Center for Creative Exploration
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Center for Creative Explorations mission is to encourage people of all backgrounds and abilities to use paint and paper as tools for exploring creative expression. We offer painting classes for both adults and children and their families.
- Income
- $163,313
- Spending
- $190,447
- Reserves
- 5.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Highest pay
- $62,500, executive dir.
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
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 32% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% 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 (1)
- $147,437 spent. During 2025, CCE enrolled approximately 574 adult students. This included 88 scholarships (full or partial) and work trades for either health and/or financial reasons. Of those 574 adults, over 100 people participated via Online ZOOM classes, with many residing outside of California. In 2025 we also had a few students drop in online from Europe. CCE offered three weekly classes for adults throughout the year, and monthly introductory and daylong workshops. All classes were offered at a sliding scale, with the Introductory workshops offered at reduced fee to encourage members of the community to participate. CCEs Committed to the Core program, which was introduced in 2024 and had 12 people, grew to 16 people in 2025. They each committed to attending three 5-day intensives, and monthly meetings for 9 months of the year. We will expand this program in 2026 to include three 7-day intensives. We had already enrolled 17 people by the end of 2025.Additionally, the Kids and Family program served 285 kids and 95 parents throughout the year, with monthly Family Days, and several 8-week sessions of Childrens classes. We are adding new teachers, hired for trade, and expanding this program as well.CCE offered two residential weekend retreats to 35 adults. This included several scholarships and people who attended on work trade.In February of 2025, we held a 25th Anniversary Fundraiser. This even drew over 150 people in person, visiting the studio, and over 30 people attending the event online. Many people from the community attended, being introduced to CCE for the first time.As part of our community outreach, we held a free online introduction to intuitive painting event in mid-December, drawing 42 people from the US and Europe.And finally, as part of our extended outreach to other parts of the community, we collaborated with the Zen Center in Green Gulch to offer a residential painting retreat; and will offer that again in 2026. We worked with TECA (Thomas Edison Charter Academy) to offer a workshop for professional development for counselors and intuitive painting workshops for their 6th graders.
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
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 December 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 1999.
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.