Creative Arts Center of Dallas
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE TO DISCOVER, DEVELOP AND EXPRESS THEIR ARTISTIC VISIONS.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- -3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 87%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $148,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 86% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
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 December 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 (2)
- $650,760 spent. Creative Arts Center of Dallas, Inc. (the "Center") is recognized as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit Center based in Dallas, Texas. For 60 years, the Creative Arts Center of Dallas (CAC) has provided first class arts instruction to all levels of students, from teenagers to senior citizens. CAC's mission is to nurture a community where citizen artists discover, develop, and express their artistic visions. Since it received its charter in the state of Texas in 1966 as an educational arts center, CAC has instructed students in a relaxed, creative environment. CAC serves 2,500 classroom attendees a year through the offering of more than 500 classes and workshops per year covering 13 different art disciplines. The Center derives 87% ($994,943) of its revenue from program fees for conducting classes and workshops.
- $106,681 spent. CAC is actively engaged in free outreach for the community through Art as a Second Language and 70 annual scholarships. It organizes local art exhibitions; artist talks and events for students and the Dallas community to instill awareness and demonstrate the importance of culture and the arts in our lives. The school has deep roots in the community, and its goal is to remain one of the foremost visual arts education facilities and community arts organizations in North Texas. The Center's primary sources of revenue are class fees, grants and free-will donations from supporters and the general public.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 November 6, 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 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 January 1966.
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 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.