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Cottonwood Artists School

EIN 20-3132668 · Colorado Spgs, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENGAGE THE PIKES PEAK REGION IN ART THROUGH LEARNING, EXHIBITS, PERFORMANCES, AND HOSTING A DIVERSE CREATIVE COMMUNITY OF WORKSPACE FOR ARTISTS.

Income
$853,802
Spending
$871,012
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
10
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$136,590, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $721,976 spent. MORE THAN 3,200 STUDENTS REGISTER YEARLY FOR COTTONWOOD ART CLASSES TAUGHT BY ARTISTS IN THE BUILDING AND PROFESSIONALS FROM THE COMMUNITY. A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS ARE OFFERED, INCLUDING TRADITIONAL MEDIUMS, SUCH AS WATERCOLOR PAINTING, LIFE DRAWING, POTTERY, AND PRINTMAKING, AND MORE NICHE COURSES, POETRY AND CREATIVE WRITING, WRAP JEWELRY, AND STAINED GLASS. THE CENTER HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED INTO LITERARY ARTS, WITH A MONTHLY OPEN MIC FOR WRITERS AND PERSONAL NARRATIVE CLASSES. COTTONWOOD ALSO OFFERS FILM, ACTING, VOICE, AND MUSIC CLASSES. BUSINESS CLASSES RELATED TO SELLING ART, INCLUDING WEBSITE DESIGN AND MARKETING, ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. ADDITIONALLY, COTTONWOOD IS NOW PRODUCING A MONTHLY PODCAST ON THE ARTS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE 134 ARTISTS IN THE BUILDING, WHOSE COMBINED RENT CONTRIBUTES ABOUT $34,000 IN MONTHLY INCOME, ARE DIVERSE IN THEIR INTERESTS, OFFERINGS, AND EDUCATION. THE CENTER WORKS TO MAINTAIN AN ENVIRONMENT RICH WITH FORMALLY EDUCATED ART STUDENTS - CURRENTLY, 14 HOLD MASTER OF FINE ARTS DEGREES - BUT IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT. THOSE WITH NO FORMAL EDUCATION ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO BECOME PART OF THE COLLECTIVE AND LEARN FROM THEIR MORE EXPERIENCED CONTEMPORARIES. MANY PARTICIPATE IN MONTHLY CRITIQUES AND THE ARTIST CAFE; A SPACE DESIGNED TO CHALLENGE AND ENCOURAGE.MULTIPLE GALLERIES THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING SHOWCASE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND THOSE JUST FINDING THEIR FOOTING. MONTHLY SHOWS FEATURE SOLO EXHIBITS, GROUP SHOWS, AND SELECTIVE JURIED SHOWS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF CONTEMPORARY THEMES. COTTONWOOD ALSO FINDS INNOVATIVE WAYS TO MAKE ART AVAILABLE, NOW CURATING WORK AT THE COLORADO SPRINGS AIRPORT AND HANGING AND CURATING ART IN 10 BUILDINGS AROUND THE CITY. ADDITIONAL EVENTS PROVIDE ANOTHER REVENUE STREAM FOR COTTONWOOD AND HELP CONNECT THE CENTER TO THE COMMUNITY. OFFERINGS INCLUDE A VICTORY FARM AND ARTS MARKET, WHICH BRINGS IN MANY VISITORS EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR. ART PARTIES FOR KIDS AND ADULTS, LIVE MUSIC, SPOKEN WORD POETRY PERFORMANCES, WEDDING RECEPTIONS, FILM SCREENINGS AND FUNDRAISERS ARE ALSO PART OF THE PROGRAMMING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 April 2006.

    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.