Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Spread the Words.

aka Charlotte Lit | Charlotte, NC | www.charlottelit.org

GuideStar Charity Check

EIN: 47-4988291

Contributions tax deductible
as of August 2024

IRS BMF 509(a)(1)
as of August 12, 2024

View summary

Charity Check report

Mission

Charlotte Lit’s mission is to celebrate the literary arts by educating and engaging writers and readers through classes, conversations, and community.

Ruling year info

2016

Creative Director

Dr. Kathie Collins

Executive Director

Mr. Paul Reali

Main address

PO Box 18607

Charlotte, NC 28218 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

47-4988291

Subject area info

Arts and culture

Population served info

Adults

NTEE code info

Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose (A20)

IRS subsection

501(c)(3) Public Charity

IRS filing requirement

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

Tax forms

Show Forms 990

Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

This profile needs more info.

If it is your nonprofit, add a problem overview.

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?

Authors Lab

Authors Lab is a year-long program that combines coaching, classes, and community to help writers complete a book-length manuscriptnovel, memoir, or short story collection.

Writing Classes & Creative Explorations

Craft classes for writers and literature-based explorations for everyone.

Population(s) Served

Adults

Chapbook Lab

Chapbook Lab is a year-long program that combines coaching, classes, and community to help poets complete a publication-ready chapbook-length manuscript.

Poetry Nightclub

Charlotte Lits Poetry Nightclub is fun way to engage with the worlds oldest form of storytelling. Featuring acclaimed poets from across the nation, each event is a unique and compelling experience that goes beyond traditional reading and book signing events.

Charlotte Lit Press

Charlotte Lit Press, created in 2022, showcases exceptional writing from current and past residents of the American South. Litmosphere: Journal of Charlotte Lit, annually publishes the winners and selected finalists from the Lit/South Awards in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. The Press also publishes poetry chapbooks and full-length collections.

Population(s) Served

Adults

Where we work

Financials

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Fiscal year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

NET GAIN/LOSS: in

Note: When component data are not available, the graph displays the total Revenue and/or Expense values.

Liquidity in 2023

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

95.59

Average of 28.68 over 8 years

Months of cash in 2023

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

4.1

Average of 1.9 over 8 years

Fringe rate in 2023

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

6%

Average of 2% over 8 years

Funding sources

Source: IRS Form 990

Assets & liabilities

Source: IRS Form 990

Financial data

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Digitizing IRS form 990 data

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Revenue & expenses

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

Fiscal year ending: Download Data

Revenue
Contributions	$39,497
Program Services	$16,834
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$11,610
Total Revenue	$67,941

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$11,245
Occupancy	$10,234
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$750
Other Expenses	$12,313
Total Expenses	$34,542
Net Gain/Loss	$33,399

Revenue
Contributions	$21,879
Program Services	$46,056
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$12,928
Total Revenue	$80,863

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$49,840
Occupancy	$10,581
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$3,101
Other Expenses	$19,383
Total Expenses	$82,905
Net Gain/Loss	($2,042)

Revenue
Contributions	$29,609
Program Services	$64,170
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$14,661
Total Revenue	$108,440

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$0
Professional Fees	$48,305
Occupancy	$10,185
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$1,948
Other Expenses	$12,868
Total Expenses	$73,306
Net Gain/Loss	$34,134

Revenue
Contributions	$45,992
Program Services	$104,743
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$21,708
Total Revenue	$172,443

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$12,000
Professional Fees	$101,510
Occupancy	$23,572
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$3,640
Other Expenses	$29,971
Total Expenses	$170,693
Net Gain/Loss	$1,750

Revenue
Contributions	$85,120
Program Services	$82,483
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$17,696
Total Revenue	$185,299

Expenses
Grants	$0
Salaries & Employee Benefits	$29,839
Professional Fees	$79,698
Occupancy	$23,696
Printing, Publications, Postage, etc.	$202
Other Expenses	$14,381
Total Expenses	$147,816
Net Gain/Loss	$37,483

Revenue
Contributions	$103,261
Government Grants	$41,296
Program Services	$76,729
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$221,286

Expenses
Program Services	$86,761
Administration	$103,511
Fundraising	$9,145
Total Expenses	$199,417
Net Gain/Loss	$21,869

Functional expenses
Accounting Fees	$0
Advertising & Promotion	$3,290
Information Technology Expenses	$2,160
Insurance Expenses	$753
Interest Expenses	$0
Investment Management Fees	$0
Legal Fees	$0
Pension Plan Contributions	$0
Professional Fundraising Expenses	$0

Revenue
Contributions	$155,504
Government Grants	$74,606
Program Services	$118,972
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$349,082

Expenses
Program Services	$130,767
Administration	$198,832
Fundraising	$33,491
Total Expenses	$363,090
Net Gain/Loss	($14,008)

Functional expenses
Accounting Fees	$0
Advertising & Promotion	$13,710
Information Technology Expenses	$2,617
Insurance Expenses	$1,309
Interest Expenses	$0
Investment Management Fees	$0
Legal Fees	$0
Pension Plan Contributions	$0
Professional Fundraising Expenses	$0

Revenue
Contributions	$143,652
Government Grants	$62,622
Program Services	$140,022
Investments	$0
Special Events	$0
Sales	$0
Other	$0
Total Revenue	$346,296

Expenses
Program Services	$145,909
Administration	$181,737
Fundraising	$12,094
Total Expenses	$339,740
Net Gain/Loss	$6,556

Functional expenses
Accounting Fees	$0
Advertising & Promotion	$5,868
Information Technology Expenses	$0
Insurance Expenses	$1,292
Interest Expenses	$0
Investment Management Fees	$0
Legal Fees	$0
Pension Plan Contributions	$0
Professional Fundraising Expenses	$0

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Balance sheet

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Fiscal year ending: Download Data

Assets	Jan 01, 2016	Dec 31, 2016	Change
Contributions	$39,497
Cash & Equivalents	$10,000	$43,399	$33,399
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$0	$0
Other	$0	$0	$0
Total Assets	$10,000	$43,399	$33,399

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2016	Dec 31, 2016	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2016	Dec 31, 2016	Change
Net Assets	$10,000	$43,399	$33,399

Assets	Jan 01, 2017	Dec 31, 2017	Change
Contributions	$21,879
Cash & Equivalents	$43,399	$41,357	($2,042)
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$0	$0
Other	$0	$0	$0
Total Assets	$43,399	$41,357	($2,042)

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2017	Dec 31, 2017	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2017	Dec 31, 2017	Change
Net Assets	$43,399	$41,357	($2,042)

Assets	Jan 01, 2018	Dec 31, 2018	Change
Contributions	$29,609
Cash & Equivalents	$41,357	$76,491	$35,134
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$0	$0
Other	$0	$0	$0
Total Assets	$41,357	$76,491	$35,134

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2018	Dec 31, 2018	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2018	Dec 31, 2018	Change
Net Assets	$41,357	$76,491	$35,134

Assets	Jan 01, 2019	Dec 31, 2019	Change
Contributions	$45,992
Cash & Equivalents	$76,491	$78,651	$2,160
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$0	$0
Other	$0	$0	$0
Total Assets	$76,491	$78,651	$2,160

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2019	Dec 31, 2019	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2019	Dec 31, 2019	Change
Net Assets	$76,491	$78,651	$2,160

Assets	Jan 01, 2020	Dec 31, 2020	Change
Contributions	$85,120
Cash & Equivalents	$78,651	$116,144	$37,493
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$0	$0
Other	$0	$0	$0
Total Assets	$78,651	$116,144	$37,493

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2020	Dec 31, 2020	Change
Total Liabilities	$0	$0	$0

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2020	Dec 31, 2020	Change
Net Assets	$78,651	$116,144	$37,493

Assets	Jan 01, 2021	Dec 31, 2021	Change
Contributions	$103,261
Cash & Equivalents	$116,044	$124,099	$8,055
Accounts Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Pledges & Grants Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Receivable, Other	$0	$0	$0
Inventories for Sale or Use	$0	$0	$0
Investment, Securities	$0	$0	$0
Investment, Other	$0	$0	$0
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$0	$0
Other	$0	$15,000	$15,000
Total Assets	$116,044	$139,099	$23,055

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2021	Dec 31, 2021	Change
Accounts Payable	$0	$0	$0
Grants Payable	$0	$0	$0
Deferred Revenue	$0	$0	$0
Loans and Notes	$0	$0	$0
Tax-Exempt Bond Liabilities	$0	$0	$0
Other	$0	$1,186	$1,186
Total Liabilities	$0	$1,186	$1,186

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2021	Dec 31, 2021	Change
Temporarily Restricted Net Assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Permanently Restricted Net Assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total Restricted Net Assets	$0	$0	$0
Unrestricted Net Assets	$0	$0	$0
Net Assets	$116,044	$137,913	$21,869

Assets	Jan 01, 2022	Dec 31, 2022	Change
Contributions	$155,504
Cash & Equivalents	$114,099	$102,409	($11,690)
Accounts Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Pledges & Grants Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Receivable, Other	$0	$0	$0
Inventories for Sale or Use	$0	$0	$0
Investment, Securities	$0	$0	$0
Investment, Other	$0	$0	$0
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$0	$0
Other	$15,000	$15,000	$0
Total Assets	$129,099	$117,409	($11,690)

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2022	Dec 31, 2022	Change
Accounts Payable	$0	$0	$0
Grants Payable	$0	$0	$0
Deferred Revenue	$0	$0	$0
Loans and Notes	$0	$0	$0
Tax-Exempt Bond Liabilities	$0	$0	$0
Other	$1,186	$3,504	$2,318
Total Liabilities	$1,186	$3,504	$2,318

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2022	Dec 31, 2022	Change
Temporarily Restricted Net Assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Permanently Restricted Net Assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total Restricted Net Assets	$0	$0	$0
Unrestricted Net Assets	$0	$0	$0
Net Assets	$127,913	$113,905	($14,008)

Assets	Jan 01, 2023	Dec 31, 2023	Change
Contributions	$143,652
Cash & Equivalents	$112,337	$116,908	$4,571
Accounts Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Pledges & Grants Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Receivable, Other	$0	$0	$0
Inventories for Sale or Use	$0	$0	$0
Investment, Securities	$0	$0	$0
Investment, Other	$0	$0	$0
Fixed Assets (LBE - Depreciation)	$0	$0	$0
Other	$15,000	$15,000	$0
Total Assets	$127,337	$131,908	$4,571

Liabilities	Jan 01, 2023	Dec 31, 2023	Change
Accounts Payable	$0	$0	$0
Grants Payable	$0	$0	$0
Deferred Revenue	$0	$0	$0
Loans and Notes	$0	$0	$0
Tax-Exempt Bond Liabilities	$0	$0	$0
Other	$3,208	$1,223	($1,985)
Total Liabilities	$3,208	$1,223	($1,985)

Fund balance	Jan 01, 2023	Dec 31, 2023	Change
Temporarily Restricted Net Assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Permanently Restricted Net Assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total Restricted Net Assets	$0	$0	$0
Unrestricted Net Assets	$0	$0	$0
Net Assets	$124,129	$130,685	$6,556

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Financial trends analysis Glossary & formula definitions

Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31

SOURCE: IRS Form 990 info

This snapshot of Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.

Created in partnership with

Fiscal year: Jan 01 - Dec 31 View full report Download data

Business model indicators

Profitability	2021	2022	2023
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation	$21,869	-$14,008	$6,556
As % of expenses	11.0%	-3.9%	1.9%
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation	$21,869	-$14,008	$6,556
As % of expenses	11.0%	-3.9%	1.9%

Revenue composition
Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted)	$221,286	$349,082	$346,296
Total revenue, % change over prior year	0.0%	57.8%	-0.8%
Program services revenue	34.7%	34.1%	40.4%
Membership dues	8.8%	10.1%	8.0%
Investment income	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Government grants	18.7%	21.4%	18.1%
All other grants and contributions	37.9%	34.5%	33.5%
Other revenue	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

Expense composition
Total expenses before depreciation	$199,417	$363,090	$339,740
Total expenses, % change over prior year	0.0%	82.1%	-6.4%
Personnel	34.8%	44.2%	41.4%
Professional fees	41.1%	27.6%	32.3%
Occupancy	11.9%	7.0%	6.9%
Interest	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Pass-through	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
All other expenses	12.3%	21.2%	19.4%

Full cost components (estimated)	2021	2022	2023
Total expenses (after depreciation)	$199,417	$363,090	$339,740
One month of savings	$16,618	$30,258	$28,312
Debt principal payment	$0	$0	$0
Fixed asset additions	$0	$0	$0
Total full costs (estimated)	$216,035	$393,348	$368,052

Capital structure indicators

Liquidity	2021	2022	2023
Months of cash	7.5	3.4	4.1
Months of cash and investments	7.5	3.4	4.1
Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets	8.3	3.8	4.6

Balance sheet composition	2021	2022	2023
Cash	$124,099	$102,409	$116,908
Investments	$0	$0	$0
Receivables	$0	$0	$0
Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE)	$0	$0	$0
Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE)	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Liabilities (as a % of assets)	0.9%	3.0%	0.9%
Unrestricted net assets	$0	$0	$0
Temporarily restricted net assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Permanently restricted net assets	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total restricted net assets	$0	$0	$0
Total net assets	$137,913	$113,905	$130,685

Key data checks

Key data checks	2021	2022	2023
Material data errors	No	No	No

Operations

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

Documents

Letter of Determination

Form 1023/1024 is not available for this organization

Creative Director

Dr. Kathie Collins

Kathie Collins, Ph.D., co-founder of Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, earned her graduate degree in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she is currently an adjunct professor. A poet and lifelong student of Jungian psychology, Kathie thrives in the in-between space from which dreams and creativity emerge. She’s happiest when she can share that space with others and one of her great passions is bringing words and people together for transformative conversations. Kathie’s poetry has appeared in Immanence, Kakalak, BibleWorkbench, and Between. Her chapbook Jubilee was published by Main Street Rag in 2011.

Executive Director

Paul Reali

LinkedIn profile

Paul Reali is co-founder of Charlotte Lit, a nonprofit literary arts center in Charlotte, NC. He won the 2023 Doris Betts Fiction Award and is a past winner of the Elizabeth Simpson Smith Short Story and Ruth Moose Flash Fiction awards. His writing on creativity and business has been widely published, and his fiction is forthcoming in the North Carolina Literary Review. He was awarded a Wildacres residency in 2022, and received a Regional Artist Project Grant from Charlottes Arts & Science Council in 2018. He has an M.S. in Creativity from Buffalo State University and an M.B.A. from Syracuse University.

Number of employees

Source: IRS Form 990

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Officers, directors, trustees, and key employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation

Other

Show data for fiscal year

Compensation data

Download up to 5 most recent years of officer and director compensation data for this organization

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Highest paid employees

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

Compensation

Other

Show data for fiscal year

Compensation data

Download up to 5 most recent years of highest paid employee data for this organization

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Board of directors
as of 01/22/2024

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Board of directors data

Download the most recent year of board of directors data for this organization

Board chair

Dr. Kathryn Collins

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Term: 2015 - 2026

Ed Williams

Deborah Bosley

Plain Language Group

Christine Arvidson

UNC-Charlotte

Marsha Rhee

Johnson C. Smith University

Louanne Woznicki

Bank of America

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 6/23/2022

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

Disability status

Person without a disability

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity

White/Caucasian/European

Gender identity

Male, Not transgender

Disability status

Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Spread the Words.

Mission

Is this your nonprofit?

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

This profile needs more info.

Our programs

Authors Lab

Writing Classes & Creative Explorations

Chapbook Lab

Poetry Nightclub

Charlotte Lit Press

Where we work

How we listen

Financials

Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown

Liquidity in 2023 info

95.59

Months of cash in 2023 info

4.1

Fringe rate in 2023 info

6%

Funding sources info

Assets & liabilities info

Financial data

Digitizing IRS form 990 data

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Business model indicators

Capital structure indicators

Key data checks

Operations

Documents

Creative Director

Dr. Kathie Collins

Executive Director

Paul Reali

Number of employees

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Compensation data

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Compensation data

Charlotte Center for Literary Arts, Inc.

Board of directors data

Dr. Kathryn Collins

Organizational demographics

Leadership

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

Liquidity in 2023

Months of cash in 2023

Fringe rate in 2023

Funding sources

Assets & liabilities