California Poets in the School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
California Poets in the Schools develops and empowers a multicultural network of independent Poet-Teachers, who bring the many benefits of poetry to youth throughout the state. As a membership network we offer opportunities for professional development, peer learning and fundraising assistance for Poet-Teachers in California. We also cultivate relationships with school districts, foundations and arts organizations which can fund and support our members professional practices.
- Income
- $202,971
- Spending
- $269,045
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $67,158, executive 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
Fair: 55 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Good: 76 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $231,809 spent. California Poets in the Schools currently serves an active network of 100+ California poets and writers, who live and work in nearly all regions of the state. Poet-Teachers teach poetry at institutions of all types including elementary, middle and high schools, as well as state prisons, juvenile jails and universities. These poets have chosen to give back to their local communities as professionally-trained Poet-Teachers with California Poets in the Schools.In addition to active Poet-Teachers, our network includes over 500 California poets and writers who engage as participants in the various networking, professional development and creative opportunities that CalPoets offers throughout the year.Calpoets offers a professional network for poets and writers that is open, inclusive and approachable. We provide a wide variety of events annually, including professional development, networking and creative opportunities. We host a beloved and well-attended poetry symposium each year where we engage our network in over 20 hours of skill-building and creative poetry-related workshops led by California poets.We hosted over 20 free, virtual monthly gatherings in 2022. Specifically, each 2nd Tuesday we offer relevant professional development, roundtable discussions and panels on Zoom. We host quarterly regional coordinator networking opportunities, a weekly free-write group, and our quarterly Open Mic Series - where we spotlight two featured readers from our network to launch the event.Fifteen "regional coordinators" take on leadership of the CalPoets' program at the local level. CalPoets offers unrestricted grants to regional coordinators up to $2,000 annually. In addition, we offer technology grants to regional coordinators in order to offset costs of bringing local programs online.All new Poet-Teachers are paired with a seasoned mentor for at least a year as they participate in a training to officially become a CalPoets' Poet-Teacher. The mentorship consists of 365 degree observations, lesson planning and one-on-one consultations. These mentorships often extend organically into ongoing professional relationships that span decades. We offer "special projects" grants to up to 15 Poet-Teachers annually, in order to foster innovation in local programs. In addition Poet-Teachers can apply for "insurance grants" in order to cover the costs of professional liability insurance.CalPoets cultivates relationships with school districts, foundations and arts organizations which can fund and support our members professional practices. Annually, our nonprofit achieves an estimated $150,000 in grants that directly fund up to 40 Poet-Teachers' artistic, school-based residencies at the local level. Dozens more rely upon their professional affiliation with CalPoets' to secure their own funding from local schools and institutions.
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
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 October 13, 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 August 2025.
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 January 1986.
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 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.