Creative Connections Inc
Creative Connections Inc. maintains stable operations with consistent revenue and expenses, reporting no officer compensation.
EIN: 133697184 · Norwalk, CT · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $375K |
| Total Expenses | $359K |
| Program Spending | 75% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $300,000. |
| Net Assets | $137K |
| Transparency Score | 75/100 |
Is Creative Connections Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Creative Connections Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Creative Connections Inc
Creative Connections Inc (EIN: 133697184) is a nonprofit organization based in Norwalk, CT. The organization reported total revenue of $375K and total assets of $151K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Creative Connections Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Creative Connections Inc is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 33 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -0.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $306K |
| Total Expenses | $359K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-52,633 |
| Total Assets | $149K |
| Total Liabilities | $12K |
| Net Assets | $137K |
| Operating Margin | -17.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 8.2% |
| Months of Reserves | 5.0 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Creative Connections Inc reported a deficit of $53K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 5.0 months of operating reserves (adequate), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 8.2% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Creative Connections Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -15.3% | +26.6% | -19.6% |
| 2022 | +18.1% | -12.0% | +22.1% |
| 2021 | +8.6% | +21.5% | +20.3% |
| 2020 | +0.0% | -16.1% | +2.1% |
| 2019 | -20.6% | -10.0% | -16.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1993 |
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 Connections Inc with a Mission Score of 75 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 75%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Creative Connections Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 75%, fundraising: 10%. With 75% 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 $53K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 8.2%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is unusual for an organization with annual revenues exceeding $300,000. This could indicate a volunteer-led executive team or that executive compensation is categorized differently within the expense structure, requiring further clarification for complete understanding.
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 Connections Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation without further explanation, which is uncommon for an organization of this size.
- Periods where expenses significantly exceeded revenue (e.g., 2023: $52,633 deficit), indicating potential reliance on reserves or inconsistent funding.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Creative Connections Inc:
- Consistent filing of IRS 990 forms over 13 periods, demonstrating regulatory compliance and transparency.
- Stable asset base (e.g., $151,485 latest assets) relative to liabilities (e.g., $12,205 in 2023), indicating financial stability.
- Consistent revenue generation over a decade, showing sustained donor or grant support.
Frequently Asked Questions about Creative Connections Inc
Is Creative Connections Inc a legitimate charity?
Creative Connections Inc (EIN: 133697184) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Connecticut. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 75/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $375K. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Creative Connections Inc spend its money?
Creative Connections Inc directs 75% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Creative Connections Inc tax-deductible?
Creative Connections Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133697184). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Creative Connections Inc CEO make?
Creative Connections Inc's highest-compensated officer earns $300,000. annually. The organization reported $375K in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Creative Connections Inc's spending goes to programs?
Creative Connections Inc directs 75% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Creative Connections Inc located?
Creative Connections Inc is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut and files with the IRS under EIN 133697184.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Creative Connections Inc have?
Creative Connections 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 $375K in total revenue.
How does Creative Connections Inc. manage to operate without reporting any officer compensation?
The IRS 990 filings consistently show 0% officer compensation. This could mean the executive leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or their compensation is reported under other expense categories, which would require reviewing the full 990 forms for detailed functional expense breakdowns.
What is the detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided summary data does not include a detailed breakdown of functional expenses. To understand the organization's spending efficiency, one would need to review the full IRS 990 forms, specifically Part IX, Statement of Functional Expenses.
Has Creative Connections Inc. faced any significant financial challenges given periods where expenses exceeded revenue?
Yes, in several periods (e.g., 2023, 2021, 2019, 2015, 2014), expenses exceeded revenue. For instance, in 2023, expenses were $358,871 against revenues of $306,238. While this indicates a reliance on reserves, the organization's assets have remained relatively stable, suggesting these deficits were manageable within their financial capacity.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Creative Connections Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Creative Connections Inc's revenue has declined by 8.1%, moving from $333K to $306K. Total assets increased by 5.1% over the same period, from $142K to $149K. Total functional expenses rose by 0.6%, from $357K to $359K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Creative Connections Inc reported a deficit of $53K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $12K in liabilities against $149K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 8.2%), resulting in net assets of $137K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $306K | $359K | $149K | $12K | — | — |
| 2022 | $361K | $283K | $185K | $9K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $306K | $322K | $152K | $29K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $282K | $265K | $126K | $9K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $282K | $316K | $124K | $15K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $355K | $351K | $148K | $4K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $332K | $334K | $144K | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $341K | $318K | $145K | $2K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $393K | $414K | $130K | $9K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $394K | $411K | $157K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $400K | $329K | $175K | $7K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $288K | $281K | $100K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $333K | $357K | $142K | $29K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $306K, expenses of $359K, and assets of $149K (revenue -15.3% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $361K, expenses of $283K, and assets of $185K (revenue +18.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $306K, expenses of $322K, and assets of $152K (revenue +8.6% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $282K, expenses of $265K, and assets of $126K (revenue +0.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $282K, expenses of $316K, and assets of $124K (revenue -20.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $355K, expenses of $351K, and assets of $148K (revenue +6.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $332K, expenses of $334K, and assets of $144K (revenue -2.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $341K, expenses of $318K, and assets of $145K (revenue -13.3% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $393K, expenses of $414K, and assets of $130K (revenue -0.4% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $394K, expenses of $411K, and assets of $157K (revenue -1.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $400K, expenses of $329K, and assets of $175K (revenue +38.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $288K, expenses of $281K, and assets of $100K (revenue -13.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $333K, expenses of $357K, and assets of $142K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Creative Connections Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Creative Connections 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.