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Creative Action Institute Inc

EIN 20-3995543 · Ipswich, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CREATIVE ACTION INSTITUTE CATALYZES COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS THAT ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY AND BUILD A SUSTAINABLE PLANET. THROUGH OUR EXPERIENTIAL TRAININGS, CONVENINGS AND COACHING, WE DEVELOP CREATIVE LEADERS, BUILD NETWORKS AND SUPPORT GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY GLOBALLY.

Income
$805,761
Spending
$926,757
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
51 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
4
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$120,451, 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 51.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 75% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. SAUTI YA DADA (SYD) IS A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM THAT CREATES AND STRENGTHENS SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT, LEARNING, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY TO HELP MARGINALIZED GIRLS AGES 13 - 19 IN EAST AFRICA COMPLETE THEIR SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION AND BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM STARTS A NEW COHORT EACH YEAR.CREATIVE ACTION INSTITUTE WORKS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIONS FROM KENYA, RWANDA, UGANDA AND TANZANIA, SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS. CAI UNDERTAKES SUBSTANTIAL TRAINING AND COACHING TO EQUIP PARTNER MENTORS AND TEACHERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO EFFECTIVELY DELIVER THE CONTENT AND SUPPORT THE GIRLS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM.SYD CLUBS- THE DISTINCTIVE CURRICULUM, DELIVERED WEEKLY AT THE CLUB MEETINGS BY THE MENTORS, HELP BUILD LEADERSHIP, DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF SRHR AND CLIMATE CHANGE, AND GAIN ADVOCACY SKILLS TO ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES. THE CLUBS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GIRLS TO CONEECT, AND A SAFE SPACE FOR THEM TO DISCUSS THEIR CHALLENGES AND PLAN PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THEM.EAGLS_ THE EAST AFRICAN GIRLS' LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, A PLATFORM FOR PEER EXCHANGE AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THAT ANNUALLY CONVENES GIRLS FROM KENYA, RWANDA, TANZANIA AND UGANDA, IS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THE 2-YEAAR PROGRAM. EACH SYD CIRCLE NOMINATES GIRLS TO REPRESENT THEM AT A WEEK-LONG SUMMIT, HELD ANNUALLY IN NAIROBI, KENYA WHERE THEY LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND WORKSHOP THEIR ADVOCY PROJECTS.CREATIVE ADVOCY PRACTICUMS: TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THEY HAVE LEARNED, EACH CLUB UNDERTAKES A CREATIVE ADVOCACY PRACTICUM (CAP) WHERE THE GIRLS CHOOSE A TOPIC THAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM, RESEARCH THE ISSUE, BRAINSTORM SOLUTIONS, AND LEVERAGE CREATIVE TACTICS TO ADVOCATE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. EAGLS PROVIDES A SPACE FOR GIRLS LEADERS TO WORKSHOP THEIR PROJECTS, GETTING VALUABLE INSIGHT FROM THEIR PEERS IMPLEMENTING IT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
  2. THE CREATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM EQUIPS LEADERS TO LEVERAGE CREATIVE LEADERSHIP, FACILIATATION, COLLABORATION AND ADVOCACY STRATEGIES THAT INCORPORATE ARTS AND PROBLEM SOLVING TO BUILD CONSENSUS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AROUND COMPLEX ISSUES, DEVELOP INCLUSIVE SOLUTIONS, AND SHIFT BEHAVIORS TO SUPPORT A MORE SUSTAINABLE PLANET.THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROGRAM BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF LEADERS AND COMMUNITIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, ANALYZE, AND RESPOND TO THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD SECURITY, GENDER EQUALITY, WATER AVAILABILITY, AND HEALTH OF HUMANS AND ANIMALS.CREATIVE ADVOCACY PRACTICUMS (CAPS) ARE A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF EACH OF OUR PROGRAMS: LEADERS APPLY NEW SKILLS IN THEIR COMMUNITITES TO CREATIVELY BRING ABOUT CHANGE.
  3. CREATIVE ACTION INSTITUTE UNDERTAKES NUMEROUS CONSULTING OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOCUS ON GENDER EQUALITY AND BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE PLANET. CONSULTING WORK IN 2025 INCLUDED: DEVELOPING A GREEN AND GENDER ESSENTIALS A TEACHER TRAINING PACKAGE FOR VVOB WITH AKF; DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY FORUMS IN NEWBURYPORT TO SUPPORT THE DESIGN OF A PEER CLEAN-ENERGY MENTOR PROGRAM FOR ELDERS.

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 October 13, 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 February 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 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.