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Creative Enterprise Zone

EIN 47-3199574 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE'S (CEZ'S) MISSION IS TO ATTRACT AND SUPPORT CREATIVE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES TO MAKEITHERE CEZMSP. LOCATED BETWEEN PRIOR AVENUE AND THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL ALONG THE GREEN LINE, WE ENVISION THE ZONE AS A THRIVING DISTRICT OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION CENTERED IN AN EQUITABLE AND JUST COMMUNITY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING. WE APPLY COMMUNITY IMAGINATION TO FOSTER AND IMPROVE PLACE DEVELOPMENT WITH A CREATIVE DESTINATION WITH 60+ OUTDOOR MURALS.

Income
$223,848
Spending
$208,779
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
1
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$91,528, executive di

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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $32,402 spent. REAL ESTATE SERVICES: WE COLLABORATE WITH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS TO PREVENT CREATIVE DISPLACEMENT, ADVOCATE FOR FAIR AND AFFORDABLE CREATIVE SPACES, AND RECRUIT ENTREPRENEURS, ARTISTS, MAKERS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO THE DISTRICT. WE PARTNER WITH TAPROOT INVESTMENT COOPERATIVE AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ACQUIRE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, EXPAND LOCAL OWNERSHIP, AND INCREASE COMMUNMITY CONTROL OF REAL ESTATE FOR THE LONG TERM AND AS AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY.
  2. $103,974 spent. CHROMA ZONE MURAL AND ARTS FESTIVAL: WE PRODUCE AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL WHICH FOCUSES ON THE CREATION OF LARGE OUTDOOR MURALS ON BUILDINGS, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY-LED EVENTS AND ARTS PROGRAMS. OUR GOALS ARE TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF THE GROWING DISTRICT, SUPPORT AND CONNECT CREATIVES WHO WORK AND LIVE HERE, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE LONG-TERM BEAUTY, ECONOMIC VITALITY, SAFETY AND WALKABILITY OF THE CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE.
  3. CITY OF SAINT PAUL NEIGHBORHOOD STAR PROGRAM: WE ADMINISTER PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS AND LOANS REIMBURSABLE THROUGH THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL TO HELP CREATIVE BUSINESSES RESPOND TO MAKE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
  4. $12,200 spent. PUBLIC SPACES: WE COLLABORATE ON INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH, BEAUTY, SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT BY IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS THAT EXPAND THE URBAN TREE CANOPY (100 TREES INITIATIVE), CREATE NEW PLACES TO CONNECT, AND LEAD A NEIGHBORHOOD-WIDE CONVERSATION ABOUT CLIMATE RESILIENCY, THE ENNVIRONMENT, AND PUBLIC SPACES.
  5. PUBLIC SPACES: WE COLLABORATE ON INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH, BEAUTY, SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENT BY IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS THAT EXPAND THE URBAN TREE CANOPY (100 TREES INITIATIVE), CREATE NEW PLACES TO CONNECT, AND LEAD A NEIGHBORHOOD-WIDE CONVERSATION ABOUT CLIMATE RESILIENCY, THE ENNVIRONMENT, AND PUBLIC SPACES.

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 October 2017.

    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.