Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP)
Our Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP) aims to inspire teenagers with a passion for creative writing and connect them with a diverse group of like-minded teens. Through free monthly Saturday Sessions, teen writing camps, slam poetry team, and our signature, stipended Teen Summer Fellowship, we actively work to ensure there is another generation of readers and writers, and to help local teens develop their writing skills and gain a sense of agency.
Civics & Outreach Programming
GrubStreet's Civics & Outreach Programming works to encourage the creation of meaningful works of literature from every corner of the city through neighborhood workshops, the Boston Literary Cultural District (BLCD), and public events, such as The Boston Write-In. In 2016, GrubStreet launched Write Down the Street with the Boston Public Library, offering free weekly, bilingual, one-hour drop-in classes in two low-income neighborhoods (Dorchester and Roxbury). In addition to continuing to offer workshops at local library branches, GrubStreet has also begun to provide workshops in community locations, such as the Brookview House, which serves homeless women and their children. The BLCD, a project spearheaded by GrubStreet, brings together 8 executive partner organizations and businesses to "make the literary visible" through robust programming and creative placemaking. Lastly, in partnership with the Boston Public Library and Facing History & Ourselves, GrubStreet hosted the first Boston Write-In, an afternoon of public storytelling in support of recent immigrants and refugees, in May 2017.
Core & Advanced Programs
GrubStreet offers single-day and multi-week writing courses in all levels of fiction, poetry, the novel, screenwriting, playwriting, memoir, and more. Through tracked programming, we encourage the highest level of artistic creation, and push our writers to apply for our advanced workshops such as the Novel Incubator. Our workshops are affordably priced and need- and merit-based scholarships are available.
Muse and the Marketplace
Our three-day literary conference, The Muse and the Marketplace ("The Muse" for short), gives aspiring writers a better understanding of the craft of fiction and non-fiction, prepares them for the changing world of publishing and promotion, and creates opportunities for meaningful networking. Established and emerging authors lead 100+ interactive sessions on the craft of writing - the ""muse"" side of things - while editors, literary agents and other industry professionals tackle the business side - the ""marketplace."" Though 800+ presenters and participants will attend, GrubStreet creates a wonderfully intimate atmosphere designed to give everyone access to the wealth of talent on both sides of the classroom.
Boston Writers of Color
The Boston Writers of Color (BWoC) group is supported by GrubStreet, and is a place for writers of color to connect, network, empower, and share resources with their peers. Our mission is to support self-identifying writers of color and to help foster a more diverse and inclusive writing community here in Boston and a more equitable publishing landscape.
All writers are welcome, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or ethnicity.
Where we work
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planHow we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- 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.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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.
Grub Street Inc.
Board of directorsas of 03/07/2024
Ms. Sharissa Jones
Freelance Writer
Term: 2023 - 2026
Eve Bridburg
GrubStreet Executive Director
Jeanne Blasberg
Squashbusters
Sharissa Jones
Writer and retired financial investor
Regie Gibson
Writer, Poet, Performer, and Educator
Tina Cassidy
GBH, Chief Marketing Officer
Richard Hendrie
Uno Chicago Grill, Freelance Writer
Carlos Hoyt
Wheelock College, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Assistant Professor
Pamela Mason
Harvard Graduate School of Education, Director- Language & Literacy Master's Program, Director-Jeanne Chall Reading Lab
Daphne Santana Strassmann
Instructor, Memoirist
Marc Skvirsky
Retired Vice President, Special Initiative, INP Faculty
Sandra Taylor
Writer, student, Former Banker
Anri Wheeler
Instructor, Freelance writer, Social justice educator, Facilitator
Enrique Zuniga
Executive Director, Mass Post Commission, Treasurer
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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 ? Yes -
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? Yes -
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
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
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/13/2024GuideStar 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
- 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 disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- 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.
- 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.