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Center for Reflection Education and Action Incorporated

EIN 06-1451900 · Hartford, CT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CREA is a social-economic research and education center focusing on corporate social responsibility, human rights, labor rights, sustainable communities and direct trade, and economic analysis. CREA facilitates analysis of policies from the perspective of their effects on human lives, beginning from the lives of people and communities who are poor. Educational programs both formal and informal, as well as publications, offer opportunities to participate in this analysis.

Income
$80,446
Spending
$155,109
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
17.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
3
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$45,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 93% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $95,827 spent. Sustainable communities and direct trade: CREA continues to work with cooperatives in various countries, especially in Guatemala and with other organizations working in Haiti, Palestine, Uganda, El Salvador and others to assist the artisans and farmers in bringing their products to market. CREA continues to supply the educational materials needed for any children in the cooperatives with which we work so that the children may attend school. We continue to provide scholarships annually so that those studying to become teachers can complete their studies and return to serve their communities.
  2. $5,690 spent. Corporate social responsibility: CREA continues to work on corporate social responsibility, focusing on issues related to supply chains around the world. These issues include, but are not limited to, preventing forced and child labor, sustainable living wages, removal of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals from production and/or inclusion in final products, and multi-stakeholder interaction on the local and investor levels. CREA collaborates with other non-governmental organizations in these efforts. CREA also continues to work on issues related to sustainable communities within the corporate responsibility work, focusing on the impact of jobs, use and misuse of natural resources, emission of waste products, etc. on the communities in which products are sourced/produced and in locations where the products are sold within the US. The impact of the business site is also a focus of the CSR work, linking it to the sustainable earth work described below.
  3. $3,450 spent. Sustainable earth; economic, social and environmental: CREA continues to give workshops to various groups in New England focusing on the issues related to climate change and how they affect communities in various parts of the world. Following the foundation set forth by Pope Francis in Laudato Si', the workshops teach attendees how to connect aspects of climate change with increases in food costs, job availability. etc. which moves the issue from somewhere "over there" to right here where we each live and work. In addition, attendees are taught how to use their power as investors, shoppers, communities of faith, etc. to bring about change in various institutions such as large corporations. In addition, CREA is developing a series of educational materials on specific issues with each booklet focusing on one issue and how it connects with what is happening around us.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.