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.
49¢ 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

FY2023 · 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
49%
of spending
Concern: 49% of spending went to programs; under 50%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$80K
to officers and key staff · 20% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 20% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $415K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 3.9 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
$25K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$437K
+21% vs prior year
Spent
$408K
To programs
49%
Net assets
$533K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$437K
FY2023▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$275K
FY2021$351K
FY2022$363K
FY2023$437K
FY2024$288K
FY2025$523K
Expenses
$408K
FY2023▼ -23%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$275K
FY2021$452K
FY2022$533K
FY2023$408K
FY2024$509K
FY2025$472K
Net assets
$533K
FY2023▲ +23%
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 FY2023 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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

49 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 49% · $201K Management & general 22% · $90K Fundraising 29% · $117K

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

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

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$80,000Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt 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

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 · $201K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Six-Week Workshop

Clarion West's renowned Six-Week Workshop is an immersive six-week 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.

$120Kprogram expense
02

Online Programs

In 2023, Clarion West held 46 online classes and workshops with 1,048 participants attending from all over Seattle, the United States, and around the World. These included 7 free community classes with 799 participants.

$68Kprogram expense
03

Outreach Programs

Clarion West hosted its annual author series featuring prominent speculative fiction authors Mary Anne Mohanraj and Benjamin Rosenbaum as a virtual panel and reading on June 27, Cat Rambo as a virtual reading on July 5, Samit Basu as a virtual reading on July 11, Karen Lord as a virtual reading on July 18, Arley Sorg and Christie Yant as…

$13Kprogram 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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$437K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$361K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$62K
Other incomeLn 4–11$10K
Money outPt IX
$408K
Ln 25
Programscol B$201K
Managementcol C$90K
Fundraisingcol D$117K
Owns and owesPt X
$533K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$134K
Total assetsLn 16$558K
LiabilitiesLn 26$25K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$361K
Government grantsLn 1e$59K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$63K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$62K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Other incomeLn 4–11$10K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$437K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$93K
SavingsLn 2$40K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$134K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$415K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$9K
Total assetsLn 16$558K
LiabilitiesLn 26$25K
Net assetsLn 32$533K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
VolunteersI 625
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$48K$134K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$411K$415K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$467K$558K
LiabilitiesLn 26$34K$25K
Net assetsLn 32$434K$533K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
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$80K$19K$15K$46K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$156K$104K$727$51K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$18K$3K$14K
Payroll taxesLn 10$18K$9K$1K$8K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$17K$17K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$3K$2K$375
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$59K$49K$6K$4K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$6K$3K$550$3K
Office expensesLn 13$18K$6K$12K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$0
TravelLn 17$5K$2K$2K$1K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$791$405$386
InterestLn 20$6K$6K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$14K$4K$6K$4K
All other expensesLn 24e$2K−$1$2K$29
Total functional expensesLn 25$408K$201K$90K$117K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $523K$472K$50K$432K 990 PDF
FY2024 $288K$509K−$222K$345K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $437K$408K$29K$533K 990 PDF
FY2022 $363K$533K−$170K$434K 990 PDF
FY2021 $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $437,026 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $230,408$361,410
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $71,140$62,476
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $6,917$2,770
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $54,120$10,370
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $362,585$437,026
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $3,730$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $283,546$272,652
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $7,500$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $238,192$135,611
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $532,968$408,263
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$170,383$28,763
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
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 $437,026 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$62,910
VIII-1e Government grants$59,203
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$239,297
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$361,410
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $62,476$62,476
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $2,770$2,770
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $5,835$5,835
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$4,535
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $71,081$437,026
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $408,263 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
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 $18,667 · Management $15,333 · Fundraising $46,000$80,000
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $104,394 · Management $727 · Fundraising $51,087$156,208
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $3,493 · Management $14,471$17,964
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $9,497 · Management $1,243 · Fundraising $7,740$18,480
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $16,860$16,860
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $2,267 · Fundraising $375$2,642
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $49,415 · Management $5,554 · Fundraising $3,831$58,800
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,937 · Management $550 · Fundraising $2,562$6,049
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,083 · Management $11,690$17,773
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 Occupancy$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,042 · Management $1,868 · Fundraising $1,384$5,294
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $405 · Management $386$791
IX-20 InterestManagement $6,326$6,326
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $4,301$4,301
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $4,308 · Management $6,279 · Fundraising $3,699$14,286
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms −$1 · Management $2,461 · Fundraising $29$2,489
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $201,240 · Management $90,316 · Fundraising $116,707$408,263
Part X · Balance sheet $557,935 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $36,986$93,116
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $10,555$40,389
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 $410,684$415,433
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $8,997$8,997
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $467,222$557,935
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $33,502$25,159
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $33,502$25,159
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $433,720$532,776
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $433,720$532,776
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $467,222$557,935
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $532,776 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$437,026
XI-2 Total expenses$408,263
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$28,763
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$433,720
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$70,293
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$532,776

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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