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Passes our checks

Cleveland Festival of Art and Technology Inc

EIN 20-2031718 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INGENUITY CLEVELAND IGNITES THE SPARK OF CREATIVITY AMONG ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS OF ALL TYPES, THROUGH JOY AND COLLABORATION, IN SERVICE TO CIVIC PROGRESS.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$941,561
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 59%
Employees
4
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$70,000, executive di

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 72% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $771,705 spent. WE PRODUCE THE ANNUAL INGENUITYFEST, GENERATING INTEREST AND TRAFFIC FOR DOZENS OF HAMILTON COLLABORATIVE TENANTS, WHILE INVITING NEARLY 20,000 ANNUAL VISITORS TO EXPLORE, LEARN AND IMAGINE
  2. DOZENS OF WEEKLY ATTENDEES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THE IGNITE ENTREPRENEURSHIP SERIES, WHICH INCLUDES FREE COME-AS-YOU-ARE ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAININGS AND THE IGNITE IMPACT AWARDS, MICROGRANTS SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND OTHERS TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE ARTS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LANDSCAPE.
  3. IN 2020, WE INTRODUCED IGNITE NEIGHBOR NIGHTS AS PART OF AN OVERALL NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT AND PLACEKEEPING STRATEGY. IT CONTINUED IN 2024 AS MONTHLY IGNIGHTS AT INGENUITY.
  4. WE HAVE EXPANDED FROM 50,000 SQUARE FEET TO 150,000 SQUARE FEET, WHICH WE MAINTAIN AS INGENUITYLABS. THIS OPEN AND FLEXIBLE WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE SPACE HOUSES THE INGENUITYLABS INCUBATOR, HOME TO 24 SMALL-SCALE CREATIVE START-UPS (SLATED TO MORE THAN DOUBLE TO 50 BY 2025) AND PROVIDES TOOLS, RESOURCES AND WORKSPACE FOR 300 "INGENEERS." ADDITIONALLY, WE PURSUE A LIMITED NUMBER OF MISSION-ALIGNED PARTNERSHIPS EACH YEAR THAT BRING INGENUITY'S COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS AND EMERGING CREATIVES INTO CONVERSATION WITH PROJECTS ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO. SINCE 2020, THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE HAS BEEN THE CITY-WIDE ART PROJECT VOICESOFCLE, A COLLABORATION BETWEEN INGENUITY AND DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ALLIANCE. WE ALSO CO-PRESENT THE ANNUAL METROHEALTH JUNETEENTH: FREEDOM FEST, NOW IN ITS FOURTH YEAR.
  5. WE HAVE EXPANDED FROM 50,000 SQUARE FEET TO 150,000 SQUARE FEET, WHICH WE MAINTAIN AS INGENUITYLABS. THIS OPEN AND FLEXIBLE WORKSHOP AND PERFORMANCE SPACE HOUSES THE INGENUITYLABS INCUBATOR, HOME TO 24 SMALL-SCALE CREATIVE START-UPS (SLATED TO MORE THAN DOUBLE TO 50 BY 2025) AND PROVIDES TOOLS, RESOURCES AND WORKSPACE FOR 300 "INGENEERS." ADDITIONALLY, WE PURSUE A LIMITED NUMBER OF MISSION-ALIGNED PARTNERSHIPS EACH YEAR THAT BRING INGENUITY'S COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS, ENTREPRENEURS AND EMERGING CREATIVES INTO CONVERSATION WITH PROJECTS ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO. SINCE 2020, THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE HAS BEEN THE CITY-WIDE ART PROJECT VOICESOFCLE, A COLLABORATION BETWEEN INGENUITY AND DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ALLIANCE. WE ALSO CO-PRESENT THE ANNUAL METROHEALTH JUNETEENTH: FREEDOM FEST, NOW IN ITS FOURTH YEAR.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.