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Cruces Creatives

EIN 81-5340614 · Las Cruces, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CRUCES CREATIVES, A 501(C)(3) MAKERSPACE, IS TO FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FURTHER EDUCATION, SUPPORT THE ARTS, PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, STRENGTHEN SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, AND ADVANCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BY 1)CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS, TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY TO MAKE PRACTICALLY ANYTHING AND 2)USING THE TOOLS AND SKILLSETS GATHERED AT THE MAKERSPACE TO LAUNCH INTERDISCIPLINARY CHARITABLE PROJECTS.

Income
$789,884
Spending
$762,928
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
30
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$29,836, president& ed

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% 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 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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. $463,934 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS-CRUCES CREATIVES LEADS MULTIPLE EDUCATIONAL, PROJECT BASED LEARNING, STEAMM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATHEMATICS, MAKING) PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS LOCALLY, ESPECIALLY THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
  2. $121,582 spent. SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS-CRUCES CREATIVES SUPPORTS MULTIPLE PROGRAMS RELATED TO SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUDING THE SEEDING REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PROJECT, WHICH ORGANIZED PEER-TO-PEER KNOWLEDGE SHARING FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND COORDINATED SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING GRANT WRITING, CUSTOM TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, AND MICROLENDING; RESEARCH WITH DR DAVID JOHNSON, A MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST WHO INVESTIGATES THE POTENTIAL OF PLANT-MICROBE SYMBIOSES TO OFFER ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS WHILE IMPROVING THE PROFITABILITY OF FARMS AND RANCHES; IMPROVINBG FOOD SECURITY AND FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO PRESERVE LOCAL PRODUCE; AND FABRICATING AND USING MULTIPLE MACHINES FOR SMALL-SCALE PLASTIC RECYCLING.
  3. $93,388 spent. CRUCES CREATIVES IS A NON-PROFIT MAKERSPACE PROVIDING SHARED WORK SPACE, TO0LS, PROGRAMS, CLASSES AND EVENTS TO FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FURTHER EDUCATION, SUPPORT THE ARTS, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, STRENGTHENING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, AND ADVANCING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT NEW MEXICO.
  4. $2,867 spent. THROUGH THE JOB SHOP, CRUCES CREATIVES OFFERED DESIGN AND FABRICATION SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHILE PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT AND ON THE JOB TRAINING, ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY FINDING EMPLOYMENT. THIS PROMOTES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ADVANCED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND PROMOTES PRACTICAL EDUCATION IN DONA ANA COUNTY.

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 February 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.