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Horror Writers Association

Tax-deductible

Westerville, OH501(c)(3)Arts & CultureEIN 34-1564274Revenue $464K in FY2025

On file with the IRShorrorwritersassociation.info1299 Spring Brook CT, 43081-3795 · Westerville, OHTax-exempt since Nov 2012Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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THE HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION (HWA) is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it.HWA was formed in the late 1980s with the help of many of the fields greats, including Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, and Joe Lansdale. Todaywith over 1400 members in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad, United Kingdom and the United Statesit is the oldest and most respected professional organization for the much-loved writers who have brought you the most enjoyable sleepless nights of your life.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
62¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 20 volunteers and 1 employee.
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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $19K a year · 7% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
62%
of spending
Worth a look: 62% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$94K
to officers and key staff · 26% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 85% of similar orgs
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 26% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$90K
35% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 35% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$464K
+36% vs prior year
Spent
$365K
To programs
62%
Net assets
$164K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$464K
FY2025▲ +36%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$210K
FY2021$211K
FY2022$314K
FY2023$121K
FY2024$341K
FY2025$464K
Expenses
$365K
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$213K
FY2021$171K
FY2022$204K
FY2023$264K
FY2024$331K
FY2025$365K
Net assets
$164K
FY2025▲ +152%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$49K
FY2021$89K
FY2022$199K
FY2023$55K
FY2024$65K
FY2025$164K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending February 2025) · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2012.

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

Where the money goes

62 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 62% · $226K Management & general 38% · $139K

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

12 people listed on the 990; $94K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Maxwell Gold
Executive Di
$93,941Pt VII · Sec A
Lisa Wood
Vice Preside
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Maxwell Gold’s $94K as Executive Di is at the 85th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2216 $100K–1M 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.

See Horror Writers Association 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Promotes dark literature and supports its writers and publishing professionals globally.

Questions for Horror Writers Association

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $226K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Diversity -- to ensure the horror writers association (hwa) includes the widest possible representation of those working in the HORROR/DARK fantasy genre, the hwa has formed the diverse works inclusion committee. This committee is tasked with actively seeking writers and editors with diverse backgrounds.

$226Kprogram 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
Aeroflex FoundationFY2024$10K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$464K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$308K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$148K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Money outPt IX
$365K
Ln 25
Programscol B$226K
Managementcol C$139K
Owns and owesPt X
$164K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$254K
Total assetsLn 16$254K
LiabilitiesLn 26$90K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$148K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$308K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Total revenueLn 12$464K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$254K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$254K
Total assetsLn 16$254K
LiabilitiesLn 26$90K
Net assetsLn 32$164K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderFebruary
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$192K$254K
Total assetsLn 16$192K$254K
LiabilitiesLn 26$127K$90K
Net assetsLn 32$65K$164K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$94K$47K$47K
Payroll taxesLn 10$5K$2K$2K
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$3K$3K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$55K$14K$42K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$31K$31K
Office expensesLn 13$11K$6K$6K
TravelLn 17$18K$18K
InterestLn 20$5K$5K
InsuranceLn 23$1K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$134K$107K$27K
All other expensesLn 24e$4K$280$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$365K$226K$139K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $464K$365K$99K$164K 990 PDF
FY2024 $341K$331K$10K$65K 990 PDF
FY2023 $121K$264K−$144K$55K 990 PDF
FY2022 $314K$204K$110K$199K 990 PDF
FY2021 $211K$171K$40K$89K 990 PDF
FY2020 $210K$213K−$3K$49K 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 $463,647 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $11,932$148,155
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $328,999$307,992
I-10 Investment income$8,255
I-11 Other revenue−$755
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $340,931$463,647
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $59,924$98,642
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $271,133$266,205
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $331,057$364,847
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $9,874$98,800
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, 4 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $463,647 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$148,155
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$148,155
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $307,992$307,992
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $8,255$8,255
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission −$755−$755
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $315,492$463,647
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $364,847 across 12 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $46,970 · Management $46,971$93,941
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,350 · Management $2,351$4,701
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $3,476$3,476
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $3,200$3,200
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $13,857 · Management $41,571$55,428
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $31,323$31,323
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,533 · Management $5,533$11,066
IX-17 TravelPrograms $18,089$18,089
IX-20 InterestManagement $5,056$5,056
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $1,160$1,160
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $107,351 · Management $26,511$133,862
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $280 · Management $3,265$3,545
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $225,753 · Management $139,094 · Fundraising $0$364,847
Part X · Balance sheet $253,742 assets, 7 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $192,080$253,742
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $192,080$253,742
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $126,963$89,825
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $126,963$89,825
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $65,117$163,917
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $65,117$163,917
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $192,080$253,742
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $163,917 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$463,647
XI-2 Total expenses$364,847
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$98,800
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$65,117
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$163,917

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

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