Create CA advocates for high-quality arts education for all students by providing policy expertise and mobilizing a statewide network of advocates and allied partners.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$427K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2021 · 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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $304K a year · 15% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$427K
to officers and key staff · 111% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 111% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
96 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 95.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $1.0M
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$141K
3% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 3% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$270K
-93% vs prior year
Spent
$384K
To programs
77%
Net assets
$3.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$270K
FY2021▼ -93%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.5M
FY2021$4.1M
FY2021$270K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.8M
FY2024$2.2M
FY2025$1.6M
Expenses
$384K
FY2021▼ -77%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.5M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2021$384K
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$1.9M
FY2025$1.6M
Net assets
$3.9M
FY2021▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$4.0M
FY2021$3.9M
FY2022$3.4M
FY2023$3.1M
FY2024$3.4M
FY2025$3.3M

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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 1988.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $296K Management & general 16% · $63K Fundraising 7% · $25K

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

19 people listed on the 990; $427K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$165,900Pt VII · Sec A
Program Director
$150,313Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director
$111,208Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2021
Veronica Alvarez$183,301$49,759————
Thomas Decaigny——$168,275$159,500$165,900$128,122
Jessica Mele Interim—$154,275$15,675———
Patricia Wayne————$150,313$118,511
Joseph Landon——————
Jennifer C Wong$125,430$124,575$120,991$100,966——
Abraham Flores$124,898$121,303$117,732$111,500——
Jennifer Wong————$111,208$111,169

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 Create Ca 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

Promotes, supports, and advocates for arts education across California.

Questions for Create Ca

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $296K · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Create CA is pleased to present a report on our major program accomplishments. Arts Now CommunitiesThrough the Arts Now Communities program, Create CA supported 39 local coalitions which make up our statewide network of arts education advocates.

$214Kprogram expense
02

Student Voices ProgramThe Student Voices program brings together 7th-12th grade students to explore the potential for organizing and activism. Create CA administered an online internship in which students worked creatively and collaboratively to create change in their schools and communities.

$69Kprogram expense
03

Public Will Campaign and Other Special Projects Create CA's statewide public will campaign influences decision makers and increases access and participation in the arts. The goal of the campaign is to achieve a fundamental culture shift in which all communities understand, value and allocate public funds to arts education.

$13Kprogram 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 5 funders →
Grants paid · 9 grants · $126K · 2019–2024
Museum of Childrens ArtsCA · FY2024$5,500
Luna Kids Dance INCCA · FY2024$5,500
Destiny Arts CenterCA · FY2024$5,500
Colusa County Arts CouncilCA · FY2024$5,500
Arts Bridging the GapCA · FY2024$5,500
Various Organizations 5000FY2021$25,500
Various Organizations 5000FY2020$31,500
Various Organizations 5000FY2019$36,000

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$270K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$268K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Investment incomeLn 3$90
Money outPt IX
$384K
Ln 25
Programscol B$296K
Managementcol C$63K
Fundraisingcol D$25K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.1M
Total assetsLn 16$4.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$141K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$268K
Government grantsLn 1e$44K
Investment incomeLn 3$90
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Total revenueLn 12$270K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.3M
SavingsLn 2$759K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11K
Other assetsLn 15$2K
Total assetsLn 16$4.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$141K
Net assetsLn 32$3.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 512
VolunteersI 626
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.2M$3.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9K$11K
Total assetsLn 16$4.2M$4.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$142K$141K
Net assetsLn 32$4.0M$3.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$26K$26K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$70K$43K$15K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$114K$90K$21K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$13K$8K$2K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$14K$10K$3K$1K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$98K$88K$7K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$10K$6K$3K$920
OccupancyLn 16$7K$4K$2K$671
TravelLn 17$5K$4K$1K$477
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$921$638$199$84
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$711$711
InsuranceLn 23$2K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$24K$16K$6K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$20$20
Total functional expensesLn 25$384K$296K$63K$25K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.6M$1.6M−$18K$3.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.2M$1.9M$276K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.8M$2.0M−$290K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.2M$1.8M−$558K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.1M$1.7M$2.5M$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.5M$1.5M−$42K$1.6M 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 J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $270,147 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,121,955$268,037
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3,252$90
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,149$2,020
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,130,356$270,147
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $31,500$25,500
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $826,227$210,591
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $818,858$148,292
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,676,585$384,383
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,453,771−$114,236
Part VI · Governance 16 of 16 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members16
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 $270,147 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$43,975
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$224,062
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$268,037
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $90$90
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $2,020$2,020
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,110$270,147
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $384,383 across 14 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $25,500$25,500
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $42,833 · Management $15,097 · Fundraising $12,277$70,207
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $89,933 · Management $21,372 · Fundraising $2,220$113,525
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $8,443 · Management $2,196 · Fundraising $2,049$12,688
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $10,068 · Management $2,838 · Fundraising $1,265$14,171
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $87,986 · Management $7,240 · Fundraising $2,924$98,150
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,396 · Management $3,008 · Fundraising $920$10,324
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $4,397 · Management $1,586 · Fundraising $671$6,654
IX-17 TravelPrograms $3,622 · Management $1,127 · Fundraising $477$5,226
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $638 · Management $199 · Fundraising $84$921
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $711$711
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $1,853$1,853
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $16,202 · Management $5,956 · Fundraising $2,275$24,433
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $20$20
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $296,018 · Management $63,203 · Fundraising $25,162$384,383
Part X · Balance sheet $4,071,285 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,468,002$2,307,257
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $699,041$758,558
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,006,356$992,346
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $9,038$11,024
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,100$2,100
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,186,636$4,071,285
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $142,007$140,892
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $142,007$140,892
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,202,558$2,316,079
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,842,071$1,614,314
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,044,629$3,930,393
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,186,636$4,071,285
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,930,393 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$270,147
XI-2 Total expenses$384,383
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$114,236
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,044,629
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,930,393

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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