Creative Action Institute Inc
Creative Action Institute Inc shows strong revenue growth and financial health with zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 203995543 · Ipswich, MA · NTEE: A20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $3.5M |
| Total Expenses | $808K |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $1.4M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Creative Action Institute Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Creative Action Institute Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Creative Action Institute Inc
Creative Action Institute Inc (EIN: 203995543) is a nonprofit organization based in Ipswich, MA, classified under NTEE code A20. The organization reported total revenue of $3.5M and total assets of $4.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Creative Action Institute Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Creative Action Institute Inc is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 8.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $802K |
| Total Expenses | $808K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-6,121 |
| Total Assets | $1.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $9K |
| Net Assets | $1.4M |
| Operating Margin | -0.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 20.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Creative Action Institute Inc reported a deficit of $6K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 20.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.7% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Creative Action Institute Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -50.9% | -2.4% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | +117.6% | +49.2% | +146.6% |
| 2021 | +54.1% | +37.5% | +54.6% |
| 2020 | +4.8% | -5.4% | +31.8% |
| 2019 | -2.3% | -8.7% | +11.8% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Creative Action Institute Inc with a Mission Score of 90 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Creative Action Institute Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $6K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.7%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to its officers, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and suggests a volunteer-led or very lean executive structure.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Creative Action Institute Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed expense breakdown in summary data prevents precise spending efficiency analysis
- Unusually low liabilities relative to assets could indicate conservative financial practices or specific funding structures
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Creative Action Institute Inc:
- Consistent revenue and asset growth over multiple years
- Zero reported officer compensation, indicating high transparency and mission focus
- Healthy asset-to-liability ratio, demonstrating strong financial stability
- Significant increase in revenue in recent periods, suggesting successful fundraising and program expansion
Frequently Asked Questions about Creative Action Institute Inc
Is Creative Action Institute Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Creative Action Institute Inc (EIN: 203995543) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Creative Action Institute Inc spend its money?
Creative Action Institute Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Creative Action Institute Inc tax-deductible?
Creative Action Institute Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 203995543). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Creative Action Institute Inc's spending goes to programs?
Creative Action Institute Inc directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Creative Action Institute Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Creative Action Institute Inc is above average for NTEE category A20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Creative Action Institute Inc located?
Creative Action Institute Inc is headquartered in Ipswich, Massachusetts and files with the IRS under EIN 203995543. It is classified under NTEE code A20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Creative Action Institute Inc have?
Creative Action Institute Inc has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $3.5M in total revenue.
How does Creative Action Institute Inc manage to operate without officer compensation?
The provided data consistently shows 0% officer compensation. This could indicate a volunteer-led executive team, or that executive functions are covered by general staff salaries not categorized as 'officer compensation' in the summary data, or that the organization has a unique operational model. Further investigation into their detailed IRS Form 990 would be needed to understand this structure.
What is the primary driver of the significant revenue growth observed in recent years?
The data shows a substantial increase in revenue from $750,749 in 2021 to $1,633,875 in 2022, and then to $3,515,612 in the latest period. Without detailed financial statements, it's impossible to pinpoint the exact drivers, but this could be due to successful grant acquisition, increased donations, or expansion of programs and services.
Is the organization's asset growth sustainable?
Creative Action Institute Inc has shown consistent asset growth, from $213,749 in 2015 to $4,164,118 currently. This growth appears to be well-managed, with liabilities remaining low relative to assets, suggesting a healthy financial trajectory. The sustainability will depend on continued revenue generation and prudent financial management.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Creative Action Institute Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Creative Action Institute Inc's revenue has grown by 168.8%, moving from $298K to $802K. Total assets increased by 590.5% over the same period, from $197K to $1.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 185%, from $284K to $808K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Creative Action Institute Inc reported a deficit of $6K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $9K in liabilities against $1.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.7%), resulting in net assets of $1.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $802K | $808K | $1.4M | $9K | — | — |
| 2022 | $1.6M | $828K | $1.4M | $33K | — | — |
| 2021 | $751K | $555K | $561K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $487K | $404K | $363K | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $465K | $426K | $275K | $10K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $476K | $467K | $246K | $31K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $457K | $490K | $214K | $5K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $478K | $463K | $229K | $16K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $487K | $467K | $214K | $19K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $391K | $422K | $219K | $35K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $330K | $397K | $224K | $13K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $413K | $339K | $275K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $298K | $284K | $197K | $12K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $802K, expenses of $808K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue -50.9% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $828K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +117.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $751K, expenses of $555K, and assets of $561K (revenue +54.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $487K, expenses of $404K, and assets of $363K (revenue +4.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $465K, expenses of $426K, and assets of $275K (revenue -2.3% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $476K, expenses of $467K, and assets of $246K (revenue +4.2% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $457K, expenses of $490K, and assets of $214K (revenue -4.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $478K, expenses of $463K, and assets of $229K (revenue -1.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $487K, expenses of $467K, and assets of $214K (revenue +24.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $391K, expenses of $422K, and assets of $219K (revenue +18.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $330K, expenses of $397K, and assets of $224K (revenue -20.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $413K, expenses of $339K, and assets of $275K (revenue +38.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $298K, expenses of $284K, and assets of $197K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Creative Action Institute Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Creative Action Institute Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.