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The American Writers Museum

Tax-deductible

Chicago, IL501(c)(3)Since 2009Arts & CultureEIN 27-1822749Revenue $2.1M in FY2025

On file with the IRSamericanwritersmuseum.org205 W Wacker Dr Ste 625, 60606-1473 · Chicago, ILTax-exempt since Jul 2010Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The mission of the American Writers Museum is to engage the public in celebrating American Writers and exploring their influence on our history, our identity, our culture, and our daily lives.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 20 volunteers and 24 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $216K a year · 8% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$322K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 87% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.9 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $21K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$712K
15% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 15% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
35
of 35 voting members
Looks good: 35 of 35 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.1M
-56% vs prior year
Spent
$4.4M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$4.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.1M
FY2025▼ -56%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$2.1M
FY2022$3.1M
FY2023$2.3M
FY2024$4.7M
FY2025$2.1M
Expenses
$4.4M
FY2025▲ +48%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$2.9M
FY2024$3.0M
FY2025$4.4M
Net assets
$4.1M
FY2025▼ -36%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.3M
FY2021$5.1M
FY2022$5.1M
FY2023$4.5M
FY2024$6.3M
FY2025$4.1M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

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

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $3.7M Management & general 11% · $473K Fundraising 6% · $286K

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

36 people listed on the 990; $322K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$215,627Pt VII · Sec A
Christopher Burrow
Dir. of Oper
$106,475Pt VII · Sec A
Debra Moritz
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Sally Wood
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Joan Clifford
Vice Chairma
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Jay Hammer
Vice Chairma
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Patrick O'Hagan
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Carey Cranston’s $216K as President is at the 87th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Carey Cranston$215,627$178,567$170,060$196,114$181,790$177,456
Christopher Burrow$106,475—————

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.

See The American Writers Museum executive salaries →

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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

Celebrates American writers and explores their influence on our lives and culture.

Questions for The American Writers Museum

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $3.7M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Maintain and operate an interactive and immersive set of exhibits for the public that celebrate the profound impact of writers and their work on american history, culture, and our daily lives.

$3.7Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Shulman-Rochambeau Charitable FoundationFY2025$20K
Ppl FoundationFY2025$500
Akers FoundationFY2025$200
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$21K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$611K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$201K
Money outPt IX
$4.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.7M
Managementcol C$473K
Fundraisingcol D$286K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$325K
Total assetsLn 16$4.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$712K
PeoplePt VI, VII
36
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a35
IndependentVI 1b35
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$39K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$201K
Investment incomeLn 3$121K
Other incomeLn 4–11$611K
Gains on assetsLn 7$19K
Total revenueLn 12$2.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$259K
SavingsLn 2$66K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$325K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$738K
Other assetsLn 15$596K
Total assetsLn 16$4.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$712K
Net assetsLn 32$4.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 524
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.0M$325K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.0M$2.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.2M$738K
Total assetsLn 16$7.4M$4.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.1M$712K
Net assetsLn 32$6.3M$4.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$216K$108K$108K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$847K$139K$185K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$154K$106K$27K$21K
Payroll taxesLn 10$98K$68K$18K$13K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2K$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$554K$554K
Office expensesLn 13$45K$34K$9K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$444K$366K$77K
TravelLn 17$47K$4K$31K$11K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$491K$491K
InsuranceLn 23$40K$40K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.1M$1.1M$12K$54K
All other expensesLn 24e$43K$31K$11K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.4M$3.7M$473K$286K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.1M$4.4M−$2.4M$4.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.7M$3.0M$1.7M$6.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.3M$2.9M−$610K$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.1M$2.9M$225K$5.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.1M$2.4M−$361K$5.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.6M$2.5M$63K$5.3M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,095,320 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,810,796$1,162,876
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $206,373$201,225
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $30,421$120,706
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $695,214$610,513
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,742,804$2,095,320
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,281,962$1,640,115
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,721,226$2,809,218
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,003,188$4,449,333
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,739,616−$2,354,013
Part VI · Governance 35 of 35 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body35
VI-1b Independent voting members35
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,095,320 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $17,760 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1b Membership dues$21,737
VIII-1e Government grants$39,313
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,101,826
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,162,876
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $201,225$201,225
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $101,397$101,397
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $19,309$19,309
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$592,651
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $102$102
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $220,534 · Excluded from tax $119,259$2,095,320
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,449,333 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $107,813 · Management $107,814$215,627
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $847,152 · Management $139,403 · Fundraising $185,231$1,171,786
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $106,173 · Management $27,486 · Fundraising $20,594$154,253
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $67,763 · Management $17,542 · Fundraising $13,144$98,449
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,679$1,679
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $554,434$554,434
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $34,179 · Management $8,803 · Fundraising $1,755$44,737
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $366,334 · Management $77,264$443,598
IX-17 TravelPrograms $4,275 · Management $31,221 · Fundraising $11,036$46,532
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $490,626$490,626
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $39,904$39,904
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,078,785 · Management $12,408 · Fundraising $53,984$1,145,177
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $31,393 · Management $11,138$42,531
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,690,606 · Management $472,983 · Fundraising $285,744$4,449,333
Part X · Balance sheet $4,777,758 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $260,056$259,246
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,701,451$65,588
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,143,707$745,083
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $20,995$21,889
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $21,086$50,634
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,228,416$737,790
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,043,072$2,301,832
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $999,082$595,696
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $7,417,865$4,777,758
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $38,091$86,121
X-19 Deferred revenue$36,364
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,036,580$590,013
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,074,671$712,498
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,356,455$2,428,045
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,986,739$1,637,215
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,343,194$4,065,260
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $7,417,865$4,777,758
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,065,260 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,095,320
XI-2 Total expenses$4,449,333
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,354,013
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,343,194
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$76,079
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,065,260

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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