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Crafting the Future

EIN 85-3602641 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT CRAFTING THE FUTURE (CTF), OUR MISSION IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CREATIVE ENRICHMENT FOR BLACK AND BROWN ARTISTS BY CONNECTING THEM TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP THEM THRIVE.

Income
$361,864
Spending
$380,983
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% 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

    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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
  1. $263,635 spent. SCHOLARSHIP: CRAFTING THE FUTURE (CTF) PROVIDES EMERGING, MID-CAREER, AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS OF COLOR WITH OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP PLANT THEIR ROOTS IN THE CRAFT COMMUNITY AND PROPEL THEIR CAREERS. A CTF SCHOLARSHIP INCLUDES TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD, TRAVEL, MATERIALS, A STIPEND, AND A PER DIEM. WE AIM TO ELIMINATE ANY FINANCIAL BARRIER THAT MIGHT STAND BETWEEN A LEARNER AND THEIR WORKSHOP. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH YOUTH ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO HELP US IDENTIFY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, BASED NOT ON THEIR PORTFOLIOS AND WRITING SKILLS, BUT RATHER ON THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT. TO DATE, WEVE SERVED ARTISTS FROM AGES 15-68, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING THAT RANGE. AND ALL OF THE SCHOOLS WE PARTNER WITH MATCH OR SUBSIDIZE OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. SO FOR EVERY SCHOLARSHIP WE RAISE MONEY FOR, A PARTNERING SCHOOL AUGMENTS IT, INCREASING OUR OFFERINGS AND PROVING THEIR OWN COMMITMENT TO THESE EFFORTS. SCHOLARSHIP: CRAFTING THE FUTURE (CTF) PROVIDES EMERGING, MID-CAREER, AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS OF COLOR WITH OPPORTUNITIES THAT HELP PLANT THEIR ROOTS IN THE CRAFT COMMUNITY AND PROPEL THEIR CAREERS. A CTF SCHOLARSHIP INCLUDES TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD, TRAVEL, MATERIALS, A STIPEND, AND A PER DIEM. WE AIM TO ELIMINATE ANY FINANCIAL BARRIER THAT MIGHT STAND BETWEEN A LEARNER AND THEIR WORKSHOP. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH YOUTH ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO HELP US IDENTIFY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, BASED NOT ON THEIR PORTFOLIOS AND WRITING SKILLS, BUT RATHER ON THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT. TO DATE, WEVE SERVED ARTISTS FROM AGES 15-68, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING THAT RANGE. AND ALL OF THE SCHOOLS WE PARTNER WITH MATCH OR SUBSIDIZE OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. SO FOR EVERY SCHOLARSHIP WE RAISE MONEY FOR, A PARTNERING SCHOOL AUGMENTS IT, INCREASING OUR OFFERINGS AND PROVING THEIR OWN COMMITMENT TO THESE EFFORTS.
  2. $73,998 spent. RESIDENCY: WE SUPPORT MULTIPLE RESIDENCY PROGRAMS THAT AIM TO PROVIDE ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS WITH TIME AND SPACE TO CREATE. OUR BIGGEST RESIDENCY PROGRAM IS IN OUR HOME BASE STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES. THE 2020 LOS ANGELES ARTIST CENSUS FOUND THAT AROUND 50% OF BLACK AND LATINX ARTISTS SURVEYED HAVE NO STUDIO, WHILE ONLY 24% OF WHITE RESPONDENTS LACKED STUDIO SPACE, DESPITE WHITE NON-HISPANIC PEOPLE MAKING UP ONLY 28.5% OF THE LA POPULATION. THE NEED FOR A PROGRAM LIKE OURS IS UNDENIABLE. FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM HAS SUPPORTED EMERGING BIPOC ARTISTS IN LOS ANGELES BY OFFERING FREE STUDIO SPACE, A MATERIAL STIPEND, AND AN ALL- EXPENSES-PAID ONE- OR TWO-WEEK WORKSHOP AT AN ART/CRAFT SCHOOL. THIS YEAR WE HAVE EXTENDED THE LENGTH OF THE RESIDENCY FROM 6 MONTHS TO ONE YEAR AND THE PROPOSED EXPANSION IN 2025 WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ARTISTS FROM TWO TO FOUR, INCREASE THE STIPEND FROM 4000 TO 6000, AND BRING IN ADDITIONAL SHORT-TERM VISITING ARTISTS. RESIDENCY: WE SUPPORT MULTIPLE RESIDENCY PROGRAMS THAT AIM TO PROVIDE ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING ARTISTS WITH TIME AND SPACE TO CREATE. OUR BIGGEST RESIDENCY PROGRAM IS IN OUR HOME BASE STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES. THE 2020 LOS ANGELES ARTIST CENSUS FOUND THAT AROUND 50% OF BLACK AND LATINX ARTISTS SURVEYED HAVE NO STUDIO, WHILE ONLY 24% OF WHITE RESPONDENTS LACKED STUDIO SPACE, DESPITE WHITE NON-HISPANIC PEOPLE MAKING UP ONLY 28.5% OF THE LA POPULATION. THE NEED FOR A PROGRAM LIKE OURS IS UNDENIABLE. FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM HAS SUPPORTED EMERGING BIPOC ARTISTS IN LOS ANGELES BY OFFERING FREE STUDIO SPACE, A MATERIAL STIPEND, AND AN ALL- EXPENSES-PAID ONE- OR TWO-WEEK WORKSHOP AT AN ART/CRAFT SCHOOL. THIS YEAR WE HAVE EXTENDED THE LENGTH OF THE RESIDENCY FROM 6 MONTHS TO ONE YEAR AND THE PROPOSED EXPANSION IN 2025 WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ARTISTS FROM TWO TO FOUR, INCREASE THE STIPEND FROM 4000 TO 6000, AND BRING IN ADDITIONAL SHORT-TERM VISITING ARTISTS.
  3. $13,094 spent. INTERNSHIP: INTERNSHIPS SUPPORT EMERGING ARTISTS WHO HAVE A PASSION FOR THEIR CRAFT AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON HOW TO MONETIZE IT. CTF PROGRAMS PROVIDE INTERNS WITH TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION, TIME AND SPACE TO DEVELOP AN ARTISTIC VISION, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. IN ADDITION, CTF INTERNSHIPS SET THE PRECEDENT OF PAYING ARTISTS TO WORK, WHICH IS AN OPPORTUNITY OFTEN NOT AVAILABLE FOR EMERGING ARTISTS.

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 November 2022.

    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.