2026-07-13T11:43:52-05:00 2025-08-31 760269860 Blazek & Vetterling 2900 Weslayan Suite 200 Houston TX 77027 990 2024-09-01 760338549 Writers in the Schools WRIT 7135233877 1414 Sul Ross St Houston TX 77006 Emily Sketch Haines Executive Director 7135233877 2026-07-13 1 0 Susanna Blackmon P01226926 7134395739 2026-07-13 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Emily Sketch Haines 1414 Sul Ross St Houston TX 77006 1898500 0 X www.witshouston.org X 1984 TX Writers in the Schools empowers students to achieve long-term academic success. 19 19 18 35 0 0 731807 804339 700295 668237 209455 60037 -280 -5278 1641277 1527335 1027 7800 0 0 1086615 1132257 0 0 215056 352215 307775 1439857 1447832 201420 79503 1761831 1887266 275717 259666 1486114 1627600 The mission of Writers in the Schools (WITS) is to connect children and youth with professional writers and spoken word artists to unlock the joy and power of storytelling and creative expression. 0 0 629522 7800 323917 Education for Students - WITS students develop creative and analytical skills through school-based workshops, exposure to diverse texts, cultural field trips, and publication. By offering creative, digital, and performance writing to students, WITS provides a variety of entry points for learning that emphasizes the importance of practice, revision, and collaboration. A majority of students live in underserved communities and attend low-income schools. 199897 344320 Creative Writing Camps - WITS partners with schools and academic institutions to offer renowned creative writing camps that address summer learning loss, nurture the growth of the imagination, and ignite a love of learning. Tuition-based revenue generated from camp supports school-based programs throughout the year. 13465 Professional Development for Teachers and Writers - WITS fosters collaborative coaching and professional development for teachers aimed at transforming school ecosystems while inspiring literary cultures. Through its leadership of a national alliance, WITS promotes writers as teaching artists, providing resources, education, and connection to drive collective impact. 842884 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 106 0 1 18 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 19 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 X Emily Sketch Haines 7135233877 1414 Sul Ross St Houston TX 77006 Misty Matin President 0.50 X X 0 0 0 Megan Prout Vice President 0.50 X X 0 0 0 Michael Pipkin Treasurer 0.50 X X 0 0 0 Alecia Harris Secretary 0.50 X X 0 0 0 Liz Bender Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Jai Collier Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Christopher Cooper Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Thomas Frashier Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Erin Greaney Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Julie Jenkins Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Lacy Johnson Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Hannah Kaplan Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Ryan McConnell Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Kara Pryzbyl McIver Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Chandradev Mehta Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Nazia Mirza Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 David Rappaport Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Shreya Sheth Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Amelia Tomjanovich Director 0.50 X 0 0 0 Giuseppe Taurino Executive Director 40.00 X 122789 0 11711 122789 0 11711 1 0 0 0 0 121132 10000 673207 804339 Writing Program Fees 611600 668237 668237 668237 44997 44997 359927 344887 15040 15040 15040 21000 121132 26278 -5278 -5278 1527335 668237 0 54759 7800 7800 134500 80351 34273 19876 910352 551396 225684 133272 30364 10448 14304 5612 57041 34225 14260 8556 36400 36400 11867 11867 22856 8642 3749 10465 38325 27547 398 10380 43336 20718 19362 3256 24657 18262 346 6049 98172 58903 24543 14726 8423 8423 6600 3960 1650 990 11985 7191 2996 1798 Dues and subscriptions 5154 5018 60 76 1447832 842884 389892 215056 85957 50770 157081 163790 44112 40228 122805 207212 16529 19304 33000 11200 28399 21800 1155245 1308001 151703 76161 1761831 1887266 77276 97580 39930 31339 158511 130747 275717 259666 X 1386114 1456567 100000 171033 1486114 1627600 1761831 1887266 79503 61983 0 X 1 X 0 1 0 X 1003883 680152 500474 731807 804339 3720655 1003883 680152 500474 731807 804339 3720655 1095184 2625471 25302 40485 33180 42040 44997 186004 3906659 3771462 0.67210 0.68550 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 33000 11200 21800 21800 Lease liability 80747 Refundable advance 50000 130747 Luncheon 142132 121132 21000 1350 12826 12102 142132 121132 21000 1350 12826 12102 26278 -5278 1 Scholarships, Meta4 Fellowships 9 7800 Part I, Line 2: WITS hosts a series of poetry slams for young people (ages 13 through 19), culminating in a final competition where six poets are chosen (the Meta4 team) that will represent the city of Houston in the national slam poetry festival, Brave New Voices. The six poets are chosen by a panel of independent judges that join for the final competition. As part of the program, WITS hosts workshops and classes (practice) for these poets to author, choreograph, and perform these poems throughout the summer, culminating with the trip to the festival. The payments are apportioned as follows: $200 upon being selected as one of the final 6; $800 upon successful completion of the summer program (requiring 80% attendance to practice and 100% attendance to performances) and participation in the BNV festival. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 1a The Executive Committee consists of the officers of the Writers in the Schools (the President, Past President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) and the Committee Chairs. An additional Director may be designated as a member of the Executive Committee if deemed necessary by majority vote of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. The Executive Committee serves at the pleasure of the Board. The President, unless absent or otherwise unable to do so, acts as Chair of the Executive Committee. The Committee meets at the call of the President or the Board, or any two members of the Committee. When the Board is not in session, the Committee has the power to perform all duties not required by law or the charter of WITS to be performed solely by the Board. The Executive Committee has authority to make rules for the holding and conduct of its meetings, keeps records thereof and regularly reports its actions to the Board. All acts performed by the Executive Committee in the exercise of its authority, including actions between meetings of the Board, are considered acts performed under authority of the Board. All actions of the Executive Committee are recorded in writing in a minutes book and reported to the Board at its next meeting. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The Executive Director and the Accounting Manager review Form 990. A copy is provided to the Board of Directors prior to filing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c Directors annually sign a statement affirming receipt of the conflict of interest policy and agreeing to comply with the policy. If a potential conflict of interest is disclosed, the Executive Committee reviews the disclosure to determine whether an actual conflict of interest exists. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15a The United Way Salary survey and salary guidelines from the NonProfit Times are used in deciding salary for the Executive Director and staff. The Executive Committee approves the Executive Director's salary after an annual performance review. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 Available upon request.