Passes our checks

Cero Collective Inc

EIN 86-3727866 · New York, NY

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

What it says it does

An educational organization that spotlights rising talents and supports creativity through an educational publication and events with artists.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
4 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20
It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
18 of 25
3 of 3 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$264,995 spent. We planned, organized, produced, coordinated, published, and distributed an educational publication featuring stories and work by a range of artists including painters, photographers, authors, poets, actors, musicians, dancers, directors, designers, and chefs.
$7,204 spent. We organized, produced, and coordinated a short film screening followed by a conversation with the director, the Oscar- and Tony-winning screenwriter John Patrick Shanley, and one of the short film's actors. We offered free tickets to students from local colleges and theater schools to participate in a question and answer session with the participants.
$30,294 spent. Miscellaneous expenses

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 June 2025.
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 January 2023.
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.