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Colorado Photographic Arts Center Inc

EIN 84-6036988 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CPAC IS DEDICATED TO FOSTERING THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHY IN ALL FORMS AND CONCEPTS THROUGH EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS, AND OUTREACH.

Income
$625,410
Spending
$589,123
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
5
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$82,774, executive director and curator

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

Good: 70 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Strong: 97 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $236,844 spent. EDUCATION-CPACS PROGRAM OF CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES, INCLUDING PHOTOVOX, IS GEARED TOWARD CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR ARTISTS SEEKING TO FURTHER THEIR SKILLS AND CAREERS AND DEVELOPING PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE AUDIENCES IN DIALOGUE AND EXPLORATION OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY. IN ADDITION, CPAC PROVIDES RESOURCES TO EMERGING ARTISTS, DARKROOM AND DIGITAL LABS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND PORTFOLIO REVIEWS. IN THE SUMMER, TEEN PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED. THE VETERANS WORKSHOP SERIES STARTED IN 2017 IS A RIGOROUS, FREE EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT GIVES LOCAL MILITARY VETERANS AN ACCESSIBLE PATHWAY TO THE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORLD. OVER SIX MONTHS, STUDENTS LEARN TO DEVELOP A FORMAL PORTFOLIO THROUGH IN-DEPTH WORKSHOPS AND MENTORING SESSIONS. THE PROGRAM CULMINATES IN A PUBLIC EXHIBITION AT CPAC AND A PUBLISHED CATALOG. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM OFFERS VETERANS A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, POSITIVE WAY TO CHANNEL EMOTIONS, EXPRESS CREATIVITY, GAIN CONFIDENCE, INTEGRATE WITH SOCIETY, AND BUILD COMMUNITY.
  2. $107,476 spent. MOP-MONTH OF PHOTOGRAPHY DENVER (MOP), FOUNDED IN 2004, IS A BIENNIAL FESTIVAL THAT CELEBRATES THE PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIUM THROUGH EXHIBITS, EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AT MORE THAN 80 VENUES THROUGHOUT THE DENVER METRO REGION. THE NEXT MOP FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE IN MARCH 2027 AND WILL PRESENT DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND INVIGORATE THE PHOTOGRAPHY COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS OFFER A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS TO THE PUBLIC. MOP 2025 WILL INCLUDE TWO DAYS OF PORTFOLIO REVIEWS, A PUBLIC PORTFOLIO WALK, EXHIBITIONS, ARTIST TALKS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, TOURS, RECEPTIONS, AND OTHER EVENTS.
  3. $152,450 spent. EXHIBITIONS-CPAC PRESENTS AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAM OF EXHIBITIONS WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON CONTEMPORARY IDEAS AND APPROACHES TO THE MEDIUM. EXHIBITIONS CONTINUE TO PRESENT NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS FROM BOTH COLORADO AND OUT-OF-STATE, AND REGIONAL ARTISTS WHO ARE DEVELOPING CAREERS AND REFINING CONCEPTS. EACH CALENDAR YEAR AVERAGES SEVEN EXHIBITION SLOTS FOR A TOTAL OF 7-10 SEPARATE SHOWS. EXHIBITIONS RANGE FROM SOLO TO GROUP SHOWS AND REPRESENT BETWEEN 1 AND 30+ ARTISTS IN EACH. A MORE COHESIVE FOCUS TO ITS PROGRAMMING.

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

  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 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 July 1964.

    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.