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Nonprofiteer
← CREATIVE COMMONS CORPORATION

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by CREATIVE COMMONS CORPORATION.

Totals

Total revenue
$4,891,109
Total expenses
$4,758,015
Contributions and grants received
$4,880,570
Grants paid
$476,947
Program service revenue
$353,624
Investment income
$29,191
Other revenue
-$372,276
Total assets, end of year
$10,951,751
Total liabilities, end of year
$334,590
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$10,617,161
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,361,085
Management and general expenses
$1,097,613
Fundraising expenses
$299,317
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,361,085

Program services were 70.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $170,000

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $67,151

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,643,419

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PROGRAM SERVICE FEES

    total $353,624 · related or exempt $353,624

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $29,191 · excluded $29,191

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $19,070

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $170,000

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $391,346

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$372,276 · excluded -$372,276

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $159,650 · program services $159,650

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $25,664 · program services $25,664

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $291,633 · program services $291,633

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $705,819 · program services $545,038 · management and general $75,013 · fundraising $85,768

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,781,773 · program services $1,548,350 · management and general $169,680 · fundraising $63,743

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $117,876 · program services $83,409 · management and general $14,884 · fundraising $19,583

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $557,845 · program services $238,855 · management and general $243,819 · fundraising $75,171

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $179,059 · program services $150,566 · fundraising $28,493

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $21,753 · program services $270 · management and general $21,483

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $40,650 · management and general $40,650

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $174,520 · program services $87,268 · management and general $87,081 · fundraising $171

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $13,601 · program services $10,795 · management and general $2,607 · fundraising $199

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $107,652 · program services $21,561 · management and general $74,594 · fundraising $11,497

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $19,176 · program services $1,836 · management and general $16,177 · fundraising $1,163

  • 17 · Travel

    total $338,604 · program services $177,226 · management and general $152,532 · fundraising $8,846

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $10,786 · program services $2,941 · management and general $7,821 · fundraising $24

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $68,100 · management and general $68,100

  • 24a · Other expenses: PAYROLL EXPENSES

    total $75,395 · program services $409 · management and general $74,986

  • 24b · Other expenses: EVENT EXPENSES

    total $15,157 · program services $7,936 · management and general $3,451 · fundraising $3,770

  • 24c · Other expenses: PROFESSIONAL/ORG DEVEL.

    total $10,343 · program services $1,267 · management and general $9,076

  • 24d · Other expenses: BUSINESS REG FEES

    total $1,866 · management and general $1,866

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $41,093 · program services $6,411 · management and general $33,793 · fundraising $889

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,691,146 · end of year $3,827,018

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $3,274,000 · end of year $3,294,015

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $6,505,393 · end of year $3,799,135

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $69,738 · end of year $31,047

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $8,265

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $8,265

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $1,608 · end of year $0

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $612 · end of year $536

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $191,787 · end of year $293,172

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $15,284 · end of year $10,918

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $22,750 · end of year $30,500

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $28,709 · end of year $0

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,201,695 · end of year $3,689,302

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $9,082,272 · end of year $6,927,859

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

SEE SCHEDULE O

Activities or mission (Part I)

DEVELOPS LEGAL AND TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DIGITAL CREATIVITY, SHARING, AND INNOVATION.

  • CC CERTIFICATE - OFFER THE CREATIVE COMMONS CERTIFICATE, AN IN-DEPTH COURSE FOR PEOPLE INTERESTED IN BECOMING EXPERTS IN CREATING AND ENGAGING WITH OPENLY LICENSED WORKS.GLAM - THE OPENGLAM PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE ADOPTION OF PROGRESSIVE OPEN ACCESS POLICIES BY GLAM INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF CREATIVE COMMONS TOOLS. THIS INCLUDES PROMOTING THE LARGE SCALE, GLOBAL ACCEPTANCE OF OPEN POLICIES BY THESE INSTITUTIONS, TOGETHER WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BENEFITS OF SUCH POLICIES TO ACHIEVE KNOWLEDGE EQUITY.CC LICENSES - PROVIDE CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSES AND PUBLIC DOMAIN TOOLS THAT GIVE EVERY PERSON AND ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD A FREE, SIMPLE, AND STANDARDIZED WAY TO GRANT COPYRIGHT PERMISSIONS FOR CREATIVE AND ACADEMIC WORKS; ENSURE PROPER ATTRIBUTION; AND ALLOW OTHERS TO COPY, DISTRIBUTE, AND MAKE USE OF THOSE WORKS.GLOBAL SUMMIT - PRODUCE CC SUMMIT, AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF EDUCATORS, ARTISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS, LEGAL EXPERTS, AND ACTIVISTS TO PROMOTE THE POWER OF OPEN LICENSING AND GLOBAL ACCESS.POLICY: PRODUCE EDUCATIONAL AND POLICY POSITION PAPERS ON ISSUES RELATING TO COPYRIGHT REFORM FOR THE POLICY MAKERS AND THE PUBLIC.OPEN EDUCATION: MINIMIZE BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE EDUCATION THROUGH TRAINING, MENTORING AND ADVOCACY ON USING OPEN LICENSES AND OPEN POLICIES TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND PRACTICES.THROUGH OUR DIRECT FEE-FOR-SERVICE CONSULTATIONS, CREATIVE COMMONS HELPS ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOP OPEN LICENSING EXPERTISE, AND A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR SHARING THEIR CONTENT WITH THE PUBLIC.OPEN SCIENCE - THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK IN OPEN SCIENCE IS FOCUSED ON MAKING LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH AND CLIMATE RESEARCH MORE OPENLY AVAILABLE.

    Expenses $3,361,085 · Grants $476,947 · Revenue $353,624

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • DELIA BROWNE

    INTERIM BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • GLENN BROWN

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • BILAL RANDEREE

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ALEK TARKOWSKI

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JENI TENNISON

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ANGELA ODUOR LUNGATI

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MARTA BELCHER

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JAMES GRIMMELMANN

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • LUIS VILLA

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • CAROLINA BOTERO

    BOARD MEMBER (THRU 12/5/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • CATHERINE STIHLER

    CEO (THRU 12/29/23)

    Total calculated
    $332,103
    From this org
    $289,246
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $42,857
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $289,246
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,879
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,978
    Filer's total
    $332,103

  • MARI MORESEHEAD

    SEC/CHIEF OF STAFF (THRU 12/8/23)

    Total calculated
    $133,423
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $127,681
    Other
    $5,742
    Hours/week
    40

  • ANNA TUMADOTTIR

    INTERIM CEO

    Total calculated
    $181,382
    From this org
    $161,500
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,882
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,500
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,250
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,632
    Filer's total
    $181,382

  • KATHLEEN WALSH

    GENERAL COUNSEL/SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $167,639
    From this org
    $148,400
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,239
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $148,400
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,420
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,819
    Filer's total
    $167,639

  • NATHAN ANGELL

    DIR OF COMMS & COMMUNITY (11/30/23)

    Total calculated
    $169,023
    From this org
    $135,877
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,146
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $130,251
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $5,626
    Deferred
    $7,155
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,991
    Filer's total
    $169,023

  • CYRA E COPELAND

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $145,549
    From this org
    $122,499
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,050
    Hours/week
    40

  • CABLE GREEN

    DIRECTOR OF OPEN EDUCATION

    Total calculated
    $219,683
    From this org
    $181,100
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,583
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $181,100
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,869
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,714
    Filer's total
    $219,683

  • BRIGITTE VEZINA

    DIRECTOR OF OPEN CULTURE

    Total calculated
    $144,699
    From this org
    $144,699
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • JENNRYN WETZLER

    DIRECTOR OF TRAINING AND LEARNING

    Total calculated
    $148,003
    From this org
    $140,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,003
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment

Answered no

  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 4A
NATHAN ANGELL, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY, RECEIVED SEVERANCE PAYMENTS $5,626.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

  • NEW VENTURE FUND

    $154,500

    CONSULTING ON THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO OPEN CLIMATE CHANGE & BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • 0941176 BC LTD

    C · TO EMPLOY CANADIAN EMPLOYEES · CA · 100% owned · share of income $465,737 · share of assets $6,943 · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by CREATIVE COMMONS CORPORATION

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
14 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202443209349321359

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