Passes our checks

Poetry Flash

EIN 94-3096270 · Berkeley, CA

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

What it says it does

POETRY FLASH BUILDS COMMUNITY THROUGH LITERATURE

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

Fair: 62 out of 100.

Reserves
4 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 134% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Weak: 38 out of 100.

Independent board
5 of 25
0 of 9 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
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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10
Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$207,106 spent. POETRYFLASH.ORG MAGAZINE PUBLISHES QUALITY REVIEWS, POEMS, INTERVIEWS, AND TRADE SUBMISSIONS AND AWARD INFORMATION FOR WRITERS, WITH THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE LISTINGS OF LITERARY EVENTS IN THE WEST. APPROXIMATELY 15,000 ONLINE VISITS PER MONTH.
$18,532 spent. WATERSHED ENVIRONMENTAL POETRY FESTIVAL IS A DAY-LONG EVENT WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER THE LITERARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITIES TO INSPIRE CONCERN FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.
$16,991 spent. POETRY FLASH PRODUCES THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOK AWARDS, WHICH CELEBRATES WRITERS AND BOOKS, ANNUALLY, IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES READINGS BY WINNING AUTHORS AT THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY.

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

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 March 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 August 1993.
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.