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Literary and Prologue Society of the Southwest

Chandler, AZ · EIN 202868229 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE A25 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · literarysoc.com
revenue
$429K
expenses
$434K
net assets
$398K
employees
0
volunteers
100
program ratio
91%
mission · from form 990

CELEBRATE CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE AND AUTHORS, AND PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF LITERACY THROUGHOUT ARIZONA, BRINGING THE JOY AND LIFELONG BENEFITS OF READING TO ALL

profile · synthesized from sources

The Literary and Prologue Society of the Southwest is an Arizona-based nonprofit that promotes literary appreciation through author luncheons and community grants. It supports organizations with literacy missions across Arizona, funded by memberships, individual donations, and corporate sponsorships. The society was founded in 2005.

named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

Community Grants
Provides grants to community organizations in Arizona that have a literacy mission.
Literary Society Luncheons
Annual series of luncheons featuring award-winning authors at various locations in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson.
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • Community Book Clubs & Literary Engagement 9 activities
    • Host author luncheons
      Organizes regular luncheons featuring guest authors, including four events per author, held on Tuesdays at El Chorro in Paradise Valley, AZ. The series began in November 2005 with Roya Hakakian and continues annually with award-winning authors in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson.
    • Host author luncheons
      Organizes and hosts luncheons featuring guest authors, with four luncheons held for each author. These events take place in locations such as Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson, Arizona, and have been ongoing since November 2005.
    • Host author luncheons
      Organizes and hosts luncheons featuring guest authors, with four luncheons held for each author. These events take place in locations such as Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson, AZ, and have been ongoing since November 2005.
    • Hosts author luncheons
      Organizes regular luncheons featuring guest authors, including four events per author, held on Tuesdays at El Chorro in Paradise Valley, AZ. The series began in November 2005 with Roya Hakakian and continues annually with award-winning authors in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson.
    • Hosts author luncheons in Arizona
      Organizes regular luncheons featuring guest authors, held on Tuesdays at El Chorro in Paradise Valley, AZ, with a history of annual events in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson since the inaugural event in November 2005.
    • Hosts author luncheons in Arizona
      Organizes regular luncheons featuring guest authors, including four events per author, held on Tuesdays at El Chorro in Paradise Valley, AZ, with an ongoing annual series in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson since the inaugural event in November 2005.
    • Sponsor literary programs
      Sponsors various literary programs, including a young readers program at the Tucson Botanical Gardens and poetry readings in Phoenix.
    • Sponsor poetry readings
      Sponsors poetry readings in Phoenix to introduce new audiences to poetry.
    • Sponsors literacy and reading programs for young audiences
      Supports youth literacy initiatives such as the young readers program at the Tucson Botanical Gardens and sponsors poetry readings in Phoenix to engage new, younger audiences.
  • Organizational Transparency Reporting 5 activities
    • File federal tax returns
      Files Federal Form 990 tax returns annually, with the most recent filing covering the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
    • Produces annual financial and managerial reporting
      Prepares and publishes an annual report for each fiscal year, with the most recent covering outcomes through June 30, 2024, and files a Federal Form 990 tax return for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
    • Produces annual financial and managerial reporting
      Prepares and publishes an annual report for each fiscal year, such as the one covering operations through June 30, 2024, and files a Federal Form 990 tax return, as required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
    • Produces annual financial and managerial reporting
      Publishes an annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, with the most recent covering 2024, and files a Federal Form 990 tax return, with the latest for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
    • Publish annual financial and managerial reports
      Produces an annual report detailing financial and managerial outcomes for the fiscal year ending June 30, with the most recent report covering fiscal year 2024.
  • Platinum Transparency Certification Support 4 activities
    • Builds organizational governance and transparency
      Transitioned to an independent board of directors in 2020 and maintains high transparency standards, as recognized by the Guidestar/Candid Platinum Transparency Seal.
    • Strengthen organizational governance and transparency
      Transitioned to an independent board of directors in 2020 and earned the Guidestar/Candid Platinum Transparency Seal, reflecting enhanced organizational capacity and accountability.
    • Strengthens organizational governance and transparency
      Transitioned to an independent board of directors in 2020 and earned the Guidestar/Candid Platinum Transparency Seal, reflecting enhanced governance and public accountability.
    • Strengthens organizational governance and transparency
      Enhanced institutional capacity by transitioning to an independent board of directors in 2020 and earning the Guidestar/Candid Platinum Transparency Seal in recognition of public reporting practices.
  • Uncategorized 7 activities
    • Make community grants for literacy
      Provides annual community grants to organizations with a literacy mission, including support for programs that supply books and reading materials to students in Title 1 schools and sponsorships for young readers programs and poetry readings.
    • Makes annual community grants to literacy-focused organizations
      Provides financial support through annual community grants to organizations advancing literacy, including funding for programs that supply books and reading materials to students in Title 1 schools and sponsorships for literary events such as poetry readings and young readers programs.
    • Makes community grants to literacy-focused organizations
      Provides annual community grants to organizations advancing literacy, including support for programs that supply books and reading materials to students in Title 1 schools and enable attendance at cultural performances such as Shakespeare plays.
    • Makes community grants to literacy-focused organizations
      Provides annual community grants to organizations advancing literacy, including support for programs that supply books and reading materials to students in Title 1 schools and sponsor literary events for young readers.
    • Provide community grants for literacy
      Makes annual community grants to organizations focused on literacy missions.
    • Provide community grants for literacy initiatives
      Makes annual community grants to organizations focused on literacy missions. This includes underwriting to supply books and reading materials for students in Title 1 schools to attend theater performances.
    • Support literary programs for youth
      Underwrites the supply of books and reading materials for students in Title 1 schools to attend theater performances and sponsors young readers programs, such as one at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$429K
Contributions & grants$318K74%
Program service revenue$111K26%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$554
expenses
Total expenses$434K
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$51K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$398K
Cash$388K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$398K
Liquid reserves10.8 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2021 · YoY revenue +21.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

board members · 12
  • Ann Stanton — Board member
  • Barbara Slatt — Board member
  • Carrie Ostroski — Board member
  • Ellen Brown — President Elect
  • Genny Matteucci — Board member
  • Jayne Lewis — Secretary
  • Judy Riley — Board member
  • Laura Hauser — President
  • Mardie Holland — Board member
  • Mary Beth Herbert — Treasurer
  • Michele Feeney — Board member
  • Nancy Retson — Board member
relationships · 26

who they work with

  • A Stepping Stone Partner — Provided funding support of $7,500 in Spring 2024 and $10,000 in Spring 2023.
  • Act One Partner — Provided underwriting to Act One to supply books and reading materials for students in Title 1 schools to attend theater performances.
  • Anticus Partner — A supporting bookstore offering a 20% discount to Literary Society members for seasonal titles.
  • Arizona Poet Laureate Partner — Provided funding support of $2,500 in Spring 2014 and Spring 2013.
  • Child Crisis Arizona Partner — Provided funding support of $15,000 in Spring 2026 and $5,000 in Spring 2025.
  • Chinle Planting Hope Partner — Provided funding support of $50,000 in Spring 2026, $25,000 in Spring 2025, and $15,000 in Spring 2024.
  • Elevate Phoenix Partner — Provided funding support of $30,000 in Spring 2026, $15,000 in Spring 2025, and $30,000 in Spring 2024.
  • Family Promise Partner — Provided funding support of $5,000 in Spring 2023.
  • First Book Partner — Provided funding support of $1,000 in Spring 2016.
  • Friends of Scottsdale Library Partner — Provided funding support of $3,000 in Spring 2022 and Spring 2021.
  • Gabriel’s Angels Partner — Provided funding support of $7,500 in Spring 2024 and $5,000 in Spring 2023.
  • Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus Pine Council Partner — Provided funding support of $10,000 in Spring 2022 and $3,000 in Spring 2021.
  • Guidestar/Candid Partner — Earned the Platinum Transparency Seal from Guidestar/Candid.
  • Literacy Connects Partner — Provided funding support of $30,000 in Spring 2026, $25,000 in Spring 2025, and $15,000 in Spring 2024.
  • Make Way for Books Partner — Provided funding support of $30,000 in Spring 2026, $25,000 in Spring 2025, and $15,000 in Spring 2024.
  • Make Way for Books Partner — Supported Make Way for Books, a nonprofit preschool reading program.
  • Northern Trust Bank Partner — Executives from Northern Trust Bank introduced the idea of the Literary Society in Arizona in 2005.
  • Northern Trust Bank Partner — Two executives from Northern Trust Bank originated the idea to start the Literary Society.
  • Read Better Be Better Partner — Provided funding support of $35,000 in Spring 2026, $25,000 in Spring 2025, and $15,000 in Spring 2024.
  • Read Better Be Better Partner — Supported Read Better Be Better, an afterschool reading program.
  • SciTech Institute Partner — Provided funding support of $5,000 in Spring 2022.
  • Tucson Botanical Gardens Partner — Sponsored a young readers program at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
  • Tucson Values Teachers Fund Partner — Provided funding support of $2,500 in Spring 2015.
  • United Way of Tucson Partner — Provided funding support of $4,000 in Spring 2017.
  • University of Arizona Poetry Center Partner — Sponsored poetry readings in Phoenix through the University of Arizona Poetry Center.
  • Valleywise Health Foundation Partner — Provided funding support of $15,000 in Spring 2025 and $13,500 in Spring 2024.