Compas Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COMPAS DELIVERS CREATIVE EXPERIENCES THAT UNLEASH THE POTENTIAL WITHIN ALL OF US.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $131,634, executive director
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 (arts and culture, $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 (2)
- $844,375 spent. CREATIVE COMMUNITY COMPAS DELIVERS CREATIVE EXPERIENCES TO 44,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY THAT SPAN A WIDE RANGE OF PERFORMING, VISUAL, LITERARY, DIGITAL, AND MUSICAL DISCIPLINES. THE 150+ TEACHING ARTISTS AND ENSEMBLES WHO MAKE UP OUR ROSTER DELIVER IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA (SHELTERS, LIBRARIES, YOUTH CENTERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CENTER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, JUSTICE PROGRAMS, OLDER ADULT CENTERS, ETC.). TEACHING ARTISTS REPRESENT MORE THAN 40 DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND RACIAL BACKGROUNDS AND BRING YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT IGNITE PARTICIPANTS' CREATIVITY, WHETHER PROGRAMS ARE WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES, OR LONGER RESIDENCIES. NO MATTER THE LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM, COMPAS ENSURES THAT EACH PARTICIPANT FULLY EXPERIENCES THE ART FORM.
- $553,950 spent. CREATIVE CLASSROOM: MORE THAN 22,000 STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 21 YEARS OF AGE ARE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH A PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED COMPAS TEACHING ARTIST TO LEARN AN ART FORM THAT IS SELECTED BY EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS TO BEST MEET THEIR NEEDS. THE RANGE IN ART FORMSINCLUDES PERFORMING, VISUAL, LITERARY, DIGITAL, AND MUSICAL DISCIPLINES AND IS OFTEN CONNECTED TO STATE CURRICULUM GUIDELINES. COMPAS'S TEACHING ARTISTS WORK WITHIN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS (TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL), OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS AND SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR OWN ARTMAKING ABILITIES WHILE PARTICIPATING IN MAKING AN ORIGINAL PIECE OF ART IN THEIR SCHOOL SETTING. THIS PROCESS HELPS PARTICIPANTS ADVANCE THEIR CRITICAL THINKING ABILITIES.
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 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.