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Lex Center for Creative Reuse Inc

EIN 88-1914643 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Lex Center for Creative Reuse's primary service is to divert arts and craft supplies from being discarded into waste management and to support local arts and crafts enthusiasts, artists, and families by selling those supplies back at a deep discount for creative use. Our greatest expenses of 2025 were running and maintaining our secondhand arts and crafts shop through hourly staff wages, rent, transaction fees, and supplies.

Income
$130,748
Spending
$105,950
Reserves
21.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 92%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $19,294 spent. In 2025, 21 active volunteers provided 784.5 hours of service weighing, sorting, and processing donations, organizing store shelves, providing skills, information, and instruction at events in the Lexington area, and serving on the organization's board.
  2. $8,612 spent. Free drop in workshops and activities at the shop as well as other businesses and locations throughout the city, including small businesses, schools, and universities. Free community crafting nights twice weekly where people learn skills from each other and build social networks. Lex Center for Creative Reuse continues to build practical and creative skills while reducing the load on waste management services. Our primary community expense was providing free supplies for teachers to be used at local schools.
  3. $594 spent. Art exhibitions, activities, and programs organized to benefit the local community that offer hands-on, educational, and creative experiences. These programs use donated and repurposed materials to reflect our mission and often raise funds and awareness for other local area non-profit organizations. We sponsor community crafting experiences in local area businesses, schools, and public spaces, provide educational enrichment for local environmental government and non-profit programs, and provide tours of the store to K-12 and college students. Staff, shoppers, and volunteers play a role in supporting these programs, creating a collaborative platform for our local arts and community ecosystem, investing directly back into the Bluegrass.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 May 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 October 21, 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.