Creative Strategies for Change
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 36% 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
TO MOBILIZE ARTS AND EDUCATION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
- Income
- $311,635
- Spending
- $562,009
- Spent on programs
- 36%
- Reserves
- 4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $58,171, exec. dir.-starting february 2024
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
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 80% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1536% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
- $123,663 spent. SCHOOL PROGRAMS: WE ARE VERY PROUD TO HAVE INCREASED OUR PROGRAMMING HOURS IN TITLE I SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND YOUTH-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION, CONTINUING OLD PARTNERSHIPS AND CREATING NEW ONES WITHIN THE DENVER COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE FACILITATED OVER 180 HOURS OF WORKSHOPS (AVERAGING AROUND 15 HOURS PER WEEK), AND REACHED 134 STUDENTS. AS WITH ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE WORK TO SERVE AND MAKE OUR CONTENT ACCESSIBLE TO THE BIPOC COMMUNITY IN DENVER. WE FEEL PROUD THAT ACROSS ALL OF OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS, OVER 50% OF OUR PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFY AS BIPOC.
- $51,215 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: ALL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ARE DONATION BASED OR SLIDING SCALE, AND NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS. CSC HOSTED OUR FACILITATOR WORKSHOP WEEKEND-LONG INTENSIVE TWICE, AS WELL AS CONSISTENT MONTHLY COMMUNITY CYPHER OPEN MICS, AND OUR MONTHLY CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE, MENTAL HEALTH MONDAYS. APPROXIMATELY 530 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED ACROSS ALL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. OUR FACILITATOR WORKSHOP SERVED 29 PARTICIPANTS TOTAL. OF OUR SURVEYED PARTICIPANTS: 100% FELT AN INCREASE IN CONFIDENCE ENGAGING IN AND FACILITATING SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK; 89% FELT MORE CONFIDENT ENGAGING IN RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. 100% FELT THE EXPERIENCE WAS MEANINGFUL FOR THEIR WORK, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
- $29,394 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTING: WE FACILITATED SEVERAL WORKSHOPS FOR LONG TERM COMMUNITY PARTNERS. PARTNERS BUILT COMMON VOCABULARY AND FRAMEWORKS FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS, INDIVIDUALLY AND INSTITUTIONALLY. APPROXIMATELY 100 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED.
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
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on July 15, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on July 15, 2015.
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 December 2024.
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 April 2016.
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.