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Creative West

EIN 23-7255426 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CREATIVE WEST IS A NONPROFIT ARTS SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE CREATIVE ADVANCEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF THE ARTS. BASED IN DENVER, COLORADO, CREATIVE WEST FULFILLS ITS MISSION TO STRENGTHEN THE FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONAL AND POLICY INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ARTS BY PROVIDING INNOVATIVE AND SERVICES TO ARTIST AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WEST AND NATIONWIDE.

Income
$23.2 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
25.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
49
Volunteers
249
Highest pay
$293,582, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 60% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 142% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    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

    0 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 September 30, 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. $3.6 million spent. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, CREATIVE WEST MAINTAINS A TOUR WEST AND REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH FUNDS ARTS TOURING. "TOURWEST," SUPPORTS THE TOURING OF PERFORMING ARTISTS ACROSS THE WEST. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SERVE SMALL COMMUNITIES, AND IS HEAVILY ORIENTED TOWARDS SUPPORTING PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTED IN SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES. WITH GRANTS UP TO $5,000, THESE GRANTS ARE MODEST IN NATURE BUT HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES WHERE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS HAVE DIMINISHED GREATLY IN RECENT YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, PRIVATE FUNDERS HAVE SUPPORTED ADDITIONAL GRANTING PROGRAMS MANAGED BY CREATIVE WEST FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING ARTISTS AND ARTS LEADERS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. BOTH THE TOURWEST PROGRAM AND PRIVATE GRANT AWARDS FUND OVER 200 GRANTS ANNUALLY AND SERVICES ALL CORNERS OF CREATIVE WEST'S 13-STATE REGION AND THREE PACIFIC JURISDICTIONS.
  2. $1.8 million spent. CREATIVE WEST PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS IN THE REGION. MAJOR PROGRAMS INCLUDE: 1) CONVENINGS, NETWORKS, AND PLANNING PROCESSES THAT BRING TOGETHER LEADING PRACTITIONERS IN THE ARTS FIELD TO DISCUSS POLICY ISSUES THAT IMPACT ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES AND TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARTS, 2) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS FOR STATE ARTS AGENCY LEADERS AND INVESTMENTS IN STATE ARTS AGENCY INNOVATION THAT ARE DESIGNED TO HELP THEM BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE AND SERVICE ORIENTED PUBLIC SECTOR AGENCIES.
  3. $2.8 million spent. ADDITIONALLY, CREATIVE WEST HAS ONLINE SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE TOOLS TO CONNECT ARTISTS TO OPPORTUNITIES VIA; 3) THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUBLIC ART ARCHIVE, A SEARCHABLE ONLINE DATABASE OF COMPLETED PUBLIC ARTWORKS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND ABROAD, IN WHICH ARTISTS AND MANAGERS OF PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS CAN CONTRIBUTE THEIR WORK FOR FREE PUBLIC VIEWING, AND 4) ARTS SERVICE-BASED TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS SUCH AS ZAPPLICATION AND CALL FOR ENTRY (CAFE TM) WHICH SUPPORT THE NON-PROFIT ARTS COMMUNITY AND ARTISTS IN THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE AND ADVANCE THEIR WORK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 1973.

    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.