Creative Santa Fe
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
CREATIVE SANTA FE'S MISSION IS TO DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATION TO PROMOTE CROSS-CULTURAL VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.
- Income
- $475,878
- Spending
- $443,311
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $110,000, 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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 80% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
- $132,198 spent. DESIGN COLLABORATION - CREATING TANGIBLE OUTCOMESTHROUGH OUR DESIGN COLLABORATIONS PROGRAM, WE PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMY AND CROSS-CULTURAL VIBRANCY IN SANTA FE AND THROUGHOUT NEW MEXICO. WE BRING THE EFFICACY OF DESIGN TO ELEVATE AND AMPLIFY MISSION-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.OUR APPROACH:WE WORK WITH MISSION-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER SUSTAINED POSITIVE CHANGE FOR ITS COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE FRAMEWORK OF SOCIAL INNOVATION DESIGN, WE UTILIZE THE DESIGN THINKING PROCESS AND PRINCIPLES TO INCREASE IMPACT REACH AND IMPROVE WELLBEING. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)DESIGN COLLABORATION - CREATING TANGIBLE OUTCOMESOUR DESIGN SERVICE OFFERINGS:OUR HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE APPROACH ENSURES THAT WE PRODUCE DESIGN TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS. WE DELIVER COHESIVE BRAND EXPERIENCE, FROM STRATEGY TO TOUCHPOINT DEVELOPMENT, FROM ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS TO ENVIRONMENTS TO HARMONIOUS HUMAN ENGAGEMENT. WE EMPLOY DESIGN PRINCIPLES THROUGHOUT OUR PROCESS TO INCREASE REACH AND AMPLIFY IMPACT. SCOPE OF WORK MAY INCLUDE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS:* BRAND AUDIT AND REPORT* ALIGNMENT FACILITATION* STRATEGY WORKSHOP* AUDIENCE JOURNEY* BRAND POSITIONING* OUTREACH STRATEGY* STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BUILDING* IDENTITY DESIGN AND TOUCHPOINT DEVELOPMENT* OUTREACH CAMPAIGN* EXPERIENCE DESIGN, PLANNING, AND PRODUCTION
- $87,993 spent. SKILL-UP - PROVIDING TOOLS FOR SUCCESSWE ARE ALL ABOUT A GROWTH MINDSET TO EXPLORE NEW WAYS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS AND SKILLING UP OUR COMMUNITY. BUT HOW DOES ONE ACQUIRE THIS MINDSET? WE ARE PARTNERING WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO YOUTHS AND ADULTS ALIKE. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS ARE TWO SUCH WAYS WE DO SO, DESIGNED TO ADDRESS PEOPLES' DIFFERING ATTENTION SPANS. BEYOND PROFIT IS A ROLL-UP-YOUR-SLEEVES SERIES TO LEARN RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP FROM BUSINESS AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS. STORY ME IS OUR PRESENTATION DESIGN AND PUBLIC SPEAKING CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO FOSTER CONFIDENCE IN EMERGING CREATIVE VOICES. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)SKILL-UP - PROVIDING TOOLS FOR SUCCESS* BEYOND PROFIT - A THINK+DO SERIES FOR COURAGEOUS ENTREPRENEURSTOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNER UNM ANDERSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, WE ARE RETHINKING THE ROLE OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI) AND INTRODUCING THE IDEA OF RETURN TO SOCIETY (RTS) THROUGH OUR BEYOND PROFIT SERIES - A THINK+DO SERIES FOCUSING ON BEST PRACTICES IN BUILDING RESPONSIBLE ENTERPRISES.A RESPONSIBLE ENTREPRENEUR RAISES THE BAR ON HOW BUSINESS IS DONE. EFFECTIVELY SOLVING A SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM WHILE BUILDING PROFITABLE BUSINESS IS NO EASY TASK. BEYOND PROFIT SERIES LAYS THE FOUNDATION TO SKILLING UP ENTREPRENEURS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS (MENTORS, INVESTORS, AND POLICYMAKERS) TO SUPPORT THEIR COURAGEOUS ENDEAVOR. ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND LEAN IN TO HONE YOUR RTS SKILLS.
- $51,251 spent. PUBLIC EVENTS PROGRAM - STRENGTHENING OUR SOCIAL FABRICWE ARE BRIDGING DIVIDES BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONVENE OUR COMMUNITY TO EXPLORE AND EXPAND IDEAS WHILE DEEPENING HUMAN CONNECTION. JOIN US ALL YEAR ROUND AND GET INSPIRED AND FORGE NEW RELATIONSHIPS AT ONE OR ALL OF OUR PUBLIC EVENT PROGRAMS.PECHAKUCHA NIGHT IS AN EVENING OF EXHILARATING FAST-PACED VISUAL STORYTELLING EXPERIENCE, FEATURING LOCAL CREATIVES AND CHANGEMAKERS. WE ARE DEVELOPING SPARK, OUR CITY-WIDE NETWORKING EVENT, DESIGNED TO BREAK BIASES TO FORGE UNEXPECTED ALLIES. CURRENTLY IN DEVEOPMENT IS THE REVIVED IF: IMAGINED FUTURES, A SUMMIT CONVENING LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL CHANGEMAKERS TO FORGE A WORKABLE SOLUTION ON OUR MOST PRESSING ISSUES. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION)PUBLIC EVENTS PROGRAM - STRENGTHENING OUR SOCIAL FABRICALL EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.SITE SANTA FE DONATED THEIR FACILITY, EQUIPMENT AND FURNITURE FO THE PECHAKUCHA EVENTS. THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE IN-KIND DONATIONS BY SITE SANTA FE WAS $11,200.
- $7,504 spent. OTHER OUTREACHOTHER OUTREACH IS CONSIDERED A PROGRAM AND REACH OUT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND MAY RESULT IN DONATIONS OR CONTRACTS RECEIVED. EXAMPLES INCLUDE WEBSITE, NEWSLETTERS, MEALS WITH POTENTIAL DONORS, ETC.
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
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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 January 2006.
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 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.