Catholic Literary Arts
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Catholic Literary Arts encourages ongoing growth in literary, artistic, and spiritual development of artists and writers so that the Cultural Patrimony and rich treasures of the Catholic Church may be more perfectly explored and used to draw all peoples to God.
- Income
- $187,228
- Spending
- $184,309
- Spent on programs
- 53%
- Reserves
- 8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 69%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $19,500, president and founder
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1553% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
- $56,294 spent. Fearless Catholic Writing Camp is an immersive and intense classroom expeience where students in grades 3-12 learn practical, concrete writing skillls . CLA served 157 students with final readings for over 500 atendees and published an anthology of each students best work of the week with scholarships awarded to over 76 attendees (or 48% of total attendees). 16 faculty, 5 desk staff, 3 supervisors, and 10 volunteers.
- $10,485 spent. In-Person programs provided opportunities for the reading public to interact with contemporary authors and editors. These events also allow editors to encourage young writers, provide reading guidance, and be a living testament to the value of the intellectual and writing life. The largest in-person event brought approximately 500 people to a lecture and book-signing. Smaller events provided a chance to meet local authors and create community through fellowship and shared interests.
- $9,331 spent. Todays virtual class environment is exciting, fast-growing and popular for adult learning. CLA provides three semesters of virtual programming with teachers and presenters able to join students and listeners worldwide. CLA served 253 students, with scholarships awarded to 18 for a value of $1,598.
- $21,860 spent. Other program services include the following:Lesson Plan Project: a resource for professional educators and homeschooling parents to teach creative writing in grades 3-12.In-School Writing Program: A weekly program during the academic year to teach creative writing at schools, grades 3-8.Teen Mentorship Program: An annual cohort of high-school students are taught creative writing skills and assisted in entering contests and submitting writing to journals and magazines.Writing Contests: Competitive contests to encourage writing about sacred subjects using best-practices writing skills.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.