The Poetry Project Limited
The Poetry Project Limited shows volatile finances with recent revenue surge after years of deficits, maintaining 0% officer compensation.
EIN: 133317229 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.6M |
| Total Expenses | $1.1M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| Net Assets | $446K |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is The Poetry Project Limited Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
The Poetry Project Limited directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About The Poetry Project Limited
The Poetry Project Limited (EIN: 133317229) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $3.6M and total assets of $2.9M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Poetry Project Limited's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Poetry Project Limited is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 40 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 10.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.1M |
| Total Expenses | $1.1M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-8,302 |
| Total Assets | $721K |
| Total Liabilities | $275K |
| Net Assets | $446K |
| Operating Margin | -0.7% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 38.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 7.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, The Poetry Project Limited reported a deficit of $8K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 7.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 38.1% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), The Poetry Project Limited's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +172.0% | +12.8% | +25.6% |
| 2022 | -27.4% | +14.4% | -58.7% |
| 2021 | +12.4% | +36.7% | -5.8% |
| 2020 | -4.3% | +29.8% | -13.9% |
| 2019 | +7.4% | +9.5% | +5.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1986 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates The Poetry Project Limited with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Poetry Project Limited allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $8K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 38.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Poetry Project Limited consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no funds are allocated to executive salaries, which is highly commendable for a nonprofit of its size.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of The Poetry Project Limited's IRS 990 filings:
- Inconsistent financial performance with significant operating deficits in multiple years (e.g., 2022: $418,245 revenue vs. $1,016,312 expenses).
- Significant fluctuation and overall decline in assets from 2019 to 2022, indicating potential erosion of financial reserves.
- Sudden increase in liabilities from $0 in 2022 to $274,513 in 2023 without clear explanation in the provided data.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Poetry Project Limited:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, demonstrating strong commitment to mission over executive pay.
- Significant revenue growth in 2023 to $1,137,700, indicating renewed fundraising success or increased program activity.
- Long filing history (13 filings) suggests consistent compliance with IRS reporting requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Poetry Project Limited
Is The Poetry Project Limited a legitimate charity?
The Poetry Project Limited (EIN: 133317229) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $3.6M. 3 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does The Poetry Project Limited spend its money?
The Poetry Project Limited directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to The Poetry Project Limited tax-deductible?
The Poetry Project Limited is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133317229). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of The Poetry Project Limited's spending goes to programs?
The Poetry Project Limited directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is The Poetry Project Limited located?
The Poetry Project Limited is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 133317229.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Poetry Project Limited have?
The Poetry Project Limited has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $3.6M in total revenue.
Is The Poetry Project Limited financially stable?
The organization's financial stability is inconsistent. While 2023 saw a significant revenue increase to $1,137,700, previous years (e.g., 2022, 2021) showed substantial operating deficits where expenses far exceeded revenue, and assets have fluctuated considerably.
How does The Poetry Project Limited manage executive compensation?
The Poetry Project Limited reports 0% officer compensation in all available IRS 990 filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to its officers, which is a strong positive for transparency and resource allocation.
What caused the significant increase in liabilities in 2023?
The liabilities increased from $0 in 2022 to $274,513 in 2023. The provided data does not specify the nature of these liabilities, which would require reviewing the full IRS 990 filing for details.
What is the trend in The Poetry Project Limited's assets?
Assets have shown a declining trend from a peak of $1,712,719 in 2019 to a low of $573,687 in 2022, before a modest recovery to $720,611 in 2023. This indicates a reduction in reserves or capital over recent years.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Poetry Project Limited showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), The Poetry Project Limited's revenue has grown by 232.8%, moving from $342K to $1.1M. Total assets decreased by 51.2% over the same period, from $1.5M to $721K. Total functional expenses rose by 281.5%, from $300K to $1.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), The Poetry Project Limited reported a deficit of $8K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $275K in liabilities against $721K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 38.1%), resulting in net assets of $446K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.1M | $1.1M | $721K | $275K | — | — |
| 2022 | $418K | $1.0M | $574K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $576K | $889K | $1.4M | $81K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $512K | $650K | $1.5M | $29K | — | — |
| 2019 | $535K | $501K | $1.7M | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $499K | $458K | $1.6M | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $488K | $512K | $1.6M | $17K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $461K | $495K | $1.5M | $27K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $352K | $424K | $1.6M | $16K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $491K | $406K | $1.7M | $24K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $315K | $391K | $1.4M | $26K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $371K | $366K | $1.5M | $9K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $342K | $300K | $1.5M | $19K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $721K (revenue +172.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $418K, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $574K (revenue -27.4% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $576K, expenses of $889K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +12.4% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $512K, expenses of $650K, and assets of $1.5M (revenue -4.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $535K, expenses of $501K, and assets of $1.7M (revenue +7.4% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $499K, expenses of $458K, and assets of $1.6M (revenue +2.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $488K, expenses of $512K, and assets of $1.6M (revenue +6.1% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $461K, expenses of $495K, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +30.9% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $352K, expenses of $424K, and assets of $1.6M (revenue -28.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $491K, expenses of $406K, and assets of $1.7M (revenue +55.9% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $315K, expenses of $391K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue -15.0% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $371K, expenses of $366K, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +8.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $342K, expenses of $300K, and assets of $1.5M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Poetry Project Limited:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Poetry Project Limited is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.