Center for Documentary Expression and Art
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CENTER FOR DOCUMENTARY EXPRESSION AND ART (CDEA) IS DEDICATED TO USING THE TOOLS OF DOCUMENTARY WORKORAL HISTORY, PHOTOGRAPHY, FILM MAKING, NARRATIVE WRITING, VISUAL ART, AND MUSIC TO HELP UTAHNS LOOK INWARD TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR STATE'S PAST AND PRESENT AND TO GAZE OUTWARD TO DISCOVER OUR MULTI-FACETED CONNECTION TO THE NATION AND THE WORLD. CDEA CREATES AND SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT EXAMINE AND HONOR THE CULTURAL, SPIRITUAL, AND ETHNIC IDENTITIES OF OUR NATION'S DIVERSE POPULATION IN FORUMS WHEREIN WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE DIFFERENCES, ESTABLISH COMMON GROUND, AND HENCE, BUILD COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $205,773
- Spending
- $173,847
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 23 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 88%
- Employees
- 2
- Highest pay
- $54,000, executive di
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 23.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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 (2)
- $135,611 spent. THE ORGANIZATION REALIZES ITS MISSION BY DEVELOPING DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS THAT USE SOME OR ALL OF THE FACETS OF DOCUMENTARY WORK, WHICH IS DEFINED AS: ORAL HISTORIES, PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO, VISUAL ART, RESEARCH, ORAL STORYTELLING, AND NARRATIVE. A PROJECT MAY USE SOME OR ALL THE FEATURES OF DOCUMENTARY WORK. FOR EXAMPLE, A PROJECT MAY DEVELOP A TRAVELING PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT WITH AUDIO GUIDES AND A PUBLICATION; OR A PROJECT MAY RELY ON TRADITIONAL ORAL HISTORIES WITH ACCOMPANYING STILL PHOTOGRAPHS; OR A PROJECT MAY AIM TO PRODUCE A SERIES OF SHORT FILMS WITH A WEBSITE. THERE ARE MANY EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PRESENT DOCUMENTARY WORK. CDEA PROJECTS THAT PRODUCE TRAVELING EXHIBITS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY MULTI- FACETED, EDUCATION-OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES: (1) MAJOR EXHIBITS CREATED FOR LARGE MUSEUMS THAT CONTAIN NATIONAL SUBJECT MATTER INFUSED WITH SIGNIFICANT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES, AND (2) EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS DESIGNED PRIMARILY FOR USE BY UTAH'S K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, LIBRARIES, AND SMALLER MUSEUMS THAT EXPLORE THE STATE'S AND NATION'S MULTI-CULTURAL HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. EXHIBITS TRAVELING INSIDE UTAH ARE PRESENTED UNDER THE TITLE PLACE-BASED EDUCATION (PBE) AND CONTAIN FOUR-TO-EIGHT-WEEK, PLACE-BASED, ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN- RESIDENCE (ASIR) PROGRAMS (PBE-ASIR). DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS RESULTING IN MAJOR EXHIBITS THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS RESULTING IN A MAJOR STAND-ALONE PUBLICATION, OR IN A TRAVELING EXHIBIT WITH BOOKS AND FILMS IS ONGOING. ON THE AVERAGE, DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS THAT RESULT IN A STAND-ALONE PUBLICATION OR IN A MAJOR EXHIBIT TAKE FOUR-TO-SIX YEARS TO RESEARCH, DEVELOP, DESIGN, AND PRODUCE. BETWEEN 2006-2011, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED A MAJOR EXHIBIT TITLED, THIS LIGHT OF OURS: ACTIVIST PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THIS PROJECT PRESENTED THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT THROUGH THE WORK AND VOICES OF EIGHT MEN AND ONE WOMAN WHO DOCUMENTED THE NATIONAL STRUGGLE AGAINST SEGREGATION AND OTHER FORMS OF RACE-BASED DISENFRANCHISEMENT FROM WITHIN THE MOVEMENT. THE EXHIBIT INAUGURATED THE HUMAN RIGHTS GALLERY AT THE LEONARDO: AN ART, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER, IN DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY, IN OCTOBER 2011, AND REMAINED AVAILABLE TO THE UTAH PUBLIC FOR NINE MONTHS, OR UNTIL JUNE 2012. THE PRESENTATION OF THIS LIGHT OF OURS INCLUDED CELL-PHONE ACCESSIBLE AUDIO GUIDES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS; A FREE, SIX-PAGE BROCHURE FOR USE BY STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC; A 53PG CURRICULUM GUIDE FOR GRADES 7-12; AND A 251PG BOOK PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF MISSISSIPPI. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ORGANIZED A MONTH-LONG SYMPOSIA AT THREE UTAH UNIVERSITIES AND A COMMUNITY COLLEGE INVOLVING LOCAL AND NATIONAL ACTIVISTS AND HISTORIANS. CDEA ALSO PARTNERED WITH UTAH'S PBS AFFILIATE, KUED-TV, TO CREATE UTAH'S FREEDOM RIDERS, A 30 MINUTE FILM PRESENTING UTAH'S CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. MORE THAN 58,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE DISPLAY IN UTAH, WITH ABOUT THIRTY PERCENT OF VISITORS BEING K-16 STUDENTS. IN 2013, FOLLOWING THE EXHIBIT'S DEBUT, THE ORGANIZATION'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS RETAINED BY THE UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION (USBE) TO CREATE AN EIGHT-WEEK, ON-LINE COURSE TO INTRODUCE UTAH PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. DIRECTOR KELEN HAS TAUGHT THE CLASS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS SINCE 2013. IN FALL 2013, THIS LIGHT OF OURS: ACTIVIST PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT STARTED TRAVELING OUTSIDE UTAH. A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD (2013- 2018) WAS SET ASIDE FOR THE EXHIBIT'S INITIAL NATIONAL TOUR. THIS TOURING PERIOD CULMINATED WITH THE EXHIBIT'S DISPLAY AT THE IRVING ARTS CENTER IN IRVING, TEXAS, BETWEEN JANUARY-MARCH 2018. IN MAY 2018, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH THE MALTZ MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE, LOCATED IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, TO CARRY OUT A SECOND FIVE-YEAR TOUR. THE START OF THE TOUR WAS DELAYED BY THE 2019-2020 OUTBREAK OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, INTERFERING WITH THE FEBRUARY-AUGUST 2020 DISPLAY AT THE BULLOCK SATE HISTORY MUSEUM, IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. A SECOND NATIONAL TOUR IS EXPECTED TO CONCLUDE WITH THE DISPLAY OF THIS LIGHT OF OURS AT THE MALTZ MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE FROM OCTOBER 23, 2022 TO APRIL 2, 2023. A THIRD NATIONAL TOUR OF THIS LIGHT OF OURS KICKED OFF WITH THE DISPLAY'S PRESENTATION AT THE SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, FROM OCTOBER 19 2023-FEBRUARY 25, 2024. NEW DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS SINCE 2016-17, THE ORGANIZATION HAS CONDUCTED RESEARCH AIMED AT DEVELOPING TWO INTERRELATED PROJECTS. THE FIRST IS A BOOK-PUBLICATION PROJECT TITLED, BECOMING AN AMERICAN IN UTAH: AN ORAL HISTORY-20TH AND 21ST CENTURY VOICES FROM UTAH'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THIS PROJECT WILL SELECT CONTENT FROM HUNDREDS OF ORAL HISTORIES THE ORGANIZATION TAPED BETWEEN 1982-1989, 1998- 2003, AND 2021-2024 IN ORDER TO CONVEY THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY STORIES OF UTAH'S DIVERSE PEOPLE. BECOMING AN AMERICAN IN UTAH: AN ORAL HISTORY INVOLVES REEDITING, EXPANDING, AND REDESIGNING THE ORGANIZATION'S FOUNDATIONAL BOOK, MISSING STORIES: AN ORAL HISTORY OF ETHNIC AND MINORITY GROUPS IN UTAH, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PRESS IN 1995 AS A PART OF UTAH'S STATE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS. UNLIKE MISSING STORIES, WHICH USED ORAL HISTORIES TO PRESENT EIGHT SEPARATE 20TH CENTURY COMMUNITY PROFILES, BECOMING AN AMERICAN IN UTAH: AN ORAL HISTORY WILL USE A GEOGRAPHIC/CHRONOLOGICAL/THEMATIC FORMAT TO DEVELOP A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY UTAH LIFE. THE PROJECT'S AIM IS TO PRODUCE A BOOK THAT HAS BROAD APPEAL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. CDEA AIMS TO COMPLETE THE CURRENT BOOK-IN-PROGRESS BY JUNE 2027. A SECOND (AND INTERRELATED ENDEAVOR) IS TITLED, MY AMERICA: STORIES OF UTAH'S IMMIGRANTS, MIGRANTS, AND REFUGEES. MY AMERICA IS CONCEIVED OF AS A SERIES OF SHORT (UNDER 8-MIN.) VIDEOS THAT NARRATE THE STORIES OF IMMIGRANTS, MIGRANTS, AND REFUGEES WHO LEFT THEIR PLACES OF ORIGIN IN THE 1924-1965 AND 1965 TO-THE PRESENT PERIODS AND RELOCATED TO UTAH BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, GOVERNMENT COMPULSION, OR TO ESCAPE PERSEC
- $8,014 spent. DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS RESULTING IN PLACE-BASED EDUCATION (PBE)- ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE (ASIR) PROGRAMS PLACE-BASED EDUCATION DISPLAYS ARE SMALLER THAN MAJOR EXHIBITS AND ARE DESIGNED FOR USE IN UTAH'S K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND RURAL MUSEUMS. EXHIBITS CONTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS AND ORAL HISTORIES (WITH RELATED DIDACTIC TEXT). THEY ARE BOOKED FROM FOUR-TO-EIGHT WEEKS AT EACH EDUCATIONAL SITE. FOUR PLACE-BASED EDUCATION DISPLAYS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. IN ORDER OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT, THEY ARE: - FACES AND VOICES OF REFUGEE YOUTH (2002); - SACRED IMAGES: A VISION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ROCK ART (2007); - REAWAKENED BEAUTY: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE JORDAN RIVER (2009); AND JUSTICE-MEMORY-ARTIVISM (2014). THREE OF THE ABOVE EXHIBITS (SACRED IMAGES; REAWAKENED BEAUTY; AND JUSTICE-MEMORY-ARTIVISM) ACCOMPANY CDEA-DESIGNED ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN- RESIDENCE (ASIR) PROGRAMS AND ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE K-12 STUDENTS IN INTENSIVE, PLACE-BASED PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF THE DOCUMENTARY ARTS; GENERATE ORIGINAL STUDENT ART; AND INTEGRATE ARTS LEARNING WITH LEARNING IN OTHER SUBJECTS. PLACE-BASED EDUCATION DISPLAYS AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN- RESIDENCE PROGRAMS ENABLE STUDENTS TO CREATE ORIGINAL ART WHILE EXPLORING SUCH VARIED SUBJECTS AS: UTAH'S ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY HISTORY, UTAH'S CULTURAL DIVERSITY, INDIGENOUS CULTURES, INDIGENOUS ART, ECOLOGY, BIOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, IMMIGRATION, DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE/ETHNICITY, AND CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION. RECENTLY, SACRED IMAGES: A VISION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ROCK ART- ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM WAS PRESENTED AT PLEASANT GROVE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE ALPINE SCHOOL DISTRICT. REAWAKENED BEAUTY: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE JORDAN RIVER-ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM WAS PRESENTED TO SOUTH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IN THE JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, AT CDEA'S OUTDOOR CLASSROOM SITE IN SOUTH JORDAN. AND JUSTICE- MEMORY-ARTIVISM-ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM WAS PRESENTED AT THE MCGILLIS SCHOOL IN SALT LAKE CITY. A PRESENTATION OF CDEA'S NEW RESIDENCY, "WE ARE TELLING OUR STORIES (WATOS)," TOOK PLACE AT THE UTAH CULTURAL CELEBRATION CENTER IN JUNE 2024 IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS, WEST VALLEY CITY, AND SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THIS MOST RECENT WATOS PROGRAM FEATURED DR. DAVID GONZALEZ, A NATIONALLY- CELEBRATED POET, STORYTELLER, AND MUSICIAN. CDEA ALSO IS PLEASED TO CONFIRM THE CONTINUING PRESENTATION OF ITS ENVIRONMENTAL-EDUCATION PROGRAM REAWAKENED BEAUTY: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE JORDAN RIVER-ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM. IN 2022, CDEA PARTNERED WITH THE UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO BUILD THREE, RUGGED OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS ON ITS 123-ACRE, MIGRATORY BIRD RESERVE IN SOUTH JORDAN. THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS PROVIDE A LONG-TERM LOCUS FOR CDEA'S REAWAKENED BEAUTY RESIDENCIES, WHILE OFFERING THE URMCC A COMPELLING, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AIMED AT GUIDING YOUNG PEOPLE (HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGE) TO BECOME STEWARDS OF THIS UNIQUE SITE. DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS RESULTING IN PLACE-BASED EDUCATION (PBE)- ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE (ASIR) PROGRAMS PLACE-BASED EDUCATION DISPLAYS ARE SMALLER THAN MAJOR EXHIBITS AND ARE DESIGNED FOR USE IN UTAH'S K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND RURAL MUSEUMS. EXHIBITS CONTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS AND ORAL HISTORIES (WITH RELATED DIDACTIC TEXT). THEY ARE BOOKED FROM FOUR-TO-EIGHT WEEKS AT EACH EDUCATIONAL SITE. FOUR PLACE-BASED EDUCATION DISPLAYS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. IN ORDER OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT, THEY ARE: - FACES AND VOICES OF REFUGEE YOUTH (2002); - SACRED IMAGES: A VISION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ROCK ART (2007); - REAWAKENED BEAUTY: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE JORDAN RIVER (2009); AND JUSTICE-MEMORY-ARTIVISM (2014). THREE OF THE ABOVE EXHIBITS (SACRED IMAGES; REAWAKENED BEAUTY; AND JUSTICE-MEMORY-ARTIVISM) ACCOMPANY CDEA-DESIGNED ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN- RESIDENCE (ASIR) PROGRAMS AND ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE K-12 STUDENTS IN INTENSIVE, PLACE-BASED PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF THE DOCUMENTARY ARTS; GENERATE ORIGINAL STUDENT ART; AND INTEGRATE ARTS LEARNING WITH LEARNING IN OTHER SUBJECTS. PLACE-BASED EDUCATION DISPLAYS AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN- RESIDENCE PROGRAMS ENABLE STUDENTS TO CREATE ORIGINAL ART WHILE EXPLORING SUCH VARIED SUBJECTS AS: UTAH'S ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY HISTORY, UTAH'S CULTURAL DIVERSITY, INDIGENOUS CULTURES, INDIGENOUS ART, ECOLOGY, BIOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, IMMIGRATION, DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE/ETHNICITY, AND CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION. RECENTLY, SACRED IMAGES: A VISION OF NATIVE AMERICAN ROCK ART- ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM WAS PRESENTED AT PLEASANT GROVE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE ALPINE SCHOOL DISTRICT. REAWAKENED BEAUTY: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE JORDAN RIVER-ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM WAS PRESENTED TO SOUTH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IN THE JORDAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, AT CDEA'S OUTDOOR CLASSROOM SITE IN SOUTH JORDAN. AND JUSTICE- MEMORY-ARTIVISM-ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM WAS PRESENTED AT THE MCGILLIS SCHOOL IN SALT LAKE CITY. A PRESENTATION OF CDEA'S NEW RESIDENCY, "WE ARE TELLING OUR STORIES (WATOS)," TOOK PLACE AT THE UTAH CULTURAL CELEBRATION CENTER IN JUNE 2024 IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERS, WEST VALLEY CITY, AND SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THIS MOST RECENT WATOS PROGRAM FEATURED DR. DAVID GONZALEZ, A NATIONALLY- CELEBRATED POET, STORYTELLER, AND MUSICIAN. CDEA ALSO IS PLEASED TO CONFIRM THE CONTINUING PRESENTATION OF ITS ENVIRONMENTAL-EDUCATION PROGRAM REAWAKENED BEAUTY: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE JORDAN RIVER-ARTISTS/SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM. IN 2022, CDEA PARTNERED WITH THE UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO BUILD THREE, RUGGED OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS ON ITS 123-ACRE, MIGRATORY BIRD RESERVE IN SOUTH JORDAN. THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS PROVIDE A LONG-TERM LOCUS FOR CDEA'S REAWAKENED BE
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 July 1984.
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.