irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $208KCREATIVE CONNECTIONS PROVIDES TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH STRUCTURED ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL ARTISTIC STUDIOS AND PARTNER PROGRAM LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THE WHITNEY MUSEUM, BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, AND 651 ARTS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CREATIVE ARTS EDUCATION AND PROMOTE WORKFORCE READINESS WITHIN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO FACE SIGNICANT SYSTEMIC BARRIERS. DURING THE 2025 SCAL YEAR, CREATIVE CONNECTIONS DELIVERED CREATIVE CAREER EXPLORATION AND SKILL-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MORE THAN 100 PARTICIPANTS, AGES 1624. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED PAID ARTIST RESIDENCIES, PAID CREATIVE CAREER DEVELOPMENT INTERNSHIPS, AND FACILITATED EXPOSURE TO CREATIVE INDUSTRY PATHWAYS. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN HANDS-ON STUDIO PRACTICE, MENTORSHIP, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES INTENDED TO BUILD JOB-READINESS SKILLS, INCREASE AWARENESS OF VIABLE CREATIVE CAREERS, AND SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS TO EDUCATION, TRAINING, OR EMPLOYMENT. PROGRAMMING WAS DELIVERED ACROSS MULTIPLE COMMUNITY-BASED AND INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS TO ENSURE CONSISTENT ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CREATIVE LEARNING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
- #2 $208KSEE ME BECAUSE / PUBLIC EXCHANGES SERVES AS A PUBLIC PLATFORM THAT ELEVATES THE VOICES, PERSPECTIVES, AND CREATIVE WORK OF ART START PARTICIPANTS WHILE PROVIDING PRACTICAL, REAL-WORLD LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH ARTS, MEDIA, AND CREATIVE INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES TOOK PLACE ACROSS MULTIPLE CITIES, INCLUDING MADISON, WI; CHICAGO, IL; AND NEW YORK, NY, AND ENGAGED PARTICIPANTS IN PROFESSIONAL EXPOSURE OPPORTUNITIES SPANNING FASHION, MUSIC, SKINCARE, LM PRODUCTION, RECORD LABELS, MUSEUMS, AUCTION HOUSES, AND RELATED CREATIVE ELDS.IN 2025, THE PROGRAM INCLUDED THE ARTIST STATEMENT, A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ESTE LAUDER AND POET AMANDA GORMAN, WHICH CENTERED PARTICIPANT STORYTELLING, ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND PUBLIC PRESENTATION THROUGH CREATIVE MEDIA.PARTICIPANTS DEVELOPED ORIGINAL WORKS AND STATEMENTS THAT HIGHLIGHTED PERSONAL NARRATIVES AND ARTISTIC IDENTITY WHILE GAINING EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CREATIVE PARTNERS.
named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Creative Connections
Provides teens and young adults with paid artist residencies, career development internships, and exposure to creative industry pathways through partnerships with cultural institutions and media organizations.
See Me Because / Public Exchanges
Amplifies participant voices through public exhibitions, transit campaigns, and multimedia works in collaboration with arts and creative industry partners in cities across the U.S.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 2 activities
- Facilitates youth leadership in exhibition design and curationEngages youth as leaders in designing and curating public exhibitions, building transferable career skills in project management, collaboration, and creative direction through hands-on roles in production and presentation.
- Offers paid internships and workforce development in the creative artsRuns paid internship programs and a Pre-Employment Certificate Program that provide teens and young adults with hands-on experience in the creative industries, including project management, digital tools, and professional communication, leading to placements at creative host sites for up to 20 hours per week for up to 16 weeks.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Amplifies youth voices through public art exhibitions and storytelling projectsProduces large-scale public exhibitions of participant artwork in high-visibility venues such as Sotheby's, NYC subway stations, Milwaukee parks, and outdoor installations, reaching thousands to millions of viewers. Projects include the Art Start Portrait Project, Family Portrait Project, oral histories, murals, and video stories that challenge public stereotypes through youth-led visual storytelling.
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Arts Education Access Programs 1 activity
- Delivers creative arts workshops for marginalized youthProvides free, drop-in and structured creative arts programming in visual arts, music, dance, theater, and performance for youth ages 14–24, with a focus on those experiencing homelessness or involved in the juvenile justice system. Weekly open studio hours are offered in New York City and Milwaukee.
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Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Provides scholarships and branding mentorship for emerging artistsOffers scholarships, branding mentorship, and sponsorship opportunities for youth artists through the Creative Connections Program, supporting their growth and visibility in the creative sector.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Supports youth artistic development through residencies and collaborative initiativesOffers paid artist residencies and collaborative programs such as "The Artist Statement" with Estée Lauder and Amanda Gorman, enabling youth to develop original works centered on personal narratives and artistic identity using creative media.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$1.31M
Contributions & grants$1.31M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$260%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.30M
Program expenses48%
Admin / overhead43%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$787K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$688K
Cash$355K
Investments$0
Liabilities$211K
Net assets$477K
Liquid reserves3.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -4.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RESHARD RIGGINS | CO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO | 40 | $135K |
| JOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS | CO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CGO | 40 | $117K |
board members · 13
- AMY KANAGAKI — BOARD MEMBER
- ANGELICA LI — BOARD SECRETARY
- ARMON LEWIS-AMORE — BOARD MEMBER
- CATHIE URUSHIBATA — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID TURCHIN — BOARD MEMBER
- DORE MURPHY — BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
- ELIZABETH GARDNER — BOARD MEMBER
- EMMA STRACHMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- LEONNE TANIS — BOARD TREASURER
- MARION TANIS — BOARD PRESIDENT
- SCOTT ROSENBERG — BOARD MEMBER (FOUNDER)
- WALDEN HUNTLEY-FENNER — BOARD MEMBER
- ZACHARY MAXWELL STERTZ — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 79
Who they work with
- 651 Arts Partner — Partner location providing access to professional artistic studios for Creative Connections program participants
- Alexander Wang Partner — Brand partner supporting Art Start through collaborations and awareness efforts.
- Alice's Garden Partner — Partner organization in Public Exchanges initiatives
- Areaware Partner — Industry partner in creative career development programs.
- Art Start Studios NYC Partner — Hosts Art Start's monthly Creative Sessions in its studio space.
- Beggars Group Partner — Has partnered since 2010 to support the Creative Connections Program through donations and mentorship
- Black and Latino Male Achievement Department, Milwaukee Public Schools Partner — Partner organization in Public Exchanges initiatives
- Bronx Partner — Location for Creative Collectives programs in transitional housing, schools, and youth facilities.
- Bronzeville Artwalk Partner — Industry partner in creative career development programs.
- Brooklyn Partner — Location for Creative Collectives programs in transitional housing, schools, and youth facilities.
- Brooklyn Academy of Music Partner — Partner location providing access to professional artistic studios for Creative Connections program participants
- Bulgari Partner — Brand partner supporting Art Start through collaborations and awareness efforts.
- Cadogan Tate Partner — Host site for Pre-Employment Certificate Program fellows, offering placements across studio, warehouse, and IT departments with training in fine art logistics and proprietary technology.
- Cadogan Tate Partner — Recent program partner in the Creative Connections program
- Cadogan Tate Partner — Stores over 60 youth prints and provides materials and equipment for Art Start Portrait Project exhibitions
- Casa Romero Partner — Partner organization in Public Exchanges initiatives
- Charlotte Olympia Partner — Brand partner supporting Art Start through collaborations and awareness efforts.
- Christian Louboutin Partner — Co-imagined the "Walk a Mile In My Shoes" capsule collection whose proceeds support Art Start
- Color Factory Partner — Recent program partner in the Creative Connections program
- Dr. Jart+ Partner — Industry partner in creative career development programs.
- Dr. Jart+ Partner — Recent program partner and sponsor of the Creative Connections program
- Dr.Jart+ Partner — Supports the Creative Connections Program with scholarships, branding mentorship, and sponsorship of Emerging Artists since 2020
- Estée Lauder Partner — Collaborated on "The Artist Statement" initiative in 2025 to center participant storytelling and artistic expression
- H&M Partner — Industry partner supporting Art Start through collaborations aligned with company culture.
- Harbor District Partner — Partner organization in Public Exchanges initiatives
- Hearst Partner — Recent program partner in the Creative Connections program
- Hearst Media Partner — Industry partner in creative career development programs.
- Herschel Supply Co. Partner — Supports the Creative Connections and Creative Collectives Programs since 2020
- House of Horology Partner — Brand partner supporting Art Start through collaborations and awareness efforts.
- Idris Elba Partner — Co-imagined the "Walk a Mile In My Shoes" capsule collection whose proceeds support Art Start
+ 49 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Creative Process as Developmental Catalystmethodology: creative_process_for_youth_developmentBy centering the creative process in youth programming, the organization fosters personal and community development, because engaging in artistic exploration promotes positive risk-taking, self-discovery, and critical thinking among historically marginalized youth.
- Industry-Integrated Creative Career Developmentmethodology: hands-on_career_development_through_industry_partnershipsBy partnering with creative industries to provide internships, role-based project simulations, and professional exposure, the organization enables hands-on career development, because real-world collaboration with artists and media organizations builds skills, networks, and industry readiness.
- Youth-Centered Mentorship for Healing and Liberationmethodology: healing-centered_youth_engagementBy integrating mentorship with creative expression in safe, relational spaces, the organization fosters healing and empowerment, because trusting relationships with artists and professionals enable youth to explore identity, build agency, and publicly declare their visions.