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Underground Writing

EIN 83-2570377 · Mount Vernon, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNDERGROUND WRITING IS A LITERATURE-BASED CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM SERVING MIGRANT, INCARCERATED, RECOVERY, AND OTHER AT-NEED COMMUNITIES IN WASHINGTON THROUGH LITERACY AND PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION. OUR MISSION IS UNLOCKING CREATIVITY THROUGH WRITING WORKSHOPS AND VOICE AMPLIFICATION FOR AT-NEED AND UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS,TO ASSIST IN THE RESTORATION OF COMMUNITIES, THE IMAGINATION, AND INDIVIDUAL LIVES.

Income
$77,437
Spending
$93,260
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Highest pay
$74,136, executive director/preside

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

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
  1. $46,630 spent. WRITING WORKSHOPS - AT THE HEART OF OUR ORGANIZATION, OUR CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED AND AT-RISK CONTEXTS. TAUGHT BY WORKING WRITERS, OUR WORKSHOPS FACILITATE WRITING INSPIRED BY, AND RESPONSE TO, READINGS FROM THE WHOLE OF LITERACY TRADITION.
  2. $23,315 spent. RE/VISION - OUR ONE-ON-ONE CREATIVE WRITING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED. MENTORING IS CONDUCTED VIA MAIL CORRESPONDENCE AND FEEDBACK, AND IS FACILITATED BY WORKING WRITERS, MFA STUDENTS, AND EDITORS.
  3. $4,663 spent. THE CHANGE - OUR BOOK DONATION PIPELINE PROVIDES A TANGIBLE WAY TO ENRICH LIVES BY SUPPLYING DONATED BOOKS TO OUR WORKSHOP SITES AND PARTNER FACILITIES (E.G., THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL LIBRARY OF GREEN HILL SCHOOL, WASHINGTON'S MAXIMUM SECURITY YOUTH DETENTION FACILITY.)

Source: Form 990EZ 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 May 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.