Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hope Creates

EIN 82-1130017 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Hope Creates empowers youth and adults, who are in recovery from or at risk of Substance Use Disorder to stay sober by engaging in the expressive arts and a vibrant and creative sober community.

Income
$455,527
Spending
$442,529
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
4
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$72,839, executive director through 5/12/25

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 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 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 95% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (4)
  1. $73,452 spent. Community Creation Events (CCE) - CCEs are collaborative gatherings, open to all youth/young adults in recovery (from one day sober and beyond) and their families. This provides an easy, entry-level activity for all involved. Events are provided at no cost to those in recovery. In the CCEs, youth and adults, and their families, are provided art supplies and/or performance training so they can create in different settings and with different mediums - from an urban setting with "legal graffiti" to metal smithing, glass blowing to drum circles, ceramics to a traditional studio for modern dance. All events are adrenaline-pumping fun. We emphasize a safe and sober community event that includes a shared meal with loving peers and family members. During the year ended June 30, 2025, Hope Creates presented 11 CCE sessions that included 413 participants and 46 attendees.
  2. $219,332 spent. Make Your M.A.R.C. (Music. Art. Recovery. Connection.) (MYM) - Make Your M.A.R.C. is a nine-session program for a cohort of 10-15 youth and adults in recovery from or deemed at risk for Substance Use Disorder. Participants meet for 3-4 hours each session, engaging in a multi-disciplinary healing arts experience in painting, drawing, music, percussion, and storytelling, and deliver an exhibition and concert the final week. During the year ended June 30, 2025, Hope Creates delivered 5 Make Your M.A.R.C. cohorts (60 Make Your M.A.R.C. sessions) with 58 participants, 42 graduates, 237 attendees and 30 volunteers.
  3. $12,294 spent. Expressive Arts Exhibitions (EAE) - EAEs are open to the general public to attend. Artists in recovery share their artistic work, created on their own or in CCEs. All artists in recovery may show their work. However, exhibitors must have over one year sobriety to sign their artwork with their first name and last initial. Artists with less than one year sobriety may show their art anonymously. This program allows members to experience the value of their artwork and share their stories of recovery, creativity, and hope with the community. During the year ended June 30, 2025, Hope Creates delivered 1 session at the Sheldon Arts for several months with 31 participants and 3,926 attendees.
  4. $31,541 spent. Education and Outreach (E & O) - EAEs are open to the general public to attend. Artists in recovery share their artistic work, created on their own or in CCEs. All artists in recovery may show their work. However, exhibitors must have over one year sobriety to sign their artwork with their first name and last initial. Artists with less than one year sobriety may show their art anonymously. This program allows members to experience the value of their artwork and share their stories of recovery, creativity, and hope with the community. During the year ended June 30, 2025, Hope Creates delivered 149 E & O sessions with 1,424 attendees.

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 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 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 May 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.