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Literary Arts Inc

EIN 93-0909494 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ENGAGE READERS, SUPPORT WRITERS, AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION WITH GREAT LITERATURE.

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
34.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
26
Volunteers
335
Highest pay
$224,773, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 May 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 (6)
  1. $1.0 million spent. PORTLAND ARTS & LECTURES BRINGS THE WORLD'S MOST CELEBRATED WRITERS, ARTISTS, AND THINKERS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND PRESENTS THEM IN THE 2,776 SEAT ARLENE SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL. IN ADDITION TO EVENTS, THE PROGRAM CONNECTS READERS AND WRITERS OF ALL AGES WITH CLASSROOM VISITS AND WORKSHOPS FROM OUR VISITING WRITERS.THE ARCHIVE PROJECT RADIO SHOW AND PODCAST FEATURES THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER RECORDINGS FROM OUR PORTLAND ARTS & LECTURES SERIES , PORTLAND BOOK FESTIVAL, AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS. EACH WEEK, NEW LECTURES ARE AVAILABLE TO STREAM FOR FREE. EPISODES ALSO AIR EVERY SUNDAY AT 7:00PM (PACIFIC) ON OPB RADIO
  2. $633,358 spent. PORTLAND BOOK FESTIVAL BRINGS WRITERS AND READERS OF ALL AGES TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE A SHARED PASSION FOR BOOKS IN OUR LARGEST SINGLE DAY EVENT IN THE ORGANIZATION'S CALENDAR. IN 2024, IT FEATURED OVER 100 WRITERS ACROSS 8 STAGES WITH OVER 6,000 IN ATTENDANCE.
  3. $472,822 spent. YOUTH PROGRAMS INSPIRE OUR CITY'S YOUTH TO FIND THEIR STORIES AND PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO USE THEIR VOICE THROUGH CREATIVE WRITING, Q&AS WITH AUTHORS, STUDENT READINGS, AND SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE. MUCH OF OUR WORK PRIORITIZES UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND WE STRIVE TO MAKE OUR PROGRAMS AS EQUITABLE AS POSSIBLE.
  4. $301,186 spent. LITERARY ARTS' BOOKSTORE AND CAFE OFFER A PLACE FOR READERS AND WRITERS OF ALL AGES TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER AND DISCOVER NEW AND EXCITING BOOKS. THE STORE HOSTS AS MANY AS THREE FREE EVENTS A WEEK FEATURING AUTHOR EVENTS AND READINGS ON ALL SUBJECTS AND FOR ALL AGES.
  5. $300,485 spent. OREGON BOOK AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION TO PUBLISHED AND EMERGING WRITERS ACROSS OUR STATE. THE PROGRAM ALSO CREATES CONNECTIONS WITH OREGON'S READERS AND WRITERS THROUGH FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE OREGON BOOK AWARDS AUTHOR TOUR.
  6. $220,021 spent. CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR WRITERS AT ALL LEVELS TO HONE THEIR CRAFT AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH INTIMATE CLASSES FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC GOALS. DELVE SEMINARS INVITE READERS TO EXPLORE CHALLENGING BOOKS AND ENGAGE IN LIVELY, DISCUSSION-BASED SEMINARS LED BY SCHOLARS, TEACHERS, WRITERS, POETS, AND ARTISTS FROM THE PORTLAND COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 May 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 March 1986.

    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.