Creative Growth Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
For 50 years, Creative Growth has advanced the inclusion of artists with developmental disabilities in contemporary art, fostering a more equitable and diverse creative landscape. By providing a supportive studio environment and gallery representation, we empower our artists to thrive while strengthening community connections and reshaping perceptions of disability in the arts.Individuals with developmental disabilities are among the poorest and most marginalized populations in the United States, often forced to live in poverty due to systemic inequities. For 50 years, Creative Growth has championed artists with disabilities, offering them a vibrant platform to express themselves and thrive as professional artists. The Creative Growth community values access in all its forms, a culture of care and respect, diversity of people, and artistic expression.
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 45%
- Employees
- 47
- Highest pay
- $134,353, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 36 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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 June 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 (4)
- $2.4 million spent. STUDIO PROGRAM Creative Growth provides artists with developmental disabilities with a vibrant studio environment. The 12,000 square foot studio offers programs in ceramics, woodworking, digital media, drawing, fiber arts and fashion, painting, printmaking, and textiles, all offered free of charge to artists, supplies included. Artists are referred to our program through the California Department of Developmental Services regional centers and participate in multiple site visits to the studio to gauge their level of interest in making art. Creative Growth artists (aged 22-88) are racially and ethnically diverse and speak seven languages, including finger-spelling and American Sign Language. Studio Facilitators, all practicing artists, foster the professional development of each Creative Growth artists unique artistic voice, and every artist decides when work is finished, what work is gallery ready, and how they want their work presented to the public.
- CREATIVE GROWTHS GALLERYThe Creative Growth Gallery exhibits and promotes Creative Growth artists by placing their work in major collections and institutions worldwide. As a non-profit gallery, all artwork sales directly support the artists and Creative Growth, which uses the proceeds to purchase materials and keep the program running.The Gallery hosted five major exhibitions, including 50 Years of Creative Growth and Soul Food curated by the Creative Growth Black artists affinity group. The Gallery team also represents Creative Growths 140+ artists at national and international art fairs annually. In 2024/2025 artists were represented at Volta Art Fair (New York), Outsider Paris, NADA (Miami), Open Invitational (Miami), Felix (Los Angeles), Outsider (New York), NADA (New York), Volta Art Fair (Basel). Artwork made at Creative Growth has also been acquired by prominent collections worldwide, including MoMA, SFMOMA, the Smithsonian, the Studio Museum of Harlem. The Gallery also provides professional development for artists through the window box program which creates opportunities for artists to make self-driven installations for each exhibition.
- WILLIAM SCOTT COOPER HEWITT DESIGN TRIENNIAL: MAKING HOMEIn 2024, Creative Growth supported artist William Scott to participate in the Smithsonian Design Museum, Cooper Hewitts design Triennial, Making Home. William had 48 artworks included in the triennial, including two new paintings on panel. Creative Growth then facilitated the acquisition of 5 drawings by William into Cooper Hewitts permanent collection.
- CCHALLENGE: Federal disability benefit structures effectively require many individuals with developmental disabilities to remain at or near the poverty line in order to retain essential services and healthcare. As a result, people with developmental disabilities remain among the most economically marginalized populations in the United States, facing persistent barriers to employment, education, and cultural participation.Creative Growth responds to this inequity by supporting artists with developmental disabilities as cultural producers and professional artists. For more than fifty years, Creative Growth has provided artists with the resources, studio space, mentorship, gallery representation, and global platforms needed to build meaningful creative lives and reshape how disability is understood within the arts. MISSION: Creative Growth advances the inclusion of artists with developmental disabilities in contemporary art and strengthens the community by providing a supportive studio environment and gallery representation. VALUES: The Creative Growth community is grounded in creativity, respect, care, and accessibility. We believe artistic expression is a fundamental human right and are committed to fostering a studio environment where diverse individuals are supported to explore their creativity, develop their own visual language, and participate fully in a culture of dignity, mutual support, and opportunity.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 May 1974.
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 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.