONAL TEACHING-WRITERSPOETS, NOVELISTS, PLAYWRIGHTS, AND JOURNALISTSLEAD CREATIVE WRITING, READING, AND DISCUSSION PROJECTS.THE RESULT? SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN OUR WITS PROGRAM REPORT MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN STUDENT READING AND WRITING SKILLS, AS WELL AS POSITIVE EXPERIENCES THAT ENCOURAGE CREATIVE THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION.
  3. $143,634 spent. THE CABIN'S SUMMER WRITING CAMPS HELP KIDS CULTIVATE A LIFELONG LOVE OF WRITING THROUGH FUN, WEEK-LONG LITERARY ADVENTURES. CAMPERS EXPLORE COMMUNITY SPACES LIKE THE IDAHO BOTANICAL GARDEN, BIRDS OF PREY, AND THE CABIN AS THEY BUILD TOOLS TO CREATIVELY EXPRESS THEMSELVES.TEACHING-WRITERS SHARE THEIR EXPERTISE IN POETRY, PLAYWRITING, SCREENWRITING, SPECULATIVE FICTION, AND MORE TO HELP YOUR CHILD BUILD CONFIDENCE IN THEIR WRITING.
  4. $14,159 spent. READY TO TELL YOUR STORY? WHETHER YOU'VE JUST WRITTEN YOUR FIRST POEM OR HAVE PUBLISHED A NOVEL (OR EIGHT), THE CABIN'S WRITING WORKSHOPS WILL PROVIDE THE SUPPORT, TOOLS, AND COMMUNITY YOU NEED TO DEVELOP AS A WRITER.ALL WORKSHOPS TAKE PLACE AT THE CABIN IN BOISE, IDAHO, AND RANGE FROM SINGLE-EVENING WORKSHOPS TO SIX-WEEK INTENSIVES. AND ALL OF OUR SIX-WEEK WORKSHOPS ARE CAPPED AT TWELVE STUDENTS, SO YOU'LL RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED GUIDANCE FROM YOUR TEACHING-WRITER AND FELLOW WORKSHOPPERS.
  5. $3,489 spent. WHILE SOME AUTHORS WRITE FOR THEMSELVES (WE'RE LOOKING AT YOU, EMILY DICKINSON), MANY HOPE TO REACH AN AUDIENCE OUTSIDE THEMSELVES. WRITERS IN THE ATTIC CAN OFFER THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THAT GOAL. AN ANNUAL PUBLICATION BY THE CABIN, WRITERS IN THE ATTIC IS A CONTEST DESIGNED FOR IDAHO WRITERS, BOTH EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED, TO PUBLISH WORK RELATED TO A ONE-WORD THEME. (PAST YEARS' THEMES HAVE INCLUDED SONG, GAME, AND RUPTURE.) WITH SUBMISSIONS BLIND-JUDGED BY A LOCAL WRITER OF ACCLAIM, SELECTED POEMS AND FICTION ARE PUBLISHED IN A YEARLY ANTHOLOGY. SELECTED WRITERS ARE ALSO INVITED TO A BOOK LAUNCH PARTY AND READING CELEBRATION IN LATE AUGUST EACH YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 April 1996.

    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.

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