Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan
Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan (CACHE) is a public charity based in Springdale, Arkansas. It works with creatives, organizations, and communities to support a more inspiring, inclusive, and equitable Northwest Arkansas, including through creative space, professional development, convenings, research, and support for arts and cultural activity.
Key facts about Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan
- EIN
- 87-1565322
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Total assets
- $2,760,941
- How to apply
- For InnerSpace, eligibility is open to anyone age 18 or older living in Benton or Washington counties, with all experience levels welcome; six projects are selected annually through a lottery. Full details ↓
- Next open deadline
- October 30, 2026 (InnerSpace)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8M
+117.3% YoY
Revenue
$2.2M
-11.3% YoY
Expenses
$1.7M
-9.9% YoY
How Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan gives
- 60% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
CACHE’s mission is to work with creatives, organizations, and communities to empower a more inspiring, inclusive, and equitable Northwest Arkansas.
Its stated activities include research on the creative ecosystem; professional development for artists, arts organizations, and arts-support organizations; and convenings that build communication and relationships across the sector. The organization also describes The Medium as providing affordable access to studio, performance, rehearsal, exhibition, and meeting space.
The 2023 filing data reports grants to 10 recipients totaling $685,000. Among the grantees described in the available information, Black Fret DBA Sonic Guild said its mission is to build communities that support the creation and performance of extraordinary new music. The House of Songs described work bringing musicians together to create new works and promote musical and artistic collaboration. The Music Education Initiative said its mission is to bring music education and appreciation to the public and school-aged children. Folk School of Fayetteville described building community through education and concerts or festivals that promote traditional American and world music, culinary arts, and folk life. Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation said it works to bring Indian performing arts, particularly classical forms, to Northwest Arkansas. The Teen Action & Support Center described its mission as empowering teens to take action in their lives and communities.
Grantmaking
In 2023, CACHE reported $685,000 in grants across 10 grants, an average of $68,500 per grant. The available information identifies these recipients and amounts: Black Fret DBA Sonic Guild, $155,000; The House of Songs, $155,000; The Music Education Initiative, $90,000; Folk School of Fayetteville, $30,000; The Teen Action & Support Center, $20,000; and Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation, $20,000.
The organization’s current program information also describes opportunities that provide space and support rather than cash grants to outside applicants. InnerSpace offers free space and hosting at The Medium for creative and community-focused events; projects must be hosted between February and June, and six are selected annually by lottery. Its stated deadline is October 30, 2026. The Creative Exchange Fund supports creative production through five opportunity categories, including events, performances, music, visual-artist residencies, and exhibitions. The listed June 12, 2026 deadline is past as of October 2, 2026.
How to Apply
For InnerSpace, eligibility is open to anyone age 18 or older living in Benton or Washington counties, with all experience levels welcome; six projects are selected annually through a lottery. The Creative Exchange Fund’s listed application deadline has passed.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan
Groundwaves Hip-Hop Mentorship Program
Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
InnerSpace
Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~October
Based on past cycles
Plains Exchange
Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CACHE’s mission and stated work center on Northwest Arkansas. Its website lists Fayetteville and Springdale as locations, and The Medium is in Springdale. InnerSpace and the Creative Exchange Fund are described as serving Benton and Washington counties in Northwest Arkansas. CACHE’s 2025 filing also describes its management of the Artists Creative Fund, a program funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Tulsa Community Foundation for artists and creatives living in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $358K (2022) to $685K (2023). In 2023 it made 10 grants totaling $685K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 18 (56%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for 2025.
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,760,941 | $2,174,990 | $1,675,536 | 0 |
| 2024 | $1,270,568 | $2,453,074 | $1,859,565 | 0 |
| 2023 | $638,776 | $2,733,598 | $3,135,486 | 10 grants totaling $685,000 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,760,941 | $1,270,568 | $638,776 |
| Revenue | $2,174,990 | $2,453,074 | $2,733,598 |
| Expenses | $1,675,536 | $1,859,565 | $3,135,486 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Lisa Brence, chair; Bjorn Simmons, vice president; Lia Uribe, secretary; Graham Cobb, treasurer; and Jeannette Balleza Collins, Kassie Misiewicz, Olivia Tyson, and Josh Hall, directors. Kelsey Howard is listed as executive director.
Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan is led by Kelsey Howard, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kelsey Howard
Executive Director
Director of Arts Services → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$110K (2023) → $135K (2025)
Lisa Brence
Chair
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeannette Balleza Collins
Director
Co-Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kassie Misiewicz
Director
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Olivia Tyson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josh Hall
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bjorn Simmons
Vice President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lia Uribe
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Graham Cobb
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Lucas Cowan (2023) — Director of Cultural Polic
- Former: Peter Jasso (2023) — Interim Executive Director
- Former: Allyson Esposito (2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Bryce Merrill (2022) — Director
- Former: Claire Rice (2022) — Co-Chair
- Former: Jesse Elliott (2022) — Chief Strategy & Creative Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $135K, to Kelsey Howard (Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 214 S Main St, Springdale, AR 72764
Phone: (479) 259-2456
Website: https://cachecreate.org
Frequently asked questions about Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan
How large is Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan?
Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.2M.
What does Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan fund?
CACHE’s mission is to work with creatives, organizations, and communities to empower a more inspiring, inclusive, and equitable Northwest Arkansas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan?
For InnerSpace, eligibility is open to anyone age 18 or older living in Benton or Washington counties, with all experience levels welcome; six projects are selected annually through a lottery. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan make grants?
CACHE’s mission and stated work center on Northwest Arkansas. Its website lists Fayetteville and Springdale as locations, and The Medium is in Springdale. InnerSpace and the Creative Exchange Fund are described as serving Benton and Washington counties in Northwest Arkansas.
What is Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan's EIN?
Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1565322. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchan by hand.
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