Aunt Lute Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Event Programming and Community Engagement Early 2024 Literary Events Sonoma Community Writers Festival (April 4, 2024, In-Person) ? Aunt Lute Books participated in the inaugural Sonoma Community Writers Festival at Sonoma State University. This free evening festival (4?9 PM) featured a literary bazaar and a panel titled ? Demystifying Small Press Publishing,? where Aunt Lute? s team shared insights into independent publishing. Aunt Lute hosted a table to engage with the Bay Area literary community (answering questions and selling books) in line with the festival? s mission of networking and celebrating diverse voices. (Partnered with Sonoma State University? s English Department, Zaum literary magazine, and local lit organizations; free public event.) Third Place Books Author Talk ? Keep A? Livin? (April 9, 2024, In-Person) ? Seattle? s Third Place Books hosted Aunt Lute author Kathya Alexander for a reading and discussion of her debut novel-in-verse, Keep A? Livin?. Alexander spoke about her Civil-Rights-era coming-of-age tale and answered audience questions, followed by a public book signing. This Keep A? Livin? launch event was free and open to the public, with registration encouraged to anticipate attendance. The evening introduced Alexander? s work to readers in the Seattle community and was supported by Aunt Lute? s promotion of Keep A? Livin?. (Partner: Third Place Books, Seattle; outcome: community turnout for a debut author and increased visibility for the new release.) Lesbian Visibility Month Panel ? Columbus, OH (April 5, 2024, In-Person) ? Aunt Lute author Ginny Z. Berson (author of Olivia on the Record) appeared in a Lesbian Visibility Month event in Columbus. The program included a screening of the documentary Once a Fury ? profiling members of the 1970s lesbian feminist collective The Furies ? followed by a panel discussion with two of the collective? s original members, Ginny Berson and Sharon Deevey. They reflected on their time in The Furies and the impact of the collective? s writings on feminist and lesbian communities. This in-person event, sponsored by Lesbians Benefitting the Arts (LBA) and Stonewall Union, welcomed all on a sliding-scale admission. (Partners: LBA and Stonewall Union; outcome: community education and engagement around LGBTQ+ history.) Summer 2024 Workshops and Community Programming Virtual Writing Workshop ? ? Writing Towards Vision and Possibility? (June 1 & 8, 2024, Virtual via Zoom) ? Aunt Lute organized a two-day online writing workshop tailored for Black women and gender-expansive writers. Led by facilitator Kimberly Lee, the workshop provided inventive writing prompts, discussions, and restorative creative exercises to help participants ? celebrate our unique voices and perspectives while visioning into the future?. The curriculum drew inspiration from Black writers and cultural traditions, encouraging attendees to tune into ancestral wisdom and craft bold new narratives. Attendance was capped and application-based ? the deadline was extended due to high interest ? ensuring a dedicated cohort. Sessions ran 10 AM?12 PM Pacific on two Saturdays, and the workshop created a safe, empowering space to enhance craft and confidence in community. (Format: free virtual workshop; outcome: ~ a dozen emerging writers supported (no public attendance figures), demonstrating Aunt Lute? s community engagement mission.) Fall 2024 Book Launches and Literary Festivals ? Beyond Borderlands/La Frontera: The Legacy of Gloria Anzald? a? (Sept 26, 2024, In-Person) ? Aunt Lute Books co-presented a powerful evening honoring the vision of the late Gloria E. Anzald? a at UC Berkeley? s Latinx Research Center. Timed on what would have been Anzald? a? s 82nd birthday, this free public program featured a rich tapestry of activities: a poetry reading inspired by Anzald? a? s life and work, an altar installation commemorating her memory, and a panel discussion on her legacy. The panel brought together Anzald? a s

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 98.7%; rating input score 99
• Program expense ratio: 69.9%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 1 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 14
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -28.1%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.21; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.28; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.8% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.3% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 7.5% per year; rating input score 100; 57th percentile among comparable filings