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Creative Downtown Appleton Inc

EIN 47-1568601 · Appleton, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE AND ENHANCE THE CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT OF DOWNTOWN APPLETON BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ARTS, MUSIC AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.

Income
$175,874
Spending
$138,098
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
4
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$100,248, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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.

  • 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. $44,256 spent. CDA PARTNERS WITH ADI TO PRODUCE THE LIGHT THE NIGHT MARKET SERIES - SUPPORTING LIVE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE ACTS. CDA PRODUCED THE NOVEMBER HOLIDAY NIGHT MARKET WHICH INCLUDE FREE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS LIVE MUSIC, GAMES, SMORES, A TREAT WALK, WAGON AND TRAIN RIDES, REINDEER, ALSO FOOD VENDORS AND ART AND CRAFT VENDORS. ALL SPONSORSHIP - NO DIRECT REVENUE GENERATED.
  2. $57,242 spent. ARTS AND CREATIVE PLACEMAKING AND PUBLIC ART IS ANOTHER MAIN FOCUS. CDA COORDINATES THE MOBILE PARKLET ON WASHINGTON STREET WHICH INCLUDES PUBLIC SEATING. IMAGES OF WORLD MUSIC INSTRUMENTS AND FRESH HERBS FOR THE PUBLIC. CDA IS A PARTNER IN STREET MUSIC WEEK, MAKE MUSIC DAY, CHALK WALK, AND OTHER SMALL SCALE ART PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE ASSISTED IN RAISING THE DOLLARS AND COORDINATING LOGISTICS FOR THE LARGE SCALE MURAL PROJECT THAT INCLUDES 20 STUDENTS, A LOCAL ARTIST AND SEVERAL TEACHERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE MURAL DEVELOPMENT. THE PROGRAM HAS BECOME A SKILLS TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENTS AS WELL. CDA PARTNERS WITH ADI TO PRODUCE FREE LIVE MUSIC CONCERTS IN JONES PARK - CDA PARTNERS ON TWO EVENT NIGHTS. CDA ALSO HOSTED A TICKETED EVENT INCLUDING THE DUELING PIANOS.
  3. $18,200 spent. AVENUE OF ICE IS A DISPLAY OF HANDCRAFTED ICE CARVINGS THROUGHOUT THE MILE OF DOWNTOWN APPLETON. CARVINGS ARE SPONSORED BY COMPANIES AND CDA COVERS THE COST OF A LARGER SCALE CARVING. IN 2024 WE ALSO HOSTED A FREE TROLLEY FOR THOSE UNABLE TO WALK THE DOWNTOWN TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE CARVINGS. THIS IS A FEBRUARY EVENT.
  4. $4,870 spent. CDA IS A MILE OF MUSIC PRODUCTION PARTNER. THE EVENT FEATURES ORIGINAL LIVE MUSIC FROM MORE THAN 600 PERFORMANCES AND PROVIDES A MUSIC EDUCATION SERIES FREE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE FOUR DAY FESTIVAL. OUTDOOR FREE MUSIC WAS PRESENTED IN SEVERAL ACCESSIBLE AREAS OF DOWNTOWN INCLUDING JONES PARK, HOUDINI PLAZA, AND THE LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AREA. CDA MANAGES JONES PARK LOGISTICS AND HELPS TO OVERSEE HOUDINI PLAZA. WE RECEIVE A STIPEND FOR OUR SUPPORT.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.

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