TELLING ROOM

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

225 COMMERCIAL ST, PORTLAND, ME 04101-4613

In care of

% ABIGAIL CHANCE

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

Kristina Powell, 225 Commercial Street 201, Portland, ME 04101

Signed the 990

Kristina Powell, Executive Director

Phone

(207) 774-6064

Website

WWW.TELLINGROOM.ORG

Return prepared by

PGM LLC

Mission

THE TELLING ROOM IS A LITERARY ARTS EDUCATION NONPROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH THROUGH WRITING AND SHARE THEIR VOICES WITH THE WORLD. FOCUSED ON MAINE YOUTH IN GRADES 2-12, EACH YEAR WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH 1,800 STUDENTS ACROSS OUR 12 AFTERSCHOOL AND SCHOOL-BASED CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAMS, PUBLISHING 300 AUTHORS IN ACCLAIMED TELLING ROOM BOOKS AND REACHING ANOTHER 700 YOUTH THROUGH OUR AUTHOR EVENTS. WE PROVIDE THE TIME, SPACE, KNOWLEDGE, AND GUIDANCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PRACTICE CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND DEVELOP CRUCIAL LITERACY SKILLS SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE ALSO BUILDING COMMUNITY AMONG THEIR PEERS AND CONNECTING TO THE WIDER WORLD. ALL OUR CORE PROGRAMS ARE 100% FREE TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES INCLUDING OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES AND WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TRIPS HELPING ENSURE EQUITABLE ARTS EDUCATION ACCESS. OUR EVALUATIONS REGULARLY SHOW THAT AT LEAST 90% OF STUDENTS INCREASE THEIR WRITING ENTHUSIASM, BUILD SKILLS, AND GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE.

Program accomplishments

• WE'RE COMMITTED TO CREATING SPACES WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN IMPROVE THEIR WRITING SKILLS AND INCREASE THEIR CONFIDENCE IN A SUPPORTIVE, STRUCTURED WAY. WE PROVIDE 12 DIFFERENT SCHOOL-BASED AND AFTERSCHOOL WRITING PROGRAMS YEAR-ROUND AND STATEWIDE, OFFER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS, PUBLISH BESTSELLING ANTHOLOGIES OF STUDENT WORK, AND CARRY OUT COMMUNITY-WIDE WRITING PROJECTS AND EVENTS. WE DELIVER THE MAJORITY OF OUR PROGRAMMING WITHIN A 60 MILE RADIUS OF OUR HOME BASE IN PORTLAND, MAINE, INCLUDING THROUGH OUR SUITE OF EIGHT AFTERSCHOOL IN-STUDIO PROGRAMS, AND SERVE YOUTH WHO RESIDE IN MORE RURAL REGIONS OF THE STATE THROUGH FIVE PRIMARY CHANNELS: SCHOOL-BASED RESIDENCIES; SCHOOL-BASED WORKSHOPS; FIELD TRIPS; OUR STATEWIDE WRITING CONTEST; AND OUR VIRTUAL AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. WE EXPAND THE AUDIENCE FOR OUR AUTHORS' WORK TO BE READ AND HEARD BY PEERS AND ADULTS ALIKE WHILE CONNECTING THEM TO EXPERIENCES THAT NOT ONLY BENEFIT THEM AS EMERGING VOICES, BUT ALSO ENRICH AND ENLARGE THE ENTIRE ARTS COMMUNITY. TELLING ROOM'S YOUTH VOICES ALSO REACH THEIR PEERS ACROSS MAINE THROUGH EDUCATORS USING OUR BOOKS AS MENTOR TEXTS IN THEIR WRITING AND LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM. OUR ANTHOLOGIES HAVE BEEN FINALISTS AND WINNERS OF THE MAINE LITERARY AWARD FOR BEST ANTHOLOGY SEVERAL TIMES OVER AND TELLING ROOM STUDENTS GARNER DISTINGUISHED AWARDS EVERY YEAR, INCLUDING TOP HONORS IN THE MAINE LITERARY AWARDS AND THE SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS. WE HEAR OFTEN FROM STUDENTS HOW VITAL AND AFFIRMING IT IS TO HAVE THE TELLING ROOM IN THEIR LIVES AS A PLACE THEY CAN FIND AND BUILD COMMUNITY, CONNECT WITH THEIR INNER SELVES AND WITH OTHERS, PROCESS THE WORLD AROUND THEM, PLAY, HAVE FUN, AND CREATE NEW WORLDS OF THEIR OWN THROUGH WRITING AND SHARING. IN 2024-25, WE DELIVERED 110 PROGRAMS TO 2,493 MAINE YOUTH IN GRADES 2-12, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH 1,774 STUDENTS AND REACHING ANOTHER 719 THROUGH EVENTS TO ACHIEVE OUR PROPOSED GOALS AND OUTCOMES. WE WORKED WITH OVER 60 NONPROFIT AND EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, PUBLISHED 384 AUTHORS IN 14 NEW BOOKS, AND PRODUCED AND/OR PARTICIPATED IN 38 EVENTS STATEWIDE TO REACH A TOTAL OF 2,122 AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO CENTER AND ELEVATE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF YOUTH VOICES. STUDENTS MADE STRONG GAINS ACROSS MULTIPLE IMPACT AREAS AFTER PARTICIPATING IN TELLING ROOM PROGRAMS. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 2004, WE'VE WORKED WITH OVER 35,000 YOUTH AND PUBLISHED OVER 225 BOOKS, COLLABORATING WITH APPROXIMATELY 100 SCHOOLS AND 40 ORGANIZATIONS EVERY YEAR TO PROVIDE OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ACROSS THE STATE AND BUILD ENDURING PARTNERSHIPS. OUR AIM IS TO ENGAGE AND ENCOURAGE YOUTH IN WAYS THAT ARE PROVEN TO EMPOWER AND EQUIP THEM TO REALIZE THEIR INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL AND POSITION THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES FOR SUCCESS. IMPACT REPORT: WWW.TELLINGROOM.ORG/IMPACT-REPORT
  Expenses $658,071 · grants $29,049 · revenue $182,494

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

74-3136956

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

2006

Accounting year ends

June

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Youth development (O50)

Assets (IRS master file)

$567,007

Income (IRS master file)

$1,014,984

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 74-3136956).

Questions about TELLING ROOM

What is the EIN of TELLING ROOM?

The employer identification number (EIN) of TELLING ROOM is 74-3136956.

Is TELLING ROOM tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2006.

Are donations to TELLING ROOM tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does TELLING ROOM file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of TELLING ROOM due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did TELLING ROOM last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.

Who is the principal officer of TELLING ROOM?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Kristina Powell.

Who are the officers and directors of TELLING ROOM?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 12 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $78,916 (Kristina Powell, Executive Director).

How much revenue does TELLING ROOM have?

On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $959,912, expenses of $1,049,531 and total assets of $567,007 at year end.

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