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Insideout Writers Inc

EIN 95-4722308 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF INSIDEOUT WRITERS IS TO REDUCE THE JUVENILE RECIDIVISM RATE BY PROVIDING A RANGE OF SERVICES THAT EVOLVES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CURRENTLY AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. USING CREATIVE WRITING AS A CATALYST FOR PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY RE-INTEGRATE INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, BECOMING ADVOCATES FOR THEIR FUTURE.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
21.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
41
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$158,500, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 June 30, 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. $402,820 spent. WRITING PROGRAM - THE WRITING PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE YOUTH INCARCERATED AT LOS ANGELES JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES WITH ACTIVITIES THAT DISCOURAGE VIOLENCE AND SUPPORT POSITIVE SOCIAL VALUES. YOUTH ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH WRITING AND OTHER PRO-SOCIAL ACTIVITIES RATHER THAN THROUGH VIOLENCE. THE WRITING PROGRAM OFFERS WEEKLY AND BI-WEEKLY CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES LED BY VOLUNTEER TEACHERS; ANNUAL WRITERS' RETREATS FOR ALL IOW STUDENTS AT EACH FACILITY TO COME TOGETHER AS WRITERS TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS; AND QUARTERLY ANTHOLOGY, WHICH IS A COMPILATION OF WRITINGS FROM BOTH THE WRITING AND ALUMNI PROGRAMS.
  2. $83,611 spent. ALUMNI PROGRAM - RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE REENTRY PROGRAMS, IOW LAUNCHED THE ALUMNI PROGRAM IN 2009 TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR WRITING PROGRAM STUDENTS TO SUPPORT THEIR TRANSITION BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES. THE GOAL OF THE ALUMNI PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE PARTICIPANTS LIKELIHOOD OF REOFFENDING AND TO INCREASE THEIR SKILLS AND CAPACITY TO BECOME SELF-SUSTAINING, PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THE ALUMNI PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF SIX INTERCONNECTED COMPONENTS: 1) TRANSITIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT, 2) LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS, 3) MENTORING, 4) WRITING CLASSES, 5) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND 6) CULTURAL EVENTS AND FIELD TRIPS.
  3. $476,209 spent. PRISON INSIGHT PROGRAM (PIP) - PIP IS AN EXTENSION OF IOW'S WRITING PROGRAM IN SELECT CALIFORNIA STATE PRISONS INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, KERN VALLEY STATE PRISON, AND IRONWOOD STATE PRISON. PIP IS FUNDED BY THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL'S ARTS-IN-CORRECTIONS PROGRAM AND ALLOWS IOW'S WRITING PROGRAM STUDENTS FROM JUVENILE HALLS WHO HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO STATE PRISONS TO REMAIN ENGAGED IN IOW'S CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES WHILE SERVING OUT THE REMAINDER OF THEIR TIME.
  4. $310,065 spent. DIVERSION PROGRAM

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.