Creative Kids
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ORGANIZATION IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A HIGH QUALITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM UTILIZING THE VISUAL ARTS TO EMPOWER YOUTH.
- Income
- $549,368
- Spending
- $652,405
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 13.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $118,667, creative director
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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 95% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
- $489,210 spent. Creative Kids Inc. is a 25-year-old nationally recognized 501(c)(3) creative youth development agency that positively impacts under-resourced populations in the border community of El Paso, Texas helping young people to thrive through the transformative power of the arts. Creative Kids' 16,000 sq. ft. headquarters, known as the oLo Gallery (Other Learning Opportunities), is located in the Union Plaza District in downtown El Paso. This facility is the permanent home to Creative Kids' art studios, cooking facility, art gallery, multimedia skills development center, and administrative offices. Creative Kids is able to reach over 1,100 youth throughout the year, which includes disconnected youth through Project ABLE (Art Brokers Learning Experiences), at-risk youth in the Boys and Girls Club of El Paso through Project MAP (Making the Arts Possible), and children battling cancer in its Project AIM (Arts in Motion). Creative Kids recently launched an art program for the children and families that were directly affected by the August 3rd Wal-Mart tragedy called Project RAP (Resiliency Art Program). The majority of children participating in Creative Kids' programs come from broken homes, families of very modest socio-economic means, and most have limited formal schooling and are largely of Hispanic ancestry. The Creative Kids programs represent a strategic and pivotal set of opportunities for the students so they can realize their aspirations for adult life, refine their talents and strengths and, in the process, encourage these youths to pursue lifelong learning and other higher education goals.
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
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 August 2025.
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 May 1999.
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.