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Creative Portland Corporation

EIN 27-0843775 · Portland, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CREATIVE PORTLAND IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS THE CREATIVE ECONOMY THROUGH THE ARTS BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, BY FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS, AND BY PROMOTING PORTLAND'S ARTISTIC TALENTS AND CULTURAL ASSETS. AS THE OFFICIAL NONPROFIT ARTS AGENCY, WE SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS BY STRENGTHENING AND STIMULATING OUR WORKFORCE, CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, AND ENTERPRISES.

Income
$235,303
Spending
$236,364
Spent on programs
41%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
3
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$102,700, executive di

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $95,688 spent. EIGHT ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS WERE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IN FY 6/30/2024, ALL PART OF THE ANNUAL WORK PLAN APPROVED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ALL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVES OPERATE WITH INCLUSIVE PRACTICES, DIVERSE REPRESENTATION, AND VOLUNTEER CURATORIAL TEAMS. THE PROGRAMS ARE: ARTS & CULTURE SUMMIT FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK CREATIVE PORTLAND APP AND WEBSITE MONTHLY ARTS UPDATE NEWSLETTER SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAM TO PROMOTE CULTURAL ASSETS FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM MONDAY MORNING DROP BY CREATIVE PORTLAND ART GALLERY ARTS ADVOCACY & ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES EIGHT ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS WERE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IN FY 6/30/2024, ALL PART OF THE ANNUAL WORK PLAN APPROVED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ALL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVES OPERATE WITH INCLUSIVE PRACTICES, DIVERSE REPRESENTATION, AND VOLUNTEER CURATORIAL TEAMS. THE PROGRAMS ARE: ARTS & CULTURE SUMMIT FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK CREATIVE PORTLAND APP AND WEBSITE MONTHLY ARTS UPDATE NEWSLETTER SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAM TO PROMOTE CULTURAL ASSETS FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM MONDAY MORNING DROP BY CREATIVE PORTLAND ART GALLERY ARTS ADVOCACY & ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES

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

  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 June 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 May 2010.

    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.