FREE WRITE ARTS & LITERACY NFP Charity Report

Tax-exempt status may be revoked

FREE WRITE ARTS & LITERACY NFP

EIN 81-1032458 · Remedial Reading & Encouragement (B92)

What they do

FREE WRITE ARTS & LITERACY ENGAGES INCARCERATED and COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH IN THE PERFORMING, VISUAL, and LITERARY ARTS SO THAT THEY BECOME THE NARRATORS of THEIR OWN STORIES and THE AUTHORS of THEIR FUTURES. BY DESIGNING CREATIVE SPACE to EMPOWER INCARCERATED and COURT INVOLVED YOUTH, FREE WRITE SUPPORTS ITS STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL and CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Stop and check first

This record may have an IRS status problem. Do not give until you verify it.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkThere may be a problem with its nonprofit status. Check before giving.

Money report from 2019The report may be old. Ask for a newer one.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders8 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

60.73%of revenue went to mission work64.6% of expenses · Program services

18.78%of revenue went to fundraising20.0% of expenses

$94.01spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

14.50%of revenue went to management and office costs15.4% of expenses

$0.26in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

85.2%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $96,648 for RYAN KEESLING (FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2019

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$555,432

Mission workProgram services$337,32860.73% of revenue64.6% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$80,55814.50% of revenue15.4% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$104,29318.78% of revenue20.0% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$33,2535.99% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$522,17994.01% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2019CurrentExpense mix: 64.6% mission · 15.4% management · 20.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.01% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 51.6% mission · 19.5% management · 29.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 135.28% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 57.9% mission · 14.6% management · 27.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 221.47% of revenue

2016Expense mix: 54.5% mission · 31.5% management · 13.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 36.13% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$555,432

Expenses$522,179

Annual surplus $33,253 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$337,328 · 64.6% of expenses

Management and office costs$80,558 · 15.4% of expenses

Fundraising$104,293 · 20.0% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$555,432

Expenses$522,179

Assets$134,570

Income$560,242

Contributions$473,088

Mission work (program services)$337,328

Fundraising$104,293

Management and general$80,558

Executive compensation (total)$99,956

Accounting fees$21,174

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2019

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

RYAN KEESLINGFOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 46 hrs/week $96,648Base $81,692 · Other $14,956

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (8)

RYAN KEESLINGFOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

AD SEAN LEWISDIRECTOR

ASIF WILSONDIRECTOR

ELISE ZELECHOWSKIDIRECTOR

JUDY POMERANZDIRECTOR

KENDRICK WASHINGTONPRESIDENT

MARILEE HOPKINSTREASURER

TSHAKA BARROWSDIRECTOR

About this charity

Location: 1932 S HALSTED ST NO 100, CHICAGO, IL 60608
County: Cook
In care of: KENDRICK WASHINGTON
Primary officer: KENDRICK WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(773) 412-5789

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2019
Tax period began: January 1, 2019
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: WARADY & DAVIS LLP
NTEE classification: Remedial Reading & Encouragement (B92)
IRS tax category: Remedial Reading & Encouragement
Revocation date: May 15, 2023