Clarion West's mission is to support emerging and underrepresented voices by providing writers with world-class instruction to empower their creation of wild and amazing worlds. Through conversation and public engagement, we bring those voices to an ever-expanding community.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
63¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$80K 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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $69K a year · 18% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
63%
of spending
Worth a look: 63% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$80K
to officers and key staff · 18% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 18% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $535K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 4.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $48K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$4K
0.6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$351K
+28% vs prior year
Spent
$452K
To programs
63%
Net assets
$713K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$351K
FY2021▲ +28%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$275K
FY2021$351K
FY2022$363K
FY2023$437K
FY2024$288K
FY2025$523K
Expenses
$452K
FY2021▲ +64%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$275K
FY2021$452K
FY2022$533K
FY2023$408K
FY2024$509K
FY2025$472K
Net assets
$713K
FY2021▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$658K
FY2021$713K
FY2022$434K
FY2023$533K
FY2024$345K
FY2025$432K

From the FY2021 Form 990 · 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 Oct 1991.

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

Where the money goes

63 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 63% · $286K Management & general 16% · $72K Fundraising 21% · $94K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $80K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$78,889Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$750Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Marnee Chua$83,600$86,667$80,000$80,000$78,889$67,500
Nisi Shawl$2,500——$430$750$3,875

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

Empowering new writers with instruction and community to share their unique stories.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $286K · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Clarion West continues to refine and improve its online class and workshop offerings. In 2021, Clarion West held 84 classes and workshops online for 1,719 participants from all over the world.

$131Kprogram expense
02

Clarion West's renowned Six-Week Workshop is an immersive six-week residential experience geared to help students build a foundation for professional careers as writers of speculative fiction. Participants must apply to attend and there are more applicants than there is space in the workshop.

$96Kprogram expense
03

Throughout 2021 Clarion West continued to run a variety of outreach programs for readers and writers, including online readings, panel discussions, free summer classes, free youth classes, and our online community Slack channels. In 2021, Clarion West held 11 free public panels and readings for over 600 viewers.

$59Kprogram 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
ArtsfundFY2024$18K
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$48K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $5K · 2021–2021
Unitemized GrantFY2021$5,350

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$351K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$191K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$91K
Other incomeLn 4–11$68K
Money outPt IX
$452K
Ln 25
Programscol B$286K
Managementcol C$72K
Fundraisingcol D$94K
Owns and owesPt X
$713K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$172K
Total assetsLn 16$717K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$191K
Government grantsLn 1e$58K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$91K
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Other incomeLn 4–11$68K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$351K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$86K
SavingsLn 2$86K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$172K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$535K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$9K
Total assetsLn 16$717K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K
Net assetsLn 32$713K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
VolunteersI 625
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
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$205K$172K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$454K$535K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$659K$717K
LiabilitiesLn 26$1K$4K
Net assetsLn 32$658K$713K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$5K$5K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$79K$46K$9K$24K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$138K$103K$147$35K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$7K$1K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$18K$13K$659$5K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$12K$12K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$307$167$140
Office expensesLn 13$0
Information technologyLn 14$19K$10K$8K$1K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$0
TravelLn 17$3K$338$935$2K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$159K$105K$27K$27K
All other expensesLn 24e$8K$2K$5K$185
Total functional expensesLn 25$452K$286K$72K$94K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $523K$472K$50K$432K 990 PDF
FY2024 $288K$509K−$222K$345K 990 PDF
FY2023 $437K$408K$29K$533K 990 PDF
FY2022 $363K$533K−$170K$434K 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $351K$452K−$100K$713K 990 PDF
FY2020 $275K$275K−$528$658K 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $351,354 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $153,569$190,873
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $91,085$91,194
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $6,576$1,061
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $23,518$68,226
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $274,748$351,354
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$5,350
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $160,242$241,691
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $115,034$204,610
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $275,276$451,651
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$528−$100,297
Part VI · Governance 14 of 14 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members14
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $351,354 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$58,489
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$132,384
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$190,873
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Excluded from tax $91,194$91,194
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $1,061$1,061
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$68,226
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,061 · Excluded from tax $91,194$351,354
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $451,651 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $5,350$5,350
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $46,222 · Management $9,000 · Fundraising $23,667$78,889
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $102,555 · Management $147 · Fundraising $35,146$137,848
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,400 · Management $5,130$6,530
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $12,721 · Management $659 · Fundraising $5,044$18,424
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $11,925$11,925
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $167 · Fundraising $140$307
IX-13 Office expenses$0
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $10,431 · Management $7,505 · Fundraising $1,016$18,952
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 Occupancy$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $338 · Management $935 · Fundraising $1,787$3,060
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $4,029$4,029
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $104,506 · Management $27,413 · Fundraising $26,811$158,730
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,448 · Management $4,974 · Fundraising $185$7,607
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $285,971 · Management $71,884 · Fundraising $93,796$451,651
Part X · Balance sheet $716,676 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $84,678$86,082
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $120,011$86,318
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $453,942$535,279
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$8,997
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $658,631$716,676
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,040$4,152
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,040$4,152
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $657,591$712,524
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $657,591$712,524
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $658,631$716,676
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $712,524 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$351,354
XI-2 Total expenses$451,651
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$100,297
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$657,591
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$72,271
XI-7 Investment expenses−$4,106
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$87,065
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$712,524

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

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