Craft Emergency Relief Fund Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CRAFT EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (CERF+) PROVIDES CRAFT ARTISTS WITH SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY RELIEF, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND READINESS GRANTS TO STRENGTHEN PREPAREDNESS. COMMITTING TO GENEROSITY, INCLUSION, AND CARE, WE ADVOCATE FOR THE THRIVEABILITY OF CRAFT ARTISTS AND CRAFT AS AN ART FORM.
- Income
- $6.8 million
- Spending
- $6.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $151,638, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 269% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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)
- $883,763 spent. EMERGENCY RESPONSE - CERF+ PROVIDES CRITICAL EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CRAFT ARTISTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A RECENT, PRACTICE-THREATENING EMERGENCY SUCH AS CLIMATE- RELATED DISASTERS, ILLNESS, INJURIES, STUDIO OR HOME FIRES, AND THEFT. ONCE APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETED, GRANT DETERMINATIONS ARE MADE WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THIS YEAR, 1,057 ARTISTS AFFECTED BY PRACTICE -THREATENING EMERGENCIES RECEIVED DIRECT EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANTS TOTALING 3,171,000 AND 16,419 OF GIFTS-IN-KIND (DONATIONS OF EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, BOOTH WAIVER FEES, ETC.). THE LARGEST CATEGORY OF EMERGENCIES FOR ARTISTS WAS CLIMATE-RELATED DISASTERS, REPRESENTING 84% OF TOTAL GRANTS. MAJOR RESPONSES INCLUDED HURRICANE HELENE, THE LA WILDFIRES, AND VERMONT WINDSTORMS. THE SECOND-LARGEST CATEGORY WAS INJURY AND ACCIDENTS, ACCOUNTING FOR 6% OF ALL GRANTS, FOLLOWED BY ILLNESS, WHICH MADE UP 4% OF THE GRANTS. CERF+ ADMINISTERED THE ETSY PROGRAM TO SUPPORT MAKERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. IN FY25, ETSY AND CERF+ AWARDED 57 GRANTS TOTALING 108,000 DOLLARS. EXTENDED RELIEF FOLLOWING HURRICANE HELENE, WORKING WITH SIX LOCAL PARTNERS AND A NATIONAL RESEARCH PARTNER, WE IMPLEMENTED A ONE YEAR PILOT THAT SUPPORTED 150 CRAFT ARTISTS WITH 6000 GRANTS DISTRIBUTED IN 500 MONTHLY INCREMENTS. FINDINGS WILL BE SHARED WITH THE FIELD AT LARGE AND ARE INTENDED TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF POST-DISASTER RECOVERY AND STABILIZATION. EMERGENCY RESPONSE - CERF+ PROVIDES CRITICAL EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CRAFT ARTISTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A RECENT, PRACTICE-THREATENING EMERGENCY SUCH AS CLIMATE- RELATED DISASTERS, ILLNESS, INJURIES, STUDIO OR HOME FIRES, AND THEFT. ONCE APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETED, GRANT DETERMINATIONS ARE MADE WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THIS YEAR, 1,057 ARTISTS AFFECTED BY PRACTICE -THREATENING EMERGENCIES RECEIVED DIRECT EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANTS TOTALING 3,171,000 AND 16,419 OF GIFTS-IN-KIND (DONATIONS OF EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, BOOTH WAIVER FEES, ETC.). THE LARGEST CATEGORY OF EMERGENCIES FOR ARTISTS WAS CLIMATE-RELATED DISASTERS, REPRESENTING 84% OF TOTAL GRANTS. MAJOR RESPONSES INCLUDED HURRICANE HELENE, THE LA WILDFIRES, AND VERMONT WINDSTORMS. THE SECOND-LARGEST CATEGORY WAS INJURY AND ACCIDENTS, ACCOUNTING FOR 6% OF ALL GRANTS, FOLLOWED BY ILLNESS, WHICH MADE UP 4% OF THE GRANTS. CERF+ ADMINISTERED THE ETSY PROGRAM TO SUPPORT MAKERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. IN FY25, ETSY AND CERF+ AWARDED 57 GRANTS TOTALING 108,000 DOLLARS. EXTENDED RELIEF FOLLOWING HURRICANE HELENE, WORKING WITH SIX LOCAL PARTNERS AND A NATIONAL RESEARCH PARTNER, WE IMPLEMENTED A ONE YEAR PILOT THAT SUPPORTED 150 CRAFT ARTISTS WITH 6000 GRANTS DISTRIBUTED IN 500 MONTHLY INCREMENTS. FINDINGS WILL BE SHARED WITH THE FIELD AT LARGE AND ARE INTENDED TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF POST-DISASTER RECOVERY AND STABILIZATION.
- $4.6 million spent. EDUCATION & TRAINING "GET READY" GRANTS - CERF+ SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED ITS NINTH YEAR OF THE "GET READY" GRANT PROGRAM, EMPOWERING CRAFT ARTISTS TO SAFEGUARD THEIR STUDIOS, PROTECT THEIR PRACTICES, AND PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, CERF+ DISTRIBUTED A RECORD AMOUNT IN GET READY GRANTS THIS YEAR, 412 GRANTS TOTALING 404,884 ACROSS 35 STATES AND 1 U.S. TERRITORY. NORTH CAROLINA ACCOUNTED FOR THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF AWARDS, MAKING UP 57% OF THE TOTAL. CERF+ HAS HOSTED 20 TRAINING SESSIONS, CONFERENCES, AND KEYNOTES, ENGAGING 2,020 PARTICIPANTS. TOPICS INCLUDED EMERGENCY AND DISASTER PLANNING AND BUSINESS INSURANCE, CLIMATE CHANGE AND ARTISTIC PRACTICE, AND ACCESSING EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDING. ADDITIONALLY, CERF+ PARTICIPATED AS AN EXHIBITOR AT PROMINENT CONFERENCES, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON EDUCATION FOR THE CERAMIC ARTS (NCECA) AND THE ASSOCIATION OF TRIBAL ARCHIVES, LIBRARIES, AND MUSEUMS (ATALM). EMERGING ARTIST READINESS PROGRAM WITH SUPPORT FROM THE WINDGATE FOUNDATION, CERF+ SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE SECOND COHORT OF THE EMERGING ARTIST READINESS PROGRAM, LED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF TRIBAL ARCHIVES, LIBRARIES, AND MUSEUMS. TWENTY NATIVE CRAFT ARTISTS PARTICIPATED IN A SIX-MONTH TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED PERSONALIZED MENTORSHIP. EACH PARTICIPANT RECEIVED 10,000 TO IMPLEMENT A BUSINESS PLAN DESIGNED TO GROW AND PROTECT THEIR PRACTICE. THE ASSOCIATION OF TRIBAL ARCHIVES, LIBRARIES, AND MUSEUMS WILL ALSO LEAD THE THIRD AND FINAL CYCLE OF THE PROGRAM, SUPPORTING 21 CRAFT ARTISTS. EDUCATION & TRAINING "GET READY" GRANTS - CERF+ SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED ITS NINTH YEAR OF THE "GET READY" GRANT PROGRAM, EMPOWERING CRAFT ARTISTS TO SAFEGUARD THEIR STUDIOS, PROTECT THEIR PRACTICES, AND PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, CERF+ DISTRIBUTED A RECORD AMOUNT IN GET READY GRANTS THIS YEAR, 412 GRANTS TOTALING 404,884 ACROSS 35 STATES AND 1 U.S. TERRITORY. NORTH CAROLINA ACCOUNTED FOR THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF AWARDS, MAKING UP 57% OF THE TOTAL. CERF+ HAS HOSTED 20 TRAINING SESSIONS, CONFERENCES, AND KEYNOTES, ENGAGING 2,020 PARTICIPANTS. TOPICS INCLUDED EMERGENCY AND DISASTER PLANNING AND BUSINESS INSURANCE, CLIMATE CHANGE AND ARTISTIC PRACTICE, AND ACCESSING EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDING. ADDITIONALLY, CERF+ PARTICIPATED AS AN EXHIBITOR AT PROMINENT CONFERENCES, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON EDUCATION FOR THE CERAMIC ARTS (NCECA) AND THE ASSOCIATION OF TRIBAL ARCHIVES, LIBRARIES, AND MUSEUMS (ATALM). EMERGING ARTIST READINESS PROGRAM WITH SUPPORT FROM THE WINDGATE FOUNDATION, CERF+ SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE SECOND COHORT OF THE EMERGING ARTIST READINESS PROGRAM, LED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF TRIBAL ARCHIVES, LIBRARIES, AND MUSEUMS. TWENTY NATIVE CRAFT ARTISTS PARTICIPATED IN A SIX-MONTH TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED PERSONALIZED MENTORSHIP. EACH PARTICIPANT RECEIVED 10,000 TO IMPLEMENT A BUSINESS PLAN DESIGNED TO GROW AND PROTECT THEIR PRACTICE. THE ASSOCIATION OF TRIBAL ARCHIVES, LIBRARIES, AND MUSEUMS WILL ALSO LEAD THE THIRD AND FINAL CYCLE OF THE PROGRAM, SUPPORTING 21 CRAFT ARTISTS.
- $186,735 spent. OUTREACH, MARKETING & ADVOCACY CERF+ MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE LIST OF OVER 35,448 INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND ARTS BUSINESSES THAT RECEIVE EMAIL ALERTS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A DISASTER. CERF+ ALSO SENDS E-NEWSLETTERS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO ENSURE THAT ARTISTS RECEIVE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION, INCLUDING GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND FEDERAL AND STATE ASSISTANCE PACKAGES. OUR INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT RESULTED IN 13,900+ INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS (+1200), 8,300+ FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS (+100), AND 687 LINKEDIN (+126) FOLLOWERS. CERF+ CONTINUES TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE AS A STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR ARTS' PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (NCAPER). OVER THE PAST YEAR, NCAPER HAS SHIFTED FOCUS BACK TO RESPONSE SUPPORTING GROUPS DURING DISASTER EVENTS. WE SERVE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE VERMONT ARTS & CULTURE DISASTER AND RESILIENCE NETWORK, AN INITIATIVE LED BY ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS THE STATE COMMITTED TO DEEPENING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE WITHIN THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR. CERF+ PARTICIPATES IN MANY NATIONWIDE COHORTS OF ARTS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE LIVING TRADITIONS NETWORK, A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AND CULTURE BEARERS FOCUSED ON SHARING AND DEVELOPING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT FOLK & TRADITIONAL ARTISTS. AND THE HERITAGE EMERGENCY NATIONAL TASK FORCE (HENTF), SPONSORED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AND FEMA, CONTINUES TO INCREASE RECOGNITION FOR OUR SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE IN ARTISTS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY. WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER, APPALACHIAN FUNDERS NETWORK, WORLD CRAFT COUNCIL, THE CULTURAL ADVOCACY GROUP AND OTHER NATIONAL NETWORK/COHORTS. THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE VITAL TO INFORM AND BE INFORMED AROUND LEADING TRENDS AND EVOLVING PRACTICES RELATED TO SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS. CERF+ WEBSITE AND ONLINE CONTENT WE CONTINUE TO UPDATE OUR WEBSITE WITH NEW CONTENT ON A REGULAR BASIS. AFTER EACH MAJOR DISASTER IN AN AREA THAT AFFECTED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CRAFT ARTISTS, CERF+ CREATED A WEBSITE BANNER THAT LINKS TO AN UPDATED DISASTER RELIEF PAGE WITH DISASTER RESPONSE & RECOVERY RESOURCES. OUR WEBSITE HAS BEEN THE GO-TO DESTINATION FOR ARTISTS SEEKING EMERGENCY RESOURCES. CERF+ COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE OF BOTH CONTENT AND GRAPHICS FOR ALL STUDIO PROTECTOR MATERIALS AND DEVELOPED A DETAILED GUIDE TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR ARTISTS. CERF+ GREATLY EXPANDED ITS OTHER RESOURCES PAGE TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT GRANTS AND TRAININGS THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OFFER TO ARTISTS AS WELL. WE ALSO MAINTAIN A "DISASTER RESOURCE HUB," WHICH PROVIDES ALERTS, INFORMATION, AND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC DISASTER EVENTS. OTHER ADDITIONS TO THE SITE INCLUDE NEW CRAFT ARTIST INTERVIEWS AND STORIES AS WELL AS NEW CONTENT RELATED TO OUR GET READY GRANT PROGRAM CREATED BY RECIPIENTS OF THOSE GRANTS. WE ALSO UPDATED THE EMERGENCY RELIEF INFORMATION PAGES TO INCLUDE SPANISH TRANSLATION. OUR WEBSITE IS NOW INCLUDED ON MANY STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ARTS AGENCIES- AND ORGANIZATIONS' WEBSITES AND BLOGS WITH DISASTER-SPECIFIC INFORMATION. FINALLY, WE CONTINUED WRITING BLOG ARTICLES, WHICH FEATURE CRAFT ARTISTS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER TOPICS RELEVANT TO OUR AUDIENCE. OUTREACH, MARKETING & ADVOCACY CERF+ MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE LIST OF OVER 35,448 INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND ARTS BUSINESSES THAT RECEIVE EMAIL ALERTS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A DISASTER. CERF+ ALSO SENDS E-NEWSLETTERS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO ENSURE THAT ARTISTS RECEIVE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION, INCLUDING GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND FEDERAL AND STATE ASSISTANCE PACKAGES. OUR INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT RESULTED IN 13,900+ INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS (+1200), 8,300+ FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS (+100), AND 687 LINKEDIN (+126) FOLLOWERS. CERF+ CONTINUES TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE AS A STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR ARTS' PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (NCAPER). OVER THE PAST YEAR, NCAPER HAS SHIFTED FOCUS BACK TO RESPONSE SUPPORTING GROUPS DURING DISASTER EVENTS. WE SERVE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE VERMONT ARTS & CULTURE DISASTER AND RESILIENCE NETWORK, AN INITIATIVE LED BY ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS THE STATE COMMITTED TO DEEPENING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE WITHIN THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR. CERF+ PARTICIPATES IN MANY NATIONWIDE COHORTS OF ARTS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE LIVING TRADITIONS NETWORK, A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AND CULTURE BEARERS FOCUSED ON SHARING AND DEVELOPING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT FOLK & TRADITIONAL ARTISTS. AND THE HERITAGE EMERGENCY NATIONAL TASK FORCE (HENTF), SPONSORED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AND FEMA, CONTINUES TO INCREASE RECOGNITION FOR OUR SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE IN ARTISTS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY. WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER, APPALACHIAN FUNDERS NETWORK, WORLD CRAFT COUNCIL, THE CULTURAL ADVOCACY GROUP AND OTHER NATIONAL NETWORK/COHORTS. THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE VITAL TO INFORM AND BE INFORMED AROUND LEADING TRENDS AND EVOLVING PRACTICES RELATED TO SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS. CERF+ WEBSITE AND ONLINE CONTENT WE CONTINUE TO UPDATE OUR WEBSITE WITH NEW CONTENT ON A REGULAR BASIS. AFTER EACH MAJOR DISASTER IN AN AREA THAT AFFECTED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CRAFT ARTISTS, CERF+ CREATED A WEBSITE BANNER THAT LINKS TO AN UPDATED DISASTER RELIEF PAGE WITH DISASTER RESPONSE & RECOVERY RESOURCES. OUR WEBSITE HAS BEEN THE GO-TO DESTINATION FOR ARTISTS SEEKING EMERGENCY RESOURCES. CERF+ COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE OF BOTH CONTENT AND GRAPHICS FOR ALL STUDIO PROTECTOR MATERIALS AND DEVELOPED A DETAILED GUIDE TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR ARTISTS. CERF+ GREATLY EXPANDED ITS OTHER RESOURCES PAGE TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT GRANTS AND TRAININGS THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OFFER TO ARTISTS AS WELL. WE ALSO MAINTAIN A "DISASTER RESOURCE HUB," WHICH PROVIDES ALERTS, INFORMATION, AND RESOURCES ON SPECIFIC DISASTER E
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 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.