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Litshop

EIN 83-3522861 · St Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceWeak22 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LitShop provides after-school and summer programming that pairs engaging literacy opportunities with building and making. By intentionally creating a supportive space where girls and gender-expansive youth can take risks, explore creatively, build skills, and connect with other youth, LitShop fosters leadership and confidence our students can use through adolescence and early adulthood.

Income
$309,466
Spending
$160,053
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
0

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

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 48% of income.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 22 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $68,425 spent. Community-Based Afterschool: LitShop community-based afterschool programs are semester-long workshops focusing on literacy and hands-on building and making, including at least one hands-on project and one literacy or writing study. Each program meets once weekly over the course of a semester. Free for participants. 12 participant capacity staffing includes two instructors.
  2. $34,214 spent. Summer Programs: LitShop summer programs are weeks-long workshops focusing on literacy and hands-on building and making, including at least one hands-on project and one literacy study or writing project. Free and open to the community with a capacity of 12 participants staffing includes two instructors.
  3. $1,220 spent. School-Based Afterschool: LitShop school-based afterschool programs each focus on one school-partner site. Each program meets once weekly over the course of a semester. Free for participants. 15 participant capacity, must attend partner school. Staffing includes two instructors, preferably one school staff member.
  4. Pop-Up: LitShop program that meets one-time for a special event. Pop-ups may be commissioned by an organization, held in collaboration with an organization, or may be coordinated for a specific student group. Staffing and capacity varies based on the event. Can be fee-based depending on partnering organization.

Source: Form 990 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 June 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.