Our mission is to strengthen LGBTQ+ youth and allies by promoting individual and community wellness. Since 2018, Colors+ has been building a brighter future for Cuyahoga County's LGBTQ+ youth. Colors+ offers diverse mental, emotional, and social support services for LGBTQ+ youth as young as 3 and up through age 19, with every program designed and administered by a licensed mental healthcare specialist. We believe that support the entire family means better support for each kid, so we offer individual and family counseling and peer support opportunities for parents/guardians. Colors+ offers professional consulting and training services, focused on direct service professions that regularly interact with LGBTQ+ youth. Accumulated value of volunteer hours: $26,084.10.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 60 volunteers and 3 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $47K a year · 15% of revenue · last 3 filings
Fine: a surplus in 2 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$80K
to officers and key staff · 25% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 25% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $7K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2K
0.9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
0
of 8 voting members
Concern: none of 8 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$211K
-49% vs prior year
Spent
$316K
To programs
74%
Net assets
$212K
By yearFY2021–FY2024
Revenue
$211K
FY2024▼ -49%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$146K
FY2022$329K
FY2023$412K
FY2024$211K
Expenses
$316K
FY2024▼ -0.8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021Not on file
FY2022$178K
FY2023$319K
FY2024$316K
Net assets
$212K
FY2024▼ -33%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$130K
FY2022$224K
FY2023$317K
FY2024$212K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in May 2018.

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

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $233K Management & general 23% · $73K Fundraising 3% · $11K

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

11 people listed on the 990; $80K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$43,125Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$25,317Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$11,235Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Past President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Colleen Cronin’s $43K as President is at the 33rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1992 $100K–1M youth development 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022
Colleen Cronin$43,125——
Lisa Pepera——$40,032
Kristen Pepera——$40,032
Kristin Pepera$25,317$38,750—
Melissa Toms$11,235——

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 Colors Plus 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 LGBTQ+ youth and their families with mental, emotional, and social wellness services.

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Your first name shows with your question. Colors Plus answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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1 program · $233K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Connections Drop-In

77 youth served. Connections is our foundational program, built to honor the pressing need for peer support among LGBTQ+ youth. Connections is a drop-in program, hosted on weekday afternoons as an open space so that youth can attend after school and while maintaining other school and social activities.

$233Kprogram expense

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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$7K

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$211K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$191K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$19K
Other incomeLn 4–11$1K
Money outPt IX
$316K
Ln 25
Programscol B$233K
Managementcol C$73K
Fundraisingcol D$11K
Owns and owesPt X
$212K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$183K
Total assetsLn 16$214K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2K
PeoplePt VI, VII
11
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b0
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$191K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$2K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$19K
Other incomeLn 4–11$1K
Total revenueLn 12$211K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$183K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$183K
Other assetsLn 15$1K
Total assetsLn 16$214K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2K
Net assetsLn 32$212K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
VolunteersI 660
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$310K$183K
Total assetsLn 16$317K$214K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$2K
Net assetsLn 32$317K$212K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$54K$16K$33K$5K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4K$1K$2K$351
Payroll taxesLn 10$14K$4K$8K$1K
Legal feesLn 11b$11K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$11K$3K$7K$1K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$29K$12K$16K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$36K$36K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$43$18$23$2
InsuranceLn 23$4K$1K$2K$352
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$151K$148K$3K$444
Total functional expensesLn 25$316K$233K$73K$11K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $211K$316K−$105K$212K 990 PDF
FY2023 $412K$319K$93K$317K 990 PDF
FY2022 $329K$178K$151K$224K 990 PDF
FY2021 $146K$130K 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $211,438 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $336,910$191,028
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $62,765$19,239
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $12,714$1,171
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $412,389$211,438
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 $124,387$71,817
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $194,561$244,636
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $318,948$316,453
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $93,441−$105,015
Part VI · Governance 0 of 8 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members0
VI-13 Written whistleblower 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
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $211,438 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$2,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$189,028
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$191,028
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $19,239$19,239
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,171$1,171
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $20,410 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$211,438
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $316,453 across 11 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $16,308 · Management $32,616 · Fundraising $5,436$54,360
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,053 · Management $2,106 · Fundraising $351$3,510
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $4,184 · Management $8,368 · Fundraising $1,395$13,947
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $10,700$10,700
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $3,344 · Management $6,688 · Fundraising $1,115$11,147
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $2,192$2,192
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $11,982 · Management $15,716 · Fundraising $1,461$29,159
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $36,476$36,476
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $18 · Management $23 · Fundraising $2$43
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,057 · Management $2,115 · Fundraising $352$3,524
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $147,778 · Management $3,173 · Fundraising $444$151,395
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $232,900 · Management $72,997 · Fundraising $10,556$316,453
Part X · Balance sheet $214,113 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $310,001$183,285
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,875$19,578
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$10,000
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,250$1,250
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $317,126$214,113
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expenses$2,002
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$2,002
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $241,188$136,173
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $75,938$75,938
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $317,126$212,111
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $317,126$214,113
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $212,111 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$211,438
XI-2 Total expenses$316,453
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$105,015
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$317,126
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$212,111

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

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