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Project Create

EIN 42-1559894 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROJECT CREATE PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS EDUCATION TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE AND AMPLIFY THEIR VOICES.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
10
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$101,600, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    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

    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 December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $548,450 spent. STUDIO PROGRAM: THE PROJECT CREATE ARTS CENTER IS FULL OF ART SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, COMPUTERS WITH CREATIVE DESIGN SOFTWARE, STATE-OF-THE-ART AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT, AND EXPERIENCED TEACHING ARTISTS AND ART THERAPISTS. MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIO CLASSES IN VISUAL, PERFORMING AND DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS ARE PROVIDED DAILY, YEAR-ROUND IN THREE SEMESTERS. DURING OPEN STUDIO SESSIONS, EXPERIENCED ARTS EDUCATORS LEAD PARTICIPANTS IN AN ACCEPTING AND CREATIVE ARTISTIC ENVIRONMENT. ALL CLASSES ARE FREE.
  2. $261,122 spent. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM: PROJECT CREATE PROVIDES MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS EDUCATION CLASSES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY. PROGRAM OFFERINGS, DESIGNED WITH A THERAPEUTIC AND TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH, INCLUDE WEEKLY CLASSES, ARTS ENRICHMENT FIELD TRIPS, AND PERFORMANCE AND EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES. OURCOLLABORATIONS COMBAT BARRIERS TO ARTS EDUCATION ACCESSIBILITY.
  3. $120,900 spent. ART THERAPY PROGRAM: HEART SPACE, PROJECT CREATES ART THERAPY PROGRAM, IS DELIVERED BY REGISTERED ART THERAPISTS TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH SMALL GROUP SESSIONS. PROGRAMS, OFFERED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, FOCUS ON HOW TO USE ART TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE EMOTIONAL WELLNESS, DECREASE ANXIETY, AND BUILD RESILIENCE WHILE CONNECTING TO OTHERS. SESSIONS INCLUDE VISUAL ART THERAPY, MUSIC THERAPY AND DANCE THERAPY. ALL PROGRAMS ARE FREE FOR DC FAMILIES.
  4. $233,646 spent. PROJECT CREATE PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS EDUCATION TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE AND AMPLIFY THEIR VOICES. PROJECT CREATE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN FREE OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME ART CLASSES AND ART THERAPY GROUPS, BOTH AT OUR OWN ARTS CENTER IN ANACOSTIA, AS WELL AS AT MULTIPLE COMMUNITY PARTNER SITES IN UNDERSERVED DC NEIGHBORHOODS. PROJECT CREATE SERVES OVER 2,000 DC CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS EVERY YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 March 2003.

    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.