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WRITOPIA LAB INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 260835350 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE B99 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · writopialab.org
revenue
$3.4M
expenses
$4.0M
net assets
$-296K
employees
116
volunteers
50
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

CHILDREN'S CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM

profile · synthesized from sources

Writopia Lab is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 that provides creative writing programs for children and teens. It operates through a no-barriers sliding scale model and runs workshops, camps, and specialty programs across multiple regions including New York City, Washington DC, Westchester, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The organization also partners with schools and nonprofits to expand access to youth writing education.

named programs · 8 · from sources

What they call their work

Creative Portfolio
Pre-college program for teens to develop creative writing portfolios, launched in 2018 and expanded nationally in 2020
Language Play
Early-literacy engagement program for preschoolers, including filmmaking components offered in UPre-Ks in homeless shelters and Title 1 schools in NYC
Service Trip to Quito, Ecuador
Annual international service and writing program for youth, developed and led by staff since inception
The Positive Literacy Collaborative
Partnership with Goddard Riverside, focused on literacy impact and developed with support from the Pinkerton Foundation
Training Institute
Professional development initiative established in 2015 to serve the youth development sector and Department of Education
WriCampia
Annual summer camp program offering creative writing, songwriting, and other electives for children and teens, with year-round planning and counselor involvement
Write to Recognition
Scholarship program supporting access to Writopia Lab’s writing workshops and programs
Writopia Music Foundry
Music and songwriting program launched in 2021, offering instruction in creative writing through music, part of Writopia's Music Lab
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Youth Writing Contests & Recognition Programs 4 activities
    • Creative writing workshops for youth
      Offers multi-genre creative writing workshops for children and teenagers aged 4 to 18, including weekly trimester-long programs during the academic year and half-day or full-day sessions during holidays and school breaks. Programs are available in-person and virtually, with locations in NYC, Washington, DC Metro, Westchester, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
    • Publishing and public recognition support for youth writers
      Facilitates the publication and public sharing of youth writing through literary magazines, online publications, readings, performances, and an annual professional play festival. Submits student work monthly to over 50 curated recognition and publishing opportunities, resulting in more annual recognition for young writers than any other group in the country.
    • Training and capacity-building for external partners
      Established Writopia’s Training Institute in 2015 to provide training and resources to the youth development sector and the Department of Education. Also co-founded The Positive Literacy Collaborative in partnership with Goddard Riverside and community-based organizations to expand access to creative writing programs for families across economic backgrounds and locations.
    • Youth writing camps and retreats
      Operates summer full-day and sleepaway camps for youth, including WriCampia and an advanced overnight writing seminar in New York City, providing immersive creative writing experiences outside the academic year.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Leadership development and internship programs
      Offers high school and college-level internships and ongoing leadership development for teens through teaching internships, mentorship, event planning, and co-leading public events, fostering youth leadership within the organization.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Scholarship and financial access programs
      Provides partial or full scholarships to 50% of enrolled students to ensure access to writing programs regardless of financial ability, with a no-barriers sliding scale model that prevents any student from being turned away due to inability to pay tuition.
  • Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
    • Specialized youth writing programs
      Runs targeted programs including the Write to Recognition program (offering one-on-one tutoring and full-scholarship access to three semesters of workshops for 50 young writers annually), the Creative Portfolio pre-college program for teens, and the Writopia Music Foundry for songwriting, building on earlier Songwriting Studio and camp electives.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$3.42M
Contributions & grants$400K12%
Program service revenue$3.02M88%
Investment income$320%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$3.97M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$2.82M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$703K
Cash$38K
Investments$0
Liabilities$999K
Net assets$-296K
Liquid reserves0.1 mo
6 years on record · 2018–2023 · YoY revenue +2.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

board members · 11
  • CANDICE BRAUN — Secretary
  • DAVID SHERMAN — FINANCE CHAIR
  • HYEON LEE — CO-CHAIR AUDIT
  • JENNIFER DIVINA — BOARD MEMBER
  • JEREMY WALLACE SEGALL — Board Member
  • KEVIN R FREE — BOARD MEMBER
  • KIM HARTMAN — Event Com Chair
  • LISA ISAACS — BOARD MEMBER
  • MICHELLE HERBOWY — BOARD MEMBER
  • REBECCA WALLACE SEGALL — Board Member
  • TIMOTHY E ROGERS — Chairman
relationships · 35

Who they work with

  • Big Brothers, Big Sisters Partner — Collaborates with Writopia Lab to offer creative writing workshops as part of youth development programming.
  • Bryant Park Partner — Partner organization hosting Writopia Lab writing workshops.
  • Camp Danbee Partner — Collaborates with Writopia to provide creative writing programming within camp settings.
  • Chess in the Schools Partner — Collaborates with Chess in the Schools to provide college essay support for students in the College Bound program.
  • Columbia University School of Social Work Partner — Collaborated with middle school teachers from the Computer School to evaluate the literacy impact of Writopia Lab’s workshops at Sojourner Truth School in Harlem.
  • Cooper Union Partner — Partner institution working with Writopia Lab on writing initiatives.
  • Council Member Gale Brewer’s Office Government — Government partner supporting Writopia Lab programs.
  • Debate Spaces Partner — Collaborates with Writopia Lab on youth writing and communication programs.
  • ESPI (Exam School Partnership Initiative) Partner — Academic partner working with Writopia to prepare Black, Latinx, and low-income students for competitive exam schools through creative writing.
  • Goddard Riverside Partner — Partner in establishing The Positive Literacy Collaborative in 2019.
  • Goddard Riverside Partner — Partner in the Positive Literacy Collaborative, offering Writopia's creative writing workshops to underserved communities.
  • Goddard Riverside Partner — Partnered with Writopia Lab to establish The Positive Literacy Collaborative in 2019.
  • Graton Rancheria Partner — Partner organization collaborating with Writopia Lab on writing workshops.
  • Homes for the Homeless Partner — Partner in the Positive Literacy Collaborative, providing Writopia writing workshops to youth in homeless shelters.
  • Lincoln Square Community Center Partner — Partner in the Positive Literacy Collaborative, hosting Writopia writing workshops for local youth.
  • Music on the Inside Partner — Partner in the Positive Literacy Collaborative, collaborating on creative writing programming.
  • National Commission on Writing in America's Schools and Colleges Network — Cited as a source affirming the importance of writing workshops in education.
  • New York Historical Society Partner — Partner institution hosting or co-facilitating Writopia writing programs.
  • New York Society for Ethical Culture Partner — Hosts Writopia Lab workshops at Amsterdam Houses and partners through the Positive Literacy Collaborative.
  • Nuyorican Poets Cafe Partner — Partner in the Positive Literacy Collaborative, supporting access to creative writing workshops for underserved youth.
  • Our Donors Funder — Provides financial support enabling outreach programs and scholarship offerings.
  • Our Donors Funder — Supports outreach programs through financial contributions.
  • P&T Knitwear Partner — Partner in the Positive Literacy Collaborative, helping extend Writopia's writing programs to diverse communities.
  • Pinkerton Foundation Funder — Provided support for the establishment of Writopia’s Training Institute and The Positive Literacy Collaborative with Goddard Riverside.
  • Pinkerton Foundation Funder — Supported the establishment of Writopia’s Training Institute and The Positive Literacy Collaborative.
  • Pinkerton Foundation Partner — Collaborates with Writopia Lab on the Joy and Literacy in Afterschool program to deliver creative writing workshops in Manhattan.
  • Police Athletic League Partner — Community partner hosting Writopia creative writing programs for youth.
  • Pratt Institute - Brooklyn Partner — Educational partner collaborating with Writopia Lab on writing initiatives.
  • School’s Out New York City (SONYC) Partner — After-school network partner collaborating with Writopia to expand access to creative writing programs.
  • The New York Public Library Partner — Partner organization providing space and collaboration for Writopia Lab writing workshops.
+ 5 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Authentic Workshop Model with Professional Writers
    methodology: authentic_workshop_model
    By placing published authors and professional playwrights in small-group, revision-based, and strengths-focused instructional roles using a structured methodology, the organization produces higher-quality writing outcomes and voice development, because students receive expert mentorship in an authentic, peer-supported creative environment.
  • Creative Writing as Youth Development Tool
    methodology: creative_writing_youth_development
    By using creative writing to foster confidence, imagination, authenticity, and critical thinking, the organization produces empowered self-expression and personal growth in youth, because the process connects intrinsic motivation to literacy and identity development.
  • Inclusive Access Through Financial and Pedagogical Equity
    methodology: equitable_access_model
    By implementing a no-questions-asked, honor-based sliding scale and rejecting AI-assisted writing, the organization reduces financial and cultural barriers to participation while preserving human-centered creativity, because equitable access and authentic expression are foundational to empowering underrepresented youth.
  • Student-Centered and Collaborative Learning Environment
    methodology: student_centered_creative_learning
    By centering youth voice through student-driven goal setting, peer collaboration, play-based learning, and empathetic feedback, the organization increases engagement and skill development in reluctant or diverse learners, because joyful, autonomous, and socially supported writing experiences build fluency and confidence.