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The Center for Craft Creativity & Design Inc

EIN 56-2096677 · Asheville, NC

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 RESOURCE, CATALYZE, AND AMPLIFY HOW AND WHY CRAFT MATTERS.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
15
Volunteers
31
Highest pay
$174,490, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 121% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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

    14 of 14 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $2.9 million spent. SCHEDULE 0 (PERIOD JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025) THE CENTER FOR CRAFT IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A STRATEGIC PLAN TITLED CRAFT MATTERS (2023-2027), AT ITS HEART IS THE VISION OF A CULTURE WHERE COMMUNITIES CELEBRATE AND EMBRACE THE CENTRALITY OF CRAFT IN EVERYDAY LIFE. THE CENTER FOR CRAFT SUPPORTS THE PRESERVATION AND INNOVATION OF CRAFT BY PROVIDING GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS THAT OFFER FUNDING, NETWORKS, AND PEER- TO-PEER LEARNING NATIONWIDE; EXHIBITIONS IN OUR DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE GALLERY THAT ILLUMINATE 21ST-CENTURY PRACTICES OF CRAFT; AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT TELL THE STORY OF HOW AND WHY CRAFT MATTERS. THE CENTER FOR CRAFT'S GRANT PROGRAMS ARE KEYSTONES IN DEVELOPING THE NATIONAL CRAFT ECOSYSTEM, SUPPORTING EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED CRAFT ARTISTS, SCHOLARS, EDUCATORS, AND ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE. IN FY25, THE CENTER RECEIVED 2,137 GRANT APPLICATIONS AND AWARDED 941 GRANTS TOTALING 1,982,748. NOW PERMANENTLY ENDOWED, THE CENTER FOR CRAFT'S WINDGATE-LAMAR FELLOWSHIP HAS AWARDED 2.985 MILLION TO 199 EMERGING CRAFT ARTISTS WITH EXEMPLARY SKILLS IN CRAFT SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CENTER HAS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED A REGULAR SCHEDULE OF GRANTS, EXHIBITIONS, AND ASSOCIATED PROGRAMS, DESPITE SETBACKS FROM HURRICANE HELENE AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. IN FY25, THE CENTER FOR CRAFT WORKED WITH OVER 50 ARTISTS THROUGH EXHIBITIONS AND OVER 75 ARTISTS THROUGH PROGRAMMING. THE CENTER SUPPORTED 47 ARTISTS WITH 555,000 IN GRANT PROGRAMS FOR EMERGING ARTISTS, MID-CAREER TEACHING ARTISTS, AND A RESIDENCY FOR WNC ARTISTS. IN RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF LOCAL ARTISTS FOLLOWING HURRICANE HELENE, THE CENTER AWARDED AN ADDITIONAL 903,000 IN GRANTS TO 849 ARTISTS THROUGH THE CRAFT FUTURES FUND. LAUNCHED IN 2024, THE NEW ALUMNI NETWORK PROGRAM - AN INITIATIVE TO DEEPEN AND STRENGTHEN OUR WORK WITH ARTISTS AND OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT AND CONNECT THEM - NOW HAS OVER 260 ACTIVE MEMBERS. IN JUNE 2025, THE CENTER AWARDED 10 ALUMNI UNRESTRICTED MICRO-GRANTS TO SUPPORT TRAVEL AND MATERIAL PURCHASES, AS A CONTINUATION OF THE CENTER'S INVESTMENT IN OUR ALUMNI'S WORK BEYOND THEIR INITIAL AWARDS. FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE SOUGHT WAYS TO AMPLIFY OUR ALUMNI IN OUR EXHIBITIONS AND PROGRAMS, CREATING A MORE INTEGRATED AND ONGOING SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR OUR AWARDEES BEYOND THEIR INITIAL FUNDING. THE CENTER SUPPORTS INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND CRAFT SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH THE CRAFT RESEARCH FUND AND CRAFT ARCHIVE FELLOWSHIP. A VISIONARY PROGRAM DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING SCHOLARLY CRAFT RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES, THE CRAFT RESEARCH FUND IS THE CENTER'S LONGEST-RUNNING GRANT PROGRAM. THE CRAFT ARCHIVE FELLOWSHIP, WHICH PROMOTES ARCHIVAL RESEARCH ON UNDERREPRESENTED AND NON-DOMINANT CRAFT HISTORIES IN THE UNITED STATES, RECEIVED 260 APPLICATIONS AND AWARDED 6 GRANTS TOTALING 30,000 THIS YEAR. THE CENTER FOR CRAFT HAS BECOME A VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, SERVING VISITORS ANNUALLY THROUGH TOP-NOTCH PROGRAMS. FREE TO THE PUBLIC, OUR GALLERIES OFFER EXHIBITIONS AND AN ENGAGEMENT STUDIO, WHERE VISITORS CAN EXPLORE CRAFT PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES THAT CATALYZE DISCOVERY AND LEARNING ABOUT CRAFT FOR ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND INTEREST LEVELS. IN FY25, THE CENTER WELCOMED 11,542 GALLERY VISITORS, EXHIBITED THE WORK OF 54 ARTISTS, AND HOSTED 1,448 VIRTUAL PROGRAM ATTENDEES. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CENTER DESIGNED AND PRODUCED A NEW MATERIALS COLLECTION. THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPLORATION AND OBSERVATION, AUDIENCES MAY EXPLORE MATERIALS COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH CRAFT TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING. THE MATERIALS COLLECTION WAS FUNDED BY THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES AND SUPPORTED, IN PART, BY THE CENTER FOR NATIVE HEALTH. THE CENTER FOR CRAFT'S HISTORIC 1912 FACILITY ALSO OFFERS OVER 10,000 SQUARE FEET TO HOST PROGRAMS, MEETINGS, AND EVENTS IN CLASSROOM, CONFERENCE, AND COWORKING SPACES ("COWORK"). THE CENTER FOR CRAFT IS A DESTINATION AND RESOURCE FOR VISITORS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BY FULFILLING THE CULTURAL SECTOR'S NEED FOR NETWORKING AND WORKSPACE FOR LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS. THE IDEATION LAB NOW INCLUDES A RECENTLY ADDED PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO, COMPUTER LAB, AND PACK-AND-SHIP STATIONS FOR CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS. WITH THE HELP OF GENEROUS FUNDERS AND DONORS, THE CENTER FOR CRAFT CONTINUES TO BUILD ITS ENDOWED FUNDS AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO REMAIN A BEACON OF SUPPORT FOR THE MAKERS, SCHOLARS, AND CRAFT COMMUNITY. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE CENTER, PLEASE VISIT WWW.CENTERFORCRAFT.ORG. SCHEDULE 0 (PERIOD JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025) THE CENTER FOR CRAFT IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A STRATEGIC PLAN TITLED CRAFT MATTERS (2023-2027), AT ITS HEART IS THE VISION OF A CULTURE WHERE COMMUNITIES CELEBRATE AND EMBRACE THE CENTRALITY OF CRAFT IN EVERYDAY LIFE. THE CENTER FOR CRAFT SUPPORTS THE PRESERVATION AND INNOVATION OF CRAFT BY PROVIDING GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS THAT OFFER FUNDING, NETWORKS, AND PEER- TO-PEER LEARNING NATIONWIDE; EXHIBITIONS IN OUR DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE GALLERY THAT ILLUMINATE 21ST-CENTURY PRACTICES OF CRAFT; AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT TELL THE STORY OF HOW AND WHY CRAFT MATTERS. THE CENTER FOR CRAFT'S GRANT PROGRAMS ARE KEYSTONES IN DEVELOPING THE NATIONAL CRAFT ECOSYSTEM, SUPPORTING EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED CRAFT ARTISTS, SCHOLARS, EDUCATORS, AND ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE. IN FY25, THE CENTER RECEIVED 2,137 GRANT APPLICATIONS AND AWARDED 941 GRANTS TOTALING 1,982,748. NOW PERMANENTLY ENDOWED, THE CENTER FOR CRAFT'S WINDGATE-LAMAR FELLOWSHIP HAS AWARDED 2.985 MILLION TO 199 EMERGING CRAFT ARTISTS WITH EXEMPLARY SKILLS IN CRAFT SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CENTER HAS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED A REGULAR SCHEDULE OF GRANTS, EXHIBITIONS, AND ASSOCIATED PROGRAMS, DESPITE SETBACKS FROM HURRICANE HELENE AND REDUCED FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. IN FY25, THE CENTER FOR CRAFT WORKED WITH OVER 50 ARTISTS THROUGH EXHIBITIONS AND OVER 75 ARTISTS THROUGH PROGRAMMING. THE CE

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 June 2000.

    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 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.