Youth Development (O50) IRS Verified DX Registered 990 on File

TELLING ROOM

EIN: 74-3136956 · PORTLAND, ME 04101-4613 · United States · FY 2025 Data

3 out of 5 45 / 100 Based on 2+ years of filings

Financial strength (30%) 62/100

Reliability (20%) 55/100

Effectiveness (25%) 61/100

Impact (25%) No data yet

Financial data: FY 2025 · Scored 9/13/2026

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Mission Statement

The Telling Room is a nonprofit writing center in Portland, Maine, dedicated to the idea that children and young adults are natural storytellers. Focused on young writers ages 6 to 18, we seek to build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and provide real audiences for our students. We believe that the power of creative expression can change our communities and prepare our youth for future success.

Financial Overview — FY 2025

$960K

Total Revenue

$1.0M

Total Expenses

$537K

Net Assets

Employees

Revenue Sources

Expense Breakdown

Program Expense Ratio 62.7%

Fundraising Efficiency 555.0%

Operating Reserve 6.14x

Liability-to-Asset 5.3%

Revenue Diversification 79.8%

Executive Compensation $85K

Compared with Peers

FY 2025

Compared with 665 similar organizations (United States, Youth Development, $1M–$10M in expenses), FY 2025.

This organization Middle half of peers (P25–P75) Peer median

Ratio	This org	Peer median	Position (P10 → P90)
Program expense ratio Program expenses / total expenses · higher is better	62.7%	81.2%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Admin expense ratio Management and general / total expenses · lower is better	17.5%	11.6%	P10P90	Below median
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expenses / total expenses · lower is better	19.8%	4.9%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Fundraising efficiency Fundraising expenses / gross fundraising income · lower is better	555.0%	180.4%	P10P90	Bottom quarter
Operating reserve Months of expenses covered by net assets · higher is better	6.1 mo	10.8 mo	P10P90	Below median
Liabilities to assets Total liabilities / total assets · lower is better	5.3%	9.7%	P10P90	Above median
Revenue concentration Share of revenue from the largest source · lower is better	79.8%	90.2%	P10P90	Above median
Surplus margin Surplus as a share of revenue	-9.3%	2.0%	P10P90

Financial History

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Net Assets	Program %	Staff
2025	$960K	$1.0M	$537K	62.7%	19
2023	$960K	$998K	$920K	68.5%	27
2022	$1.5M	$877K	N/A	—	28
2021	$932K	$709K	N/A	—	24

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Organization Details

EIN: 74-3136956
State: ME
City: PORTLAND
ZIP: 04101-4613
Classification: O50
Category: Youth Development
Rating: 3★
Coverage: A
Last Updated: Aug 2026
IRS Ruling Year: 2004
Foundation Code: 15
Form 990: On File

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CharityAI™ rates charities from 0 to 100 using public filings (IRS Form 990 and the equivalent registries outside the US) together with the information the charity itself provides on DonationX. Ratings are recalculated every quarter, without human bias, and shown as stars.

Four pillars

Financial strength30%

Program expense ratio, fundraising efficiency, operating reserves, liabilities and revenue diversification, compared with similar organizations.

Reliability20%

Standing with the registry, filing history, verification and how complete the profile is.

Effectiveness25%

How much goes to programs and how consistently the organization delivers them.

Impact25%

The outcomes the charity reports on DonationX: people served, cost per service and results.

Stars

★★★★★ 80–100 ★★★★☆ 60–79 ★★★☆☆ 40–59 ★★☆☆☆ 20–39 ★☆☆☆☆ 1–19

A pillar with no data counts as zero. Without impact metrics the score is capped at 59 (three stars): only the charity can supply that data.
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