Creative Lives INC FY2024 filing

Tax-deductible

Thetford, VT501(c)(3)Since 2014EducationEIN 47-1544227

Creative lives helps children prepare for their future and thrive in body, mind, and spirit through a holistic approach to teaching and parenting. We advance a framework for wise education, developed by educator ellen tadd, through professional training programs for adults nationwide. The framework supports whole-child development and strengthens the well-being, effectiveness, and collaboration of educators, parents, and caregivers.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$74K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $19K a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$74K
to officers and key staff · 35% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 35% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $242K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 4 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
$236K
+56% vs prior year
Spent
$210K
To programs
83%
Net assets
$82K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$236K
FY2024▲ +56%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$339K
FY2021$273K
FY2022$100K
FY2023$151K
FY2024$236K
FY2025$108K
Expenses
$210K
FY2024▼ -16%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$226K
FY2021$228K
FY2022$267K
FY2023$249K
FY2024$210K
FY2025$139K
Net assets
$82K
FY2024▲ +48%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$275K
FY2021$320K
FY2022$153K
FY2023$55K
FY2024$82K
FY2025$51K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 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 Jun 2015.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $174K Management & general 13% · $27K Fundraising 4% · $9K

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

Who runs it and what they're paid

5 people listed on the 990; $74K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Di
$74,000Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Preside
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Maureen Burford’s $67K as Executive Di is at the 59th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Maureen Burford$66,761$74,000$68,000$74,000$74,000$65,800

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Creative Lives INC 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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Nurtures children's minds, bodies, and creativity for a fulfilling future.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until Creative Lives INC claims this page.

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1 program service account for $174K of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

Creative lives helps children prepare for their future and thrive in body, mind, and spirit through a holistic approach to teaching and parenting. We offer training programs for adults nationally in "a framework for wise education." this pioneering approach by educator ellen tadd helps individuals of all ages better understand themselves…

$174Kprogram expense

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Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$236K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$234K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2K
Investment incomeLn 3$12
Money outPt IX
$210K
Ln 25
Programscol B$174K
Managementcol C$27K
Fundraisingcol D$9K
Owns and owesPt X
$82K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$80K
Total assetsLn 16$82K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$234K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2K
Investment incomeLn 3$12
Total revenueLn 12$236K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$80K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$80K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$824
Other assetsLn 15$1K
Total assetsLn 16$82K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$82K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
VolunteersI 62
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$14K$80K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$852$824
Total assetsLn 16$55K$82K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$0
Net assetsLn 32$55K$82K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$74K$58K$8K$8K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$10K$10K
Payroll taxesLn 10$7K$6K$646$646
Accounting feesLn 11c$10K$5K$5K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$94K$90K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$3K$2K$242
Office expensesLn 13$1K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$2K$2K
TravelLn 17$2K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$490$490
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$27$27
InsuranceLn 23$5K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1K$963$95
Total functional expensesLn 25$210K$174K$27K$9K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $108K$139K−$31K$51K 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $236K$210K$27K$82K 990 PDF
FY2023 $151K$249K−$97K$55K 990 PDF
FY2022 $100K$267K−$167K$153K 990 PDF
FY2021 $273K$228K$45K$320K 990 PDF
FY2020 $339K$226K$113K$275K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $236,202 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$234,415
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$234,415
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,775$1,775
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $12$12
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,775 · Excluded from tax $12$236,202
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $209,522 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $57,654 · Management $8,173 · Fundraising $8,173$74,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $9,631$9,631
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $5,530 · Management $646 · Fundraising $646$6,822
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $5,224 · Management $5,226$10,450
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $89,744 · Management $4,559$94,303
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,436 · Management $242$2,678
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $1,167$1,167
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,386$2,386
IX-17 TravelManagement $1,869$1,869
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $490$490
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $27$27
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $4,641$4,641
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $963 · Management $95$1,058
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $174,058 · Management $26,645 · Fundraising $8,819$209,522
Part X · Balance sheet $82,173 assets, 8 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $13,750$80,268
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $852$824
X-15 Other assets$1,081
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $55,493$82,173
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $55,493$82,173
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $55,493$82,173
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $55,493$82,173
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $82,173 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$236,202
XI-2 Total expenses$209,522
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$26,680
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$55,493
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$82,173

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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