Creative Capital Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CREATIVE CAPITAL SUPPORTS INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS' PROJECTS THROUGH AWARDS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
- Income
- $6.7 million
- Spending
- $7.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 21
- Highest pay
- $374,472, president & executive dire
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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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 (1)
- $6.2 million spent. IN FY25 CREATIVE CAPITAL FUNDED A NEW COHORT OF 50 AWARDEE PROJECTS. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO INVEST IN MULTI-YEAR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ARTISTS WHO WERE AWARDEES IN PAST YEARS. CREATIVE CAPITAL CONTINUES TO PROVIDE NON-MONETARY SUPPORT TO AWARDEES IN THE FORM OF CONSULTATIONS AND MEETINGS AT KEY MOMENTS IN THE LIVES OF THE FUNDED PROJECTS BY ASSISTING WITH PLANNING, MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION. IN FY25, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A SKILLS BUILDING PROGRAM FREE OF COST FOR CREATIVE CAPITAL AWARDEES AND NON-AWARDEE ARTISTS. ALSO IN FY25, CREATIVE CAPITAL HOSTED A TWO DAY IN-PERSON COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENT FOR AWARDEES, DONORS AND INDUSTRY CONSULTANTS WITH 338 PARTICIPANTS. THE ARTS WRITERS GRANT PROGRAM MADE 30 NEW GRANTS TO ARTS WRITERS AND CONTINUED WORK ON THEIR PAMPHLET SERIES, "COOKIE JAR."
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 July 1998.
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.