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YOUNG WRITERS PROJECT

Burlington, VT   |  www.youngwritersproject.org

Mission

To inspire, mentor, publish, and promote the work of young writers, photographers, and artists. Young Writers Project (YWP) is a creative online community of young people, ages 12-18, who connect and create together on our website, youngwritersproject.org; get published (annual anthology, digital magazine, VT media partners); lead and participate in online workshops, podcasts, open mic events, book discussions and more. YWP offers all services free of charge, thanks to our donors. We are based in Vermont, but all youth from anywhere are welcome to join us online. YWP is defined by respect, a place where young people gain the ability to express themselves clearly, think creatively, and discover who they are - a process that can be life-changing.

Ruling year info

2006

Principal Officer

Susan Reid

Main address

47 Maple Street #216

Burlington, VT 05401 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

20-5231693

NTEE code info

Youth Development Programs (O50)

Printing, Publishing (A33)

Secondary/High School (B25)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

YWP Publications

Publishing is a core strength of Young Writers Project. YWP publishes teens' writing and photos and art in an annual anthology, a monthly digital magazine, The Voice, and in Vermont newspapers, and with other media partners and arts organizations. YWP believes that publishing affirms young voices and gives them the confidence and motivation to share their thoughts and their creativity. Each year, YWP receives more than 12,000 submissions to our website, youngwritersproject.org, and all of them are read and considered for publication by YWP staff and mentors.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents

Young Writers Project's website, youngwritersproject.org, thrives on the dynamic interaction and connection among community members. YWP is youth-powered, with young writers and artists suggesting new projects, leading them, and sparking energy and excitement on the site. These include youth-led podcasts, open mic events, and writing workshops. Our Community Leaders, about 30 of the most active users on the site, also create a monthly newsletter and support and encourage new members of the community.

Population(s) Served

Our monthly digital magazine is part of our Publications program but deserves a special category because it is one of the most creative parts of our work. The Voice (https://www.youngwritersproject.org/thevoice) is integrated on our website, and because it is digital, it is a key publication point for all of our writers and artists from all corners of the US and beyond.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents

Since YWP started in 2006, we have published annual anthologies, beautiful, professionally designed and bound books that showcase the year's best writing, photography and art. We review 12,000+ submissions each year and select only the best, about 75 pieces of writing and 25 pieces of visual art for this quality book. It is a genuine affirmation of the talent and hard work of the young people we work with.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents

YWP connects with teachers, especially in Vermont, through our writing challenges and publication of students' work in local media and YWP's own publications. At the beginning of every school year, YWP sends schools a year's worth of original, inspiring writing challenges. "Weaving YWP into our middle school language arts curriculum has been a game-changer," say teachers Kathy Gallagher and Rich Boyers of Edmunds Middle School in Burlington, VT. The students also have the opportunity to be published in newspapers, on VtDigger.org, in YWP's magazine, The Voice, and the annual anthology. Joe Deffner, a teacher at Thetford Academy in Vermont, says when his students see their name in print for the first time, "the explosion of confidence -- to say nothing of how proud their parents are -- is almost magical."

Population(s) Served
Adolescents

Young Writers Project offers monthly, free workshops, some with professional writers and specialists, and some led by the young members of the YWP community.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Adolescents

Where we work

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings/Town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome,

Financials

YOUNG WRITERS PROJECT
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

YOUNG WRITERS PROJECT

Board of directors
as of 02/03/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Hillary Read


Board co-chair

Aimee Picchi

Journalist

Term: 2018 - 2024

Kathy Folley

Retired teacher

Aimee Picchi

Journalist

Rita Markley

Executive Director of COTS, Committee on Temporary Shelter

Jacques Bailly

University of Vermont classics professor

Hillary Read

3Q Digital marketing professional

Shannon Ripp

Digital marketing, former YWP intern

Reuben Jackson

Poet, jazz archivist, YWP workshop leader

Terri Hallenbeck

Journalist and development officer

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/12/2021
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 02/12/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.