THE TELLING ROOM IS A LITERARY ARTS EDUCATION NONPROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH THROUGH WRITING AND SHARE THEIR VOICES WITH THE WORLD. FOCUSED ON MAINE YOUTH IN GRADES 2-12, EACH YEAR WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH 1,800 STUDENTS ACROSS OUR 12 AFTERSCHOOL AND SCHOOL-BASED CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAMS, PUBLISHING 300 AUTHORS IN ACCLAIMED TELLING ROOM BOOKS AND REACHING ANOTHER 700 YOUTH THROUGH OUR AUTHOR EVENTS. WE PROVIDE THE TIME, SPACE, KNOWLEDGE, AND GUIDANCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PRACTICE CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND DEVELOP CRUCIAL LITERACY SKILLS SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE ALSO BUILDING COMMUNITY AMONG THEIR PEERS AND CONNECTING TO THE WIDER WORLD. ALL OUR CORE PROGRAMS ARE 100% FREE TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES INCLUDING OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES AND WORKSHOPS, AND FIELD TRIPS HELPING ENSURE EQUITABLE ARTS EDUCATION ACCESS. OUR EVALUATIONS REGULARLY SHOW THAT AT LEAST 90% OF STUDENTS INCREASE THEIR WRITING ENTHUSIASM, BUILD SKILLS, AND GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE.
Executive compensation
Form 990 · Part VII & Schedule J · 1 reported individual · Filing year 2024
Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Youth Development organizations nationwide.
| Position | Total |
|---|---|
Executive Director Median to 75th percentile | $85k $92k |
Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the Northeast region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Plus 11 unpaid individuals.
Top pay as a share of expenses
In 2024, the highest total compensation at The Telling Room equaled 8% of the organization's total expenses. The median for youth development organizations is 11%.
Based on 5,229 youth development organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.
Funded by
Private foundations whose Form 990-PF Part XV grants matched this organization.
Climbed 8%
over 2 years
From $79k in 2022 to $85k in 2024.
Estimated with BLS CPI-U for the Northeast region, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.
Chief Executive Officer pay rose 8% from 2022 to 2024, while revenue held roughly steady.
Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2022 and 2024.
Among peers
Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.
Common questions about The Telling Room
What does the Chief Executive Officer of The Telling Room earn?
In 2024, the Chief Executive Officer of The Telling Room received $84,918 in total compensation. This pay is above the median (the midpoint) for Chief Executive Officer roles among Youth Development organizations nationwide, within the top half of comparable filings. Based on IRS Form 990 data.
How does Chief Executive Officer pay at The Telling Room compare with similar nonprofits?
Compared with the same role at Youth Development organizations nationwide, the 2024 pay of the Chief Executive Officer at The Telling Room falls between the median and the 75th percentile. In 2024, the highest total compensation at The Telling Room equaled 8% of the organization's total expenses. The median for youth development organizations is 11%.
What are The Telling Room's revenue and expenses?
In 2024, The Telling Room reported $960k in total revenue and $1M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.
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