Silicon Valley Creates
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SILICON VALLEY CREATES' MISSION IS TO ELEVATE SILICON VALLEY'S CREATIVE CULTURE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT BUILD THE CAPACITY OF OUR ARTS AND CULTURE ECOSYSTEM, RAISE THE VOICE AND VISIBILITY OF OUR CREATIVE SECTOR, AND INCREASE ACCESS TO ARTS.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 58%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $244,090, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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
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)
- $989,169 spent. THE ORGANIZATION BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF THE CREATIVE SECTOR: AS PART OF THE CAPACITY BUILDING WORK, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A SUITE OF GRANTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS; NURTURES EMERGING LEADERS THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRAINING; PROVIDES SEED FUNDING FOR NEW IDEAS AND PROJECTS; AND LEADS COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES TO ELEVATE SILICON VALLEY'S CREATE CULTURE. THIS PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE.
- $795,374 spent. THE ORGANIZATION INCREASES ACCESS TO ARTS: THE ORGANIZATION INCREASES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE ARTS BY PROVIDING MEDIA CLASSES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH THROUGH ITS STUDIO PROGRAM: CONNECTING TEACHERS TO ARTS EDUCATION OFFERINGS AND FUNDING THROUGH ARTSEDCONNECT; MANAGING THE POETRY OUT LOUD PROGRAM IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY; AND PROVIDING ARTS ACCESS GRANTS FOR PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE ARTS FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THIS PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 75,000 PEOPLE.
- $416,010 spent. THE ORGANIZATION RAISES VISIBILITY OF THE CREATIVE SECTOR: THE ORGANIZATION ELEVATES LOCAL ARTISTS THROUGH ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS, EMERGING ARTISTS AWARDS AND COUNTY POET LAUREATE PROGRAMS, AND USES CONTENT MAGAZINE'S PRINT PUBLICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIAL NETWORK AS PLATFORMS FOR EMPLOYING AND HIGHLIGHTING CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS, ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND EVENTS. CONTENT'S ENGAGING QUARTERLY EVENTS HELP TO EXPAND AND DEEPEN THE REAL-WORLD SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SILICON VALLEY'S CREATORS AND CONSUMERS. THIS PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 35,000 PEOPLE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 1983.
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 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.