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Pen American Center
Pen American Center reported $15.9 million in revenue and $25.2 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $67.46 went to program services, $22.72 to management and general costs and $9.82 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 82.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $462,917 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 39 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 30% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $25MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $16MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 67.5% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 22.7% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.8% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.19 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 82.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.3% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.5% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $462,917 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.84% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 39 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 41 of 41 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFree expression programs: pen america's free expression programs defend writers and journalists and protect free expression rights in the united states and around the world. This work includes advocacy in the united states and internationally in defense of free expression; research and reports on topical issues ranging from book bans to online abuse to writers imprisoned around the world; direct support to and campaigns on behalf of writers and journalists facing threats to their free expression
Literary awards:since 1963, the pen america literary awards have honored many of the most outstanding voices in literature across diverse genres, including fiction, poetry, science writing, essays, biography, children's literature, translation, and drama. With the help of our partners, pen america confers over 20 distinct awards, fellowships, grants, and prizes each year, awarding over $300,000 to writers and translators
Pen world voices festival: pen world voices is america's premier international literary festival, attracting the best-known writers from across the globe. Since its founding, the festival has presented more than 1,800 writers and artists from 118 countries speaking 56 languages in venues across new york city and los angeles in a four day series of literary events with a human rights focus. The festival was founded by salman rushdie, esther allen and michael roberts in the aftermath of september 11th, 2001, with the aim of broadening channels of dialogue between the united states and the…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $450,319 | $0 | $12,598 | $462,917 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $337,282 | $0 | $20,748 | $358,030 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER, LIT PROG Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $282,014 | $0 | $7,260 | $289,274 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER, FREE EXP Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $264,140 | $0 | $19,738 | $283,878 |
| CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $230,073 | $0 | $46,168 | $276,241 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $213,604 | $0 | $40,696 | $254,300 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR, LA Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $236,322 | $0 | $9,297 | $245,619 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,766 | $0 | $21,567 | $233,333 |
39 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Pen American Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.6M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b41 · 41 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 584
- Volunteers Part I, line 644
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| KANOPI STUDIOS Graphic services | $454,128 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
52 private foundations reported grants to Pen American Center totaling $7.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Pen American Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Pen American Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Pen American Center spent in 2024, $67.46 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Sarasota Ballet of FloridaSarasota, FL · revenue $16M · programs 81.1% · FY2025
- American Friends of the Israel MuseumNew York, NY · revenue $16M · programs 90.7% · 2024
- The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra SocietySt Paul, MN · revenue $16M · programs 73.7% · FY2025
- Old Town School of Folk MusicChicago, IL · revenue $16M · programs 77.2% · 2025
- Flint Institute of MusicFlint, MI · revenue $16M · programs 87.2% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Pen American Center's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Pen American Center reported that 67.5% of its $25.2 million in expenses went to program services, 22.7% to management and general and 9.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Pen American Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Pen American Center reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $462,917, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Pen American Center get its money?
Of $15.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 82.1% came from contributions and grants (including 3.3% from government grants) and 3.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Pen American Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-3447888 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024 (amended), object 202610259349300101 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202433209349307338 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313109349301076 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223119349303977 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123139349304057 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202043049349301714 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-3447888: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.