A leader in the bay area arts community, the Crucible is widely recognized for its exceptional learning experiences, rich and varied arts programs, skilled and committed faculty, and unparalleled educational facilities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 89 volunteers and 159 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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 $235K a year · 7% 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
78%
of spending
Looks good: 78% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$238K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.0 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $219K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.4M
88% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 88% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.1M
+18% vs prior year
Spent
$3.8M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$439K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.1M
FY2025▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$3.3M
FY2023$3.1M
FY2024$3.5M
FY2025$4.1M
Expenses
$3.8M
FY2025▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.7M
FY2021$3.2M
FY2022$4.1M
FY2023$4.1M
FY2024$3.6M
FY2025$3.8M
Net assets
$439K
FY2025▲ +104%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.7M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$340K
FY2024$215K
FY2025$439K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 1999.

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

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $3.0M Management & general 15% · $580K Fundraising 7% · $261K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

8 people listed on the 990; $238K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Former Executive Director
$132,729Pt VII · Sec A
Interim Executive Director
$104,915Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Seth Steward’s $133K as Former Executive Director is at the 55th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2022FY2021FY2020
Seth Steward$132,729$194,363———
Susan Mernit——$170,000$161,420$147,000
Renee Ventimiglia——$125,351$132,953$114,178
Douglas Yeiser$104,915————
Natasha Von Kanael———$104,494—

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 The Crucible executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II4 listed

Programs and updates

Inspires creative exploration through welcoming, hands-on arts education and experiences.

Questions for The Crucible

Tap to ask. The Crucible sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. The Crucible answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $3.0M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Studio

The crucible helps to make the arts accessible by providing affordable studios, stalls and locker spaces to working artists. We developed the crucible's expanded access to tools & equipment (create) program as a way for current and former students to benefit from broader access to the tools and resources of the CRUCIBLE.ADULTS: the…

$3.0Mprogram expense

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
See all 6 funders →
Grants paid · 2 grants · $66K · 2020–2021
Unitemized GrantFY2021$15,500
Unitemized GrantFY2020$50,960

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$5K
Money outPt IX
$3.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.0M
Managementcol C$580K
Fundraisingcol D$261K
Owns and owesPt X
$439K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$321K
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$172K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$49K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$29
Other incomeLn 4–11$5K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$7K
Total revenueLn 12$4.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$321K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$321K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.4M
Net assetsLn 32$439K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5159
VolunteersI 689
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$260K$321K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.4M$3.2M
Total assetsLn 16$3.9M$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.7M$3.4M
Net assetsLn 32$215K$439K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$238K$190K$36K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$1.3M$252K$81K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$191K$153K$29K$9K
Payroll taxesLn 10$166K$133K$25K$8K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$595K$427K$131K$37K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$96K$96K
Office expensesLn 13$241K$229K$1K$11K
Information technologyLn 14$53K$37K$16K
OccupancyLn 16$154K$129K$20K$5K
InterestLn 20$109K$76K$33K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$174K$162K$12K
InsuranceLn 23$77K$70K$5K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$82K$61K$21K$771
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.8M$3.0M$580K$261K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $4.1M$3.8M$223K$439K 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.5M$3.6M−$115K$215K 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.1M$4.1M−$1.1M$340K 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.3M$4.1M−$768K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.4M$3.2M$206K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.8M$2.7M$95K$1.7M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,072,276 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,362,894$2,309,043
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,039,114$1,758,313
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $54,010−$6,536
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $4,516$11,456
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,460,534$4,072,276
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,256,057$2,267,634
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,319,206$1,581,206
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,575,263$3,848,840
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$114,729$223,436
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,072,276 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$49,367
VIII-1e Government grants$1,374,688
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$884,988
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$171,815
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,309,043
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,758,313$1,758,313
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $29$29
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$6,565−$6,565
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $11,456$11,456
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,758,313 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $4,920$4,072,276
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,848,840 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $190,317 · Management $35,804 · Fundraising $11,523$237,644
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,340,233 · Management $252,136 · Fundraising $81,146$1,673,515
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $152,635 · Management $28,715 · Fundraising $9,241$190,591
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $132,848 · Management $24,993 · Fundraising $8,043$165,884
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $427,323 · Management $130,960 · Fundraising $37,068$595,351
IX-12 Advertising and promotionFundraising $95,885$95,885
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $229,106 · Management $1,138 · Fundraising $11,161$241,405
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $36,767 · Management $15,757$52,524
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $129,141 · Management $20,309 · Fundraising $4,699$154,149
IX-20 InterestPrograms $76,218 · Management $32,665$108,883
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $162,290 · Management $11,662$173,952
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $70,091 · Management $5,436 · Fundraising $1,173$76,700
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $60,707 · Management $20,879 · Fundraising $771$82,357
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,007,676 · Management $580,454 · Fundraising $260,710$3,848,840
Part X · Balance sheet $3,811,947 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $260,023$321,458
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $158,858$192,170
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $41,295$57,438
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,415,831$3,240,881
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,876,007$3,811,947
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $317,184$186,489
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $459,029$475,537
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $416,363$357,989
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,660,808$3,373,312
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $80,199$423,635
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $135,000$15,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $215,199$438,635
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,876,007$3,811,947
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $438,635 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,072,276
XI-2 Total expenses$3,848,840
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$223,436
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$215,199
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$438,635

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.