Creative Ministries Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CREATIVE MINISTRIES, INC. WAS ORGANIZED IN 1984 AS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING CHRISTIAN VALUES FEATURING THE BEST IN CHRISTIAN MUSIC, ART AND OTHER ACTIVITIES; AND TO ACQUIRE ONE OR MORE NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCAST STATIONS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND MUSIC PROGRAMS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC RESIDING IN THE COMMUNITIES OF THE LICENSEE, AND THE BROADCAST STATION'S SERVICE AREA. IN DECEMBER 1990, THE ORGANIZATION ACQUIRED WJTL-FM, A RADIO STATION LICENSED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) SERVICING THE LANCASTER, HARRISBURG, YORK, LEBANON, AND NORTHERN MARYLAND AREAS, TO OPERATE A NONCOMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL BROADCAST STATION DEDICATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND MUSIC PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 39.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 40%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $168,115, station mana
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 39.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 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
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 August 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 (2)
- $1.4 million spent. PROMOTION OF CHRISTIAN CONCERTS/FESTIVALS AND ARTISTS FEATURING CHRISTIAN MUSIC, ART, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE NUMBER OF PERSONS BENEFITTING RANGES WITH EACH CONCERT/FESTIVAL FROM HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS.
- $619,069 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL RADIO BROADCASTING OF CHRISTIAN MUSIC AND PROGRAMMING TO THE WJTL LISTENING AREA. THE NUMBER OF PERSONS BENEFITTING VARIES WITH THE PROGRAMMING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 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 August 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 April 1985.
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.