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The Word a Storytelling Sanctuary Inc

EIN 83-1668794 · Thornton, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

To promote voices from underserved communities and diverse backgrounds, to honor the stories of those who have faced adversity and injustice, and to provide a sanctuary space where these groups will see themselves in literature.

Income
$470,305
Spending
$495,957
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
4
Highest pay
$85,000, exec dir

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

Financial health

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 337% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    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 August 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 (8)
  1. $188,190 spent. [margins.] Literary Conference + Book Festival:A biannual space where the dream of an inclusive literary future is made into a micro-reality. The conference exists to connect people to each other and build intentional community among other diverse people, connect publishing industry leaders to talent, and share practical and substantive knowledge with attendees.
  2. $57,495 spent. Community Engagement: The Word hosts regular in-person and virtual events to help connect writers to each other, connect industry professionals to writers and promote issues and topics of importance to The Word community. In this fiscal year, a main community engagement program ran from September 2023 through June 2024, when The Word hosted a Denver metro-wide reading and event series of Natalie Diazs Postcolonial Love Poems. Public programming included book distribution, community dialogues, book discussions, dramatic readings, visual art exhibits, and activities around bookmaking and art-making and culminated with a keynote event featuring Natalie Diaz.
  3. $56,659 spent. Word Unbound:A virtual literary workshop series that will focus on topics less explored by other literary programs opening up to unbounded, creative and even wild ideas in writing and publishing, open to participants of all identities and backgrounds.
  4. $55,092 spent. Coalition Building Programs: The Word works to collaborate with other literary organizations and individuals to strengthen the leadership from within communities of marginalized creatives. Examples include coalition work connecting the leadership of other literary conferences and festivals, and group meetings for leaders of similar literary organizations.
  5. $43,351 spent. Editor-Writer Mentorship: The Editor-Writer Mentorship pairs upcoming writers from marginalized backgrounds with experienced book publishing editors for a year-long mentor experience.
  6. $28,624 spent. Livingston Fellowship:A three-year program that provides development and professional growth and support for The Words leadership to support a healthy organization. The Livingston program was established by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation to strengthen and support organizations through formal and informal professional advancement activities for leadership.
  7. $25,604 spent. #MarginsBookselling:#MarginsBookselling celebrates booksellers and bookstores, centering BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, disabled and neurodiverse communities and supports over 200 booksellers. This includes the annual BIPOC Bookseller Award, the only of its kind currently in the U.S., celebrating three booksellers in the areas of activism, innovation and leadership, whose dedication to indie bookstores, and their BIPOC colleagues and communities, has positively influenced the industry.
  8. $1,000 spent. Bookseller Award

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 July 2019.

    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.