Writers in the Schools FY2021 filing

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The mission of Writers in the Schools (WITS) is to connect children and youth with professional writers and spoken word artists to unlock the joy and power of storytelling and creative expression.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$241K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · 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 $186K a year · 11% 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
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$241K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.3M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 7.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $471K
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$42K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
24
of 24 voting members
Looks good: 24 of 24 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.0M
-2% vs prior year
Spent
$1.9M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$2.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.0M
FY2021▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$2.0M
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.6M
FY2025$1.5M
Expenses
$1.9M
FY2021▼ -11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.2M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$1.4M
FY2025$1.4M
Net assets
$2.8M
FY2021▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$1.9M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.5M
FY2025$1.6M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending August 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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 Jul 1991.

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

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $1.4M Management & general 16% · $307K Fundraising 11% · $221K

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

27 people listed on the 990; $241K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Former Ed (to 9/20)
$137,700Pt VII · Sec A
Acting Ed (9/20 to 5/21)
$103,417Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Giuseppe Taurino’s $123K as Executive Director is at the 48th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M 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 · 6 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Robin Reagler————$137,700$125,000
Angela Flowers Thru 922——$129,880———
Giuseppe Taurino$122,789$38,911————
Jack McBride————$103,417—
Errica Dotson as of 922——$89,760———
Angela Flowers———$79,167——

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 Writers in the Schools executive salaries →

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

Empower children and teachers with quality writing education for academic success.

Questions for Writers in the Schools

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Your first name shows with your question. Writers in the Schools answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $1.3M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Education for Students

WITS students develop creative and analytical skills through school-based workshops, exposure to diverse texts, cultural field trips, and publication. By offering creative, digital, and performance writing to students, WITS provides a variety of entry points for learning that emphasizes the importance of practice, revision, and…

$676Kprogram expense
02

Creative Writing Camps

WITS partners with schools and academic institutions to offer renowned creative writing camps that address summer learning loss, nurture the growth of the imagination, and ignite a love of learning. Tuition-based revenue generated from camp supports school-based programs throughout the year.

$386Kprogram expense
03

Professional Development for Teachers and Writers

WITS fosters collaborative coaching and professional development for teachers aimed at transforming school ecosystems, while inspiring literary cultures. Through its leadership of a national alliance, WITS promotes writers as teaching artists, providing resources, education, and connection to drive collective impact.

$218Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 11 funders$471K
See all 11 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $8K · 2024–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$7,800

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$903K
Investment incomeLn 3$61K
Money outPt IX
$1.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.4M
Managementcol C$307K
Fundraisingcol D$221K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$2.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$42K
PeoplePt VI, VII
27
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a24
IndependentVI 1b24
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$321K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$903K
Investment incomeLn 3$61K
Gains on assetsLn 7$36K
Total revenueLn 12$2.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$1.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$2.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$42K
Net assetsLn 32$2.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 518
VolunteersI 635
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M$1.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.1M$1.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K$0
Total assetsLn 16$2.8M$2.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$179K$42K
Net assetsLn 32$2.6M$2.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1K$1K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$241K$168K$36K$36K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.1M$886K$55K$110K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$10K$7K$1K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$91K$61K$12K$18K
Payroll taxesLn 10$104K$86K$7K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$19K$19K
Investment management feesLn 11f$17K$17K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$225K$78K$117K$30K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$15K$15K
Office expensesLn 13$59K$44K$11K$4K
Information technologyLn 14$5K$5K
OccupancyLn 16$53K$41K$5K$8K
TravelLn 17$481$124$357
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$3K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$10K$7K$587$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$18K$1K$17K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.9M$1.4M$307K$221K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Jul 13, 2026 $1.5M$1.4M$80K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Jul 15, 2025 $1.6M$1.4M$201K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Dec 17, 2024 $1.2M$1.9M−$679K$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Jul 17, 2023 $1.5M$2.1M−$605K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Jul 15, 2022 $2.0M$1.9M$43K$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Jul 14, 2021 $2.0M$2.2M−$154K$2.6M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,967,960 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $855,168$1,003,883
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,120,279$903,229
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $55,381$60,848
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$26,402$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,004,426$1,967,960
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$1,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,862,459$1,497,049
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $296,286$426,480
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,158,745$1,924,529
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$154,319$43,431
Part VI · Governance 24 of 24 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body24
VI-1b Independent voting members24
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 $1,967,960 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$320,706
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$683,177
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,003,883
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $903,229$903,229
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $25,302$25,302
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $35,546$35,546
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $903,229 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $60,848$1,967,960
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,924,529 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,000$1,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $168,477 · Management $36,102 · Fundraising $36,102$240,681
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $886,216 · Management $55,043 · Fundraising $110,148$1,051,407
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,695 · Management $1,303 · Fundraising $1,862$9,860
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $61,310 · Management $11,748 · Fundraising $17,649$90,707
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $85,603 · Management $7,308 · Fundraising $11,483$104,394
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $19,187$19,187
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $16,646$16,646
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $78,452 · Management $116,929 · Fundraising $30,070$225,451
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $15,273$15,273
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $43,573 · Management $11,099 · Fundraising $4,183$58,855
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $4,552$4,552
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $40,688 · Management $4,778 · Fundraising $7,884$53,350
IX-17 TravelPrograms $124 · Management $357$481
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsManagement $2,709$2,709
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $2,123$2,123
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $7,440 · Management $587 · Fundraising $1,762$9,789
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,069 · Management $16,995$18,064
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,395,920 · Management $307,466 · Fundraising $221,143$1,924,529
Part X · Balance sheet $2,825,966 assets, 14 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,376,407$1,152,935
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $140,430$256,201
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $125,645$109,654
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $11,498$238
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,124$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,130,475$1,306,938
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,786,579$2,825,966
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $15,841$42,278
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $159,700$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $178,601$42,278
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,324,891$2,489,508
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $283,087$294,180
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,607,978$2,783,688
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,786,579$2,825,966
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,783,688 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,967,960
XI-2 Total expenses$1,924,529
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$43,431
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,607,978
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$132,279
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,783,688

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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