Creating Great Places is a non-rofit organization in west central iowa to support the ongoing vitality and sustainability of rural communities and rural cultures.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
97¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2022 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $28K a year · 222% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
97%
of spending
Looks good: 97% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
45 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 45.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $1K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$240
0.04% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
−$31K
-286% vs prior year
Spent
$94K
To programs
97%
Net assets
$652K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
−$31K
FY2022▼ -286%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$28K
FY2021$17K
FY2022−$31K
FY2023$24K
FY2024$14K
FY2025$24K
Expenses
$94K
FY2022▲ +341%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$37K
FY2021$21K
FY2022$94K
FY2023$23K
FY2024$39K
FY2025$27K
Net assets
$652K
FY2022▼ -16%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$779K
FY2021$777K
FY2022$652K
FY2023$651K
FY2024$626K
FY2025$627K

From the FY2022 Form 990 · see the original

990 PDF Claim
You’re viewing the FY2022 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2009.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

97 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 97% · $92K Management & general 3% · $3K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

5 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Creating Great Places executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Supports vitality through environmental, art, history, recreation, and leadership projects.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $92K · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Rural arts- the organization installed and maintains public art- a large sculpture titled sharing the landscape at the roadside sculpture park in coon rapids.

$86Kprogram expense
02

Nature trail- the organization has established a maintenance and expansion fund for trails used by bikers, snowmobiles and equestrian riders from herndon to coon rapids. We continue to coordinate with the city of coon rapids and the iowa natural heritage foundation to secure right of way access for the 17 mile trail.

$6Kprogram expense
03

Environmental proection- the organization is involved in the prairie potholes program. These numerous shallow lakes and marshes, rich soils and warm summers, are home to more than 50% of north americas migratory waterfowl with many species who are dependent on the these potholes for breeding and FEEDING.PRAIRIE potholes absorb surges of…

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$1K
Grants paid · 8 grants · $128K · 2020–2023
Coon Rapids Fire DepartmentFY2023$12,281
Individual RecipientFY2022$58,000
Main Street Coon RapidsIA · FY2022$26,000
City Coon RapidsFY2021$10,000
Main Street Coon RapidsIA · FY2021$2,000
City Coon RapidsFY2021$200
Main Street Coon RapidsIA · FY2020$7,000

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
−$31K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$59K
Investment incomeLn 3$595
Money outPt IX
$94K
Ln 25
Programscol B$92K
Managementcol C$3K
Owns and owesPt X
$652K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$355K
Total assetsLn 16$652K
LiabilitiesLn 26$240
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$59K
Investment incomeLn 3$595
Gains on assetsLn 7−$104K
Total revenueLn 12−$31K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$28K
SavingsLn 2$327K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$355K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$33K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$262K
Other assetsLn 15$2K
Total assetsLn 16$652K
LiabilitiesLn 26$240
Net assetsLn 32$652K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 64
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$222K$355K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$33K$33K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$519K$262K
Total assetsLn 16$779K$652K
LiabilitiesLn 26$1K$240
Net assetsLn 32$777K$652K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$86K$86K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$0
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$3K$3K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$174$174
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$6K$6K
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$40$40
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$94K$92K$3K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $24K$27K−$3K$627K 990 PDF
FY2024 $14K$39K−$25K$626K 990 PDF
FY2023 $24K$23K$848$651K 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing −$31K$94K−$126K$652K 990 PDF
FY2021 $17K$21K−$5K$777K 990 PDF
FY2020 $28K$37K−$10K$779K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary −$31,138 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grants$58,700
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $897−$103,492
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $15,830$13,654
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $16,727−$31,138
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $12,200$85,600
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefits$0
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $9,205$8,864
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $21,405$94,464
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$4,678−$125,602
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue −$31,138 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$58,700
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$58,700
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $595$595
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $13,654$13,654
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission −$104,087−$104,087
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission −$89,838−$31,138
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $94,464 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $85,600$85,600
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staff$0
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wages$0
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefits$0
IX-10 Payroll taxes$0
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $2,650$2,650
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $174$174
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $6,000$6,000
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 Insurance$0
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $40$40
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $91,600 · Management $2,864 · Fundraising $0$94,464
Part X · Balance sheet $651,774 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $5,557$27,680
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $216,808$327,363
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $518,906$262,000
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $32,536$32,536
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $5,056$2,195
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $778,863$651,774
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,366$240
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,366$240
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $669,389$543,331
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $108,108$108,203
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $777,497$651,534
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $778,863$651,774
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $651,534 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue−$31,138
XI-2 Total expenses$94,464
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$125,602
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$777,497
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$361
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$651,534

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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