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Center of Creative Arts

EIN 43-1395056 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak18 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENRICHING LIVES AND BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ARTS.

Income
$6.3 million
Spending
$8.6 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 43%
Employees
290
Volunteers
123
Highest pay
$246,648, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 18 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 25

    35 of 35 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 August 31, 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 (5)
  1. $2.8 million spent. EDUCATION - COCA INSPIRES ART EXPERIENCES FOR ALL AGES AND SKILL LEVELS, FROM ENTHUSIASTIC AMATEURS TO EMERGING PROFESSIONALS. WE OFFER CLASSES IN ART & DESIGN, CIRCUS, CULINARY ARTS, DANCE, EARLY CHILDHOOD, THEATRE, AND VOICE. WHETHER PATRONS ARE LOOKING FOR CLASSES TO TAKE IN-PERSON AT OUR UNIVERSITY CITY CAMPUS, VIRTUALLY FROM YOUR OWN HOME, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH, WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, TOTAL ENROLLMENT WAS 3,517, WHICH INCLUDES 95 PRE-PROFESSIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDENTS.
  2. $1.0 million spent. CAMPS - COCA SUMMER ARTS CAMPS IGNITE CREATIVITY! CAMPERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND EXPERIENCE NEW THINGS, BUILD THEIR SKILLS, AND - MOST IMPORTANTLY - HAVE FUN! COCA OFFERS SOME OF THE MOST CREATIVE SUMMER ARTS CAMPS FOR KIDS AND TEENS, SERVING 5,374 CAMP ENROLLMENTS.
  3. $1.4 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OCOCA PRESENTS - COCAPRESENTS, THE SIGNATURE PERFORMANCE SEASON, BRINGS THOUGHT-PROVOKING PROGRAMMING FOR MULTIGENERATIONAL AUDIENCES TO THE ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY WITH A SELECTION OF TRADITIONAL AUDIENCE FAVORITES AND INNOVATIVE NEW WORK FROM LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND STUDENT ARTISTS. COCA'S INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCES TRANSFORM THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND US. COCA'S MILLSTONE GALLERY PRESENTS TIMELY, RELEVANT EXHIBITIONS FROM EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS. EXHIBITIONS WELCOME VISITORS TO EXAMINE THE ARTISTIC PROCESS AND ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE. WITH ACCESS AS A CORE VALUE, COCA PRESENTS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE ENGAGING ART FORMS AND STRIVES TO MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE TO THE WIDEST POSSIBLE DEMOGRAPHIC THROUGH DISCOUNTED TICKETS, SCHOOL TIME PERFORMANCES FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE MILLSTONE GALLERY IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 8,218 PEOPLE ATTENDED THESE PERFORMANCES.
  4. $279,021 spent. COCAEDU - COCAEDU IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MODEL OF EXCELLENCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION. COCAEDU ENGAGES STUDENTS, INSPIRES TEACHERS, AND DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF THE ARTS TO BRIDGE BARRIERS THROUGH PROGRAMS IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE ST. LOUIS REGION. SINCE 1992, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED ARTS PROGRAMMING TO THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND DEDICATED EDUCATORS. COCAEDU PROVIDES COLLABORATIVE ARTS INTEGRATION RESIDENCIES THAT PARTNER TEACHING ARTISTS FROM LOCAL ARTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH TEACHERS FROM THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND MANY MORE.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 30 SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDED 134 COLLABORATIVE RESIDENCIES AND CLASSES AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 2,676 PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR 75 EDUCATORS.
  5. $120,945 spent. COCABIZ - COCABIZ, THE BUSINESS TRAINING DIVISION OF COCA, PROVIDES IMMERSIVE ARTS-BASED TRAINING, PROGRAMMING, AND CONSULTING FOR PROFESSIONALS. THE COCABIZ MISSION IS TO BUILD A MORE CREATIVE, ENGAGED, AND EFFECTIVE WORKFORCE BY DELIVERING INNOVATIVE WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS THAT EMPLOY AUTHENTIC ARTS TEACHING AND ACHIEVE BUSINESS RESULTS. COCABIZ PROGRAMS BRING INDIVIDUALS TOGETHER IN AN INTELLIGENT AND ENGAGING ATMOSPHERE, INSPIRING BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS TO EXPLORE NEW APPROACHES AND EMERGING IDEAS ACROSS INDUSTRIES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR APPROXIMATELY 681 PARTICIPANTS WERE SERVED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 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 August 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 August 1986.

    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.

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