826 MSP's mission is to empower underserved K-12 students to think creatively, write effectively, and succeed academically alongside a community of caring volunteers.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$78K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $28K a year · 5% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$78K
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.2 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
12
named funders · $251K
Looks good: 12 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$60K
43% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 43% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$465K
+3% vs prior year
Spent
$527K
To programs
74%
Net assets
$80K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$465K
FY2024▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$529K
FY2022$540K
FY2023$450K
FY2024$465K
FY2025$636K
Expenses
$527K
FY2024▼ -7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$422K
FY2022$569K
FY2023$567K
FY2024$527K
FY2025$395K
Net assets
$80K
FY2024▼ -44%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$287K
FY2022$259K
FY2023$142K
FY2024$80K
FY2025$322K

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 2010.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $388K Management & general 14% · $76K Fundraising 12% · $62K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

13 people listed on the 990; $78K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$78,449Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jamal Adam’s $74K as Executive Director is at the 66th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Jamal Adam$74,139$78,449$41,166——
Samantha Sencer-Mura———$54,125$67,738

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Helps young students write creatively and succeed academically with volunteer support.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $326K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

After-School Writing Lab (ASWL) Held in-person and virtually Monday-Thursday for K-12 students in the Twin Cities. ASWL provided individualized homework and writing support, culminating in student publication. Two chapbooks were produced during the year. The program served 40 students.

$148Kprogram expense
02

Writers' Room at South High School

This dedicated writing space served approximately 1,000 students through in-class tutoring, drop-in writing support, author visits, and youth-led events. A ten-member paid student advisory council planned programming and promoted services schoolwide.

$97Kprogram expense
03

Young Authors' Book Project (YABP) 826 MSP partnered with a local school to publish More Than One Voice, a professionally designed anthology of short stories. Students received intensive writing instruction and editorial feedback before participating in a public book release celebration.

$82Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
826 NationalFY2024$69K
Ecmc FoundationFY2024$10K
Total grants receivedfrom 12 funders$251K
See all 12 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$465K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$469K
Investment incomeLn 3$26
Money outPt IX
$527K
Ln 25
Programscol B$388K
Managementcol C$76K
Fundraisingcol D$62K
Owns and owesPt X
$80K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7K
Total assetsLn 16$141K
LiabilitiesLn 26$60K
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$469K
Government grantsLn 1e$118K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$22K
Investment incomeLn 3$26
Total revenueLn 12$465K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$0
SavingsLn 2$7K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$7K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$38K
Other assetsLn 15$5K
Total assetsLn 16$141K
LiabilitiesLn 26$60K
Net assetsLn 32$80K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 56
VolunteersI 669
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$71K$7K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$48K$38K
Total assetsLn 16$149K$141K
LiabilitiesLn 26$6K$60K
Net assetsLn 32$142K$80K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$78K$55K$12K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$224K$157K$34K$34K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3K$2K$427$427
Payroll taxesLn 10$22K$16K$3K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$12K$0$12K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$50K$50K$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$145$0$0$145
Office expensesLn 13$11K$10K$532$532
Information technologyLn 14$13K$11K$632$632
OccupancyLn 16$43K$39K$2K$2K
TravelLn 17$5K$3K$678$679
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$3K$2K$451$450
InterestLn 20$743$0$743$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$10K$7K$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$44K$31K$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$8K$6K$1K$509
Total functional expensesLn 25$527K$388K$76K$62K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $636K$395K$241K$322K 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $465K$527K−$62K$80K 990 PDF
FY2023 $450K$567K−$116K$142K 990 PDF
FY2022 $540K$569K−$29K$259K 990 PDF
FY2021 $529K$422K$108K$287K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $464,562 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $445,325$468,736
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $64$26
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $4,930−$4,200
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $450,319$464,562
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $381,363$327,927
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $185,224$198,739
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $566,587$526,666
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$116,268−$62,104
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $464,562 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $998 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$21,745
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$117,753
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$329,238
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$468,736
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $26$26
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$5,198−$5,198
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $998 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$5,172$464,562
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $526,666 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $54,914 · Management $11,767 · Fundraising $11,767$78,448
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $156,902 · Management $33,622 · Fundraising $33,622$224,146
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,991 · Management $427 · Fundraising $427$2,845
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $15,742 · Management $3,373 · Fundraising $3,373$22,488
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $12,088 · Fundraising $0$12,088
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $49,609 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$49,609
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $145$145
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $9,574 · Management $532 · Fundraising $532$10,638
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $11,373 · Management $632 · Fundraising $632$12,637
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $38,639 · Management $2,147 · Fundraising $2,146$42,932
IX-17 TravelPrograms $3,165 · Management $678 · Fundraising $679$4,522
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,102 · Management $451 · Fundraising $450$3,003
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $743 · Fundraising $0$743
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $7,050 · Management $1,510 · Fundraising $1,511$10,071
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $31,091 · Management $6,662 · Fundraising $6,663$44,416
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $6,289 · Management $1,137 · Fundraising $509$7,935
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $388,441 · Management $75,769 · Fundraising $62,456$526,666
Part X · Balance sheet $140,647 assets, 23 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $61,529$0
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $9,030$6,984
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $24,861$90,387
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $73$80
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $48,268$38,196
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $5,000$5,000
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $148,761$140,647
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $6,484$10,474
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$50,000
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,484$60,474
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $80,575−$4,352
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $61,702$84,525
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $142,277$80,173
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $148,761$140,647
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $80,173 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$464,562
XI-2 Total expenses$526,666
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$62,104
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$142,277
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$80,173

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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