Mission
Writer's Ink is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating a lifelong love for creative writing in children and supporting aspiring young writers. Since our early beginnings in 2014, our goal has been to redefine creative writing education and English literature skills. It wasn't too long ago when we too were young kids struggling to write. We want to give back to the community by helping others develop a life-long passion for writing. Ordinary language classes teach concept, and of course, that's vitally important. However what sets us apart from others is that we encourage kids to use their inner creativity to make their own imaginative stories. We don't just teach them how to write—we teach them to love to write!
Ruling year
2017
Chief Executive Officer
Mengshu Zhang
Main address
23 Castillo
Irvine, CA 92620 USA
EIN
82-0773459
NTEE code
Primary/Elementary Schools (B24)
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.
Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Writer's Ink is a non-profit organization solely run by high school volunteers. Since our early beginnings in 2014, our goal has been to redefine creative writing and English literacy education. It wasn’t too long ago when we too were young kids struggling to write. We want to give back to the community by helping others develop a life-long passion for writing. Ordinary language classes teach concept, and of course, that’s vitally important. However what sets us apart from others is that we encourage kids to use their inner creativity to make their own imaginative stories. We don't just teach them how to write—we teach them to love to write!
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Creative Writing Workshops
Writer's Ink hosts weekly workshops at 6 different OC Public Libraries, providing local elementary students an opportunity to explore creative writing with the help of passionate high school volunteers. With the COVID-19 pandemic, Writer's Ink has transitioned to a fully-functional virtual program via Zoom, serving students from across the state and nation.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of competition entrants
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Creative Writing Workshops
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Since 2017, Writer's Ink has hosted an annual creative writing competition for middle and elementary school students, and since 2019, wInk has maintained a high school scholarship program.
Number of free registrants to classes
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Creative Writing Workshops
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Writer's Ink has worked with over 3000 students in the Orange County area since our inception in 2014.
Number of clients reporting increased knowledge after educational programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Creative Writing Workshops
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
At the end of each summer camp, Writer's Ink surveys participants and records their input. Some students have chosen not to respond, so therefore their input is not included.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Creative Writing Workshops
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
As Writer's Ink expands, the number of volunteers across branches has continuously expanded across Southern California, and now across the United States.
Hours of volunteer service
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Creative Writing Workshops
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Writer's Ink volunteers dedicate their weekends towards volunteering at workshops, creating new curriculum, and hosting special events.
Number of competition winners declared
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Creative Writing Workshops
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Since 2017, Writer's Ink has hosted an annual creative writing competition for middle and elementary school students, and since 2019, wInk has maintained a high school scholarship program.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Writer’s Ink is a student-run nonprofit dedicated to cultivating a lifelong love for creative writing in children and supporting aspiring young writers.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Writer's Ink hosts weekly workshops at mulitiple locations in Orange County, coordinates an annual Summer Camp, and Creative Writing Contest (for elementary and middle school students) as well as a High School Scholarship program, and recently started an Equity Initiative to provide resources to underpriveleged youth in addition to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Writer's Ink develops novel curriculum to better serve workshop participants, and partners with other community organizations to educate the community during this uncertain time.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Writer's Ink has a network of over 40 alumni, volunteers, and board members who coordinate weekly workshops and special events. Writer's Ink partners with local corporations to provide the best experience for our volunteers and participants, through fundraisers and in-kind donations.
wInk's online prescence is generously supported by the Google Nonprofit G-Suite and Ad Grant as well as benefits from NinjaNumber, Wix, and Microsoft.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since 2014, Writer's Ink Nonprofit has guided over 3,000 students along their creative writing journeys. Through programs such as the Creative Writing Contest (for elementary and middle school students), High School Scholarship, and Equity Initiative, Writer's Ink has awarded over $5,000 in prizes and cash to support aspiring young writers. As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, Writer's Ink is transitioning online, and expanding nationwide to reach even more students!
How 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 collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
After surveying our current and past participants, some respondents noted that they were interested in how middle school students could become involved with our organization. Although we do serve middle/high school students via our annual competitions and scholarships, the majority of our workshops are geared towards elementary school students. We realized our current model meant that many students "graduate" from the workshops at the end of elementary school, disappear, then re-emerge as high school volunteers. As a result, we are now developing a Middle School Mentorship program, matching middle school students with motivated high school volunteers to help bridge the gap between participating and volunteering with Writer's Ink.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
Our staff, Our board,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
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
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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.
Writers Ink Nonprofit
Board of directorsas of 10/31/2020
Mengshu Zhang
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? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 08/25/2020GuideStar 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 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 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 use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- 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.
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