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 September 2023

IRS BMF 509(a)(1)
as of September 18, 2023

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?

4x4CLT

4X4CLT is Charlotte Lit’s poetry+art showcase series—taking poetry out of books and art off gallery walls and bringing them out into public. Four times a year, on the 4th of March, June, September and December, we release four different posters featuring four poems and four works of art. For each release, a reading and presentation is held with featured poets and artists. After each event, the posters are hung in public places throughout the city—coffee shops, waiting rooms, libraries, storefronts.

Population(s) Served

Adults

Authors Lab

Authors Lab combines coaching, classes, and community to help writers complete a book-length manuscript.

Population(s) Served

Adults

Writing Classes & Creative Explorations

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

Population(s) Served

Adults

Where we work

External reviews

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 2022

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

29.23

Average of 19.12 over 7 years

Months of cash in 2022

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

3.4

Average of 1.6 over 7 years

Fringe rate in 2022

SOURCE: IRS Form 990

7%

Average of 1% over 7 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

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)

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
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation	$21,869	-$14,008
As % of expenses	11.0%	-3.9%
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation	$21,869	-$14,008
As % of expenses	11.0%	-3.9%

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

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

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

Capital structure indicators

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

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

Key data checks

Key data checks	2021	2022
Material data errors	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, co-founder of Charlotte Lit, is the co-author of Creativity Rising: Creative Thinking and Creative Problem Solving in the 21st Century. In addition, his work has been published in Winston-Salem Journal, InSpine, Office Solutions, Lawyers Weekly, and others. His fiction has been awarded first place in the Elizabeth Simpson Smith and Ruth Moose Flash Fiction competitions, and he received a Regional Artist Project Grant from Charlotte’s Arts & Science Council in 2018. Paul has an M.S. in Creativity from the International Center for Studies in Creativity at SUNY Buffalo State, where he also is an adjunct instructor and the managing editor of ICSC Press. Paul has been a trainer and facilitator for more than 25 years, in the areas of creativity, innovation, and business and writing skills.

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 07/28/2023

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 - 2024

Andrea Chandler

Ed Williams

Deborah Bosley

Christine Arvidson

UNC-Charlotte

Marsha Rhee

Johnson C. Smith University

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? No
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
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? No
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

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 (cisgender)

Disability status

Person without a disability

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity

White/Caucasian/European

Gender identity

Male, Not transgender (cisgender)

Disability status

Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender 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

4x4CLT

Authors Lab

Writing Classes & Creative Explorations

Where we work

How we listen

Financials

Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown

Liquidity in 2022 info

29.23

Months of cash in 2022 info

3.4

Fringe rate in 2022 info

7%

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

Board leadership practices

Board orientation and education

CEO oversight

Ethics and transparency

Board composition

Board performance

Organizational demographics

Leadership

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

Liquidity in 2022

Months of cash in 2022

Fringe rate in 2022

Funding sources

Assets & liabilities