Design Sacramento
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We connect and empower the creative community in the Sacramento region. We bring creative professionals together for education, inspiration and connections. We provide workforce development, professional development, and networking opportunities for our community.
- Income
- $140,644
- Spending
- $119,349
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 64
- Highest pay
- $29,033, operations director
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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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)
- $26,506 spent. Design Week Sacramento is an annual event that celebrates and showcases the creative spirit of Sacramento's design community. Through a week-long series of events, including studio tours, workshops, lectures, and a conference, Design Week Sacramento aims to connect, engage, and celebrate the diverse talents that contribute to the rich design landscape of the region. Services include: networking events, professional development opportunities, studio tours, workshops, lectures, and a two-day conference. This program serves 500 attendees throughout the week.
- $27,338 spent. Creativity Speaks is a program designed to celebrate local creatives, offer attendees a source of inspiration from creatives outside their industry, and strengthen Sacramento's creative community. The program manifests as live salon-style events and features traditional and non-traditional creatives to help draw a mixed audience and encourage intermingling between creative industries. Creativity Speaks is dedicated to equitable representation and a celebration of the diversity of creative thought. We host six Creativity Speaks events throughout the year and serve an average of 50 people per event.
- $20,725 spent. Our Creative Internship Program provides semester-long internships to up to ten Design students at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). Interns successfully conceptualized, designed, and produced deliverables for our Big Day of Giving and delivered two impactful projects, including Community Needs Assessment.
- $1,337 spent. Our membership platform offers an online hub for our creative community, which shares their passion for their craft and offers support. Every member has access to our job board, resource library, and a connection to our creative community.
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
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 2024.
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 November 2019.
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.