Kweli Journal Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Narrative of 2024 program servicesannual color of children's literature conferenceconference providing craft talks, panel discussions on business of publishing, 3 hour master classes for intermediate writers and illustrators and workshops for beginning students. Approximately 210 students benefited.annual international literary festivalhybrid festival providing readings and conversations with debut and award-winning writers, master classes, craft talks, panels on publishing industry and much more. And fellow creatives of color. Approximately 135 students benefited.art of the short story workshopsthe art of the short story workshop is a multi session workshop for short story writers and novelists of color with kweli founding editor and publisher, laura pegram. The workshop is tailor-made for writers of adult fiction. It is a safer space for all people of color, including black, indigenous, aapi, latinx, lgbtqia+ writers at all levels. It includes seminars focused on craft and in-class writing exercises.there will be reading assignments and a study of works by well-known adult fiction writers and poets. Writing will begin on the first day of workshop. Peer review sessions will take place during the final two weeks of workshop.kweli fellowship programfellowship program provides three or more early-stage writers with 11-month writing fellowships. Each fellows receives ten months of editorial support from kweli journal editors to prepare a piece for publication in the magazine; a $2,000 stipend; admission-free enrollment in three professionally led writing workshops on literary fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry; participation in four public1 readings by workshop participants; admission-free participation in our international literary festival, inclusive of pitch sessions with literary agents and editors; optionally, admission-free participation in our color of children literature conference; publication in kweli journal; an all expense paid writing retreat hosted at akwaaba. 10 students benefitedkweli multi media reading and conversationkweli formed a new partnership with ballet hispanico in 2023 and, in so doing, expanded our hybrid public programming. We added dance narratives to our staged readings and conversations throughout the year. We opened the year with a reading and dance interpretation for you're breaking my heart by olugbemisola rhuday-perkovich at ballet hispanico.in february 2024, we hosted a reading with dance interpretation for behind you is the sea by susan muaddi-darraj. During our kweli color of children's literature conference, dance narratives were created for a number of award winning books, including ultraviolet by aida salazar and a crown of stories: the life and language of beloved writer toni morrision by carole boston weatherford. During our kweli international literary festival, we featured dance interpretations for the unsettled by ayana mathis. 260 students benefited.kweli master classes, craft talks and multi session workshopskweli offered multi session art of the short story workshops; the art of excavation: writing the artifacts of memory and self with kenzie allen; the art of noticing with hannah bae; creating momentum through destabilization with crystal hana kim and more. More than 150 students benefited.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 88.1%; rating input score 88
• Fundraising efficiency: $158.28 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings

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: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd 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: -18%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.27; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 6.5% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 8.8% per year; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.3% per year; rating input score 100; 60th percentile among comparable filings