Creative Waco
Creative Waco is a Waco, Texas–based public charity that serves as the local arts agency for Waco and McLennan County. It supports the area’s cultural and creative community through grants to nonprofit arts organizations, public art, cultural programming, and services for artists and arts organizations.
Creative Waco at a glance
In short: Creative Waco gave $232K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), mostly in Texas. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $232,000
- +23.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +37.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,091
- -10.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $925,446
- +4.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Creative Waco
- How to Apply
-
The Arts Match Program page provides eligibility and project criteria and invites eligible nonprofit arts organizations to apply. It does not specify application materials or a deadline.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1104, Waco, TX 76703
Phone: (254) 214-7640
Website: https://creativewaco.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Creative Waco
Who Creative Waco funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Waco Symphony Association Inc ($48K). Together the top 10 received $224K.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 48 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Creative Waco describes its work as serving Waco and McLennan County. Its Arts Match Program is for nonprofit arts organizations based in the City of Waco or McLennan County. In 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas; the recipient state for the remaining 21% is not identified in the filing data.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Creative Waco open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $22K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $173K (2020) to $264K (2022). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $232K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Waco Symphony Association Inc Waco, TX | Operational Support | $48,000 |
| Waco Civic Theatre Waco, TX | Operational Support and Project Grant | $41,500 |
| Waco Cultural Arts Fest Waco, TX | Operational Support | $41,500 |
| Waco Creative Art Center Waco, TX | Operational Support and Project Grant | $33,000 |
| Heart of Texas Film Society Hewitt, TX | Online Film Festival Program | $10,000 |
| GB Lindsey Family Charitable Fund Waco, TX | Project Grant | $10,000 |
| Art Faith & Hope | Arts Match Grants | $10,000 |
| Hot Children's Theatre | Arts Match Grants | $10,000 |
| Jacob Decordova Society | Arts Match Grants | $10,000 |
| Silent House Theatre CO | Arts Match Grants | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Creative Waco?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $925,446 | $1,198,054 | $1,125,613 | $232,000 | 11 | $22,221 |
| 2023 | $882,494 | $1,590,206 | $1,432,430 | $188,000 | 8 | $14,661 |
| 2022 | $725,072 | $1,093,663 | $1,002,346 | $263,986 | 9 | — |
| 2021 | $656,232 | $823,242 | $745,516 | $229,375 | 10 | — |
| 2020 | $555,013 | $675,815 | $602,305 | $172,518 | 10 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Creative Waco’s stated mission is to grow and support a thriving cultural and creative community in Waco and McLennan County, Texas. Its filing describes work that includes managing and evaluating strategic investment in nonprofit arts organizations, public art, and infrastructure; providing training, information, networking, and educational services; and launching cultural programming, public art, events, and marketing for the Waco Downtown Cultural District.
Its Arts Match Program supports high-impact or innovative arts projects that advance goals in the Waco Cultural Plan. In its own description of the program, Creative Waco says projects are assessed by community members and cultural arts experts. The organization also describes strategic priorities that include strengthening arts organizations, building a cultural hub in downtown Waco, and growing the creative economy.
Among its 2024 grantees, Waco Symphony Association says its mission is to present live classical music to enrich community life; Waco Civic Theatre says it provides live theatre and opportunities for community education and participation; Waco Cultural Arts Fest says it engages and enriches the community through arts programming and cultural activities; and Waco Creative Art Center says it educates the community about creative expression through programs, workshops, and art shows.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Creative Waco made 11 grants totaling $232,000. Grant amounts ranged from $8,000 to $48,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards included $48,000 to Waco Symphony Association for operational support; $41,500 to Waco Civic Theatre for operational support and a project grant; $41,500 to Waco Cultural Arts Fest for operational support; and $33,000 to Waco Creative Art Center for operational support and a project grant. Other listed awards included $10,000 to Heart of Texas Film Society for an online film festival program and several $10,000 Arts Match Grants.
The Arts Match Program is described as currently open. Eligible applicants are nonprofit arts organizations based in the City of Waco or McLennan County that have IRS 501(c)(3) status and a mission to advance creative or performing arts. The program typically awards $2,500 to $10,000. Projects must advance goals in the Waco Cultural Plan and be able to obtain at least half of their needed resources from other sources, or need Local Arts Agency support to secure funding elsewhere. Applicants with an idea that does not meet the stated eligibility criteria are encouraged to contact Creative Waco; the organization also suggests partnering with an eligible local nonprofit arts organization. Project applications are evaluated by a panel of community members and cultural arts experts.
Creative Waco’s filing says grant applications are reviewed against grantmaking criteria and grants are established through written contracts specifying reporting requirements. Operational grants require quarterly progress reports; project grants require reports upon completion.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Daniela Rodriguez as chair; John Kinnaird as vice chair and treasurer; Elise Edwards as secretary; Jed Cole, Michelle Sanders, Nick Alvarado, Joseph Taylor, Jackye Clayton, and Leah Teague as directors; and Fiona Bond as executive director.
Creative Waco is led by Fiona Bond, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Fiona Bond
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$70K (2020) → $110K (2024)
Daniela Rodriguez
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jackye Clayton
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nick Alvarado
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jed Cole
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Taylor
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leah Teague
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Sanders
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elise Edwards
Secretary
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Kinnaird
Vice Chair & Treasurer
Treasurer → Vice Chair & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Chris McGowan (2020–2023) — Chair
- Former: Lisa Sheldon (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Stephen Benson (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Mitchell (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Aaron Williams (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Bronwen Forbay (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: John Deaver (2020–2021) — Past Chair
- Former: Dale Fisseler (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $110K, to Fiona Bond (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Creative Waco
How much does Creative Waco give each year?
Creative Waco gave $232K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $188K across 8 grants.
What is Creative Waco's typical grant size?
Creative Waco's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $21,091, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Creative Waco that year got $10K on average.
Where does Creative Waco give grants?
Creative Waco gives mostly in Texas: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Waco, TX (5 grants).
Does Creative Waco give general operating support?
Yes: 36% of Creative Waco's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Arts Match Grants" (5 grants).
Who are Creative Waco's largest grantees?
Creative Waco's largest 2024 grantees include Waco Symphony Association Inc ($48,000), Waco Civic Theatre ($41,500) and Waco Cultural Arts Fest ($41,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Creative Waco?
Creative Waco reported $925K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.
What does Creative Waco fund?
Creative Waco’s stated mission is to grow and support a thriving cultural and creative community in Waco and McLennan County, Texas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Creative Waco?
The Arts Match Program page provides eligibility and project criteria and invites eligible nonprofit arts organizations to apply. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Creative Waco's EIN?
Creative Waco's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3755745. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Creative Waco's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Creative Waco funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/creative-waco-morg_3b7e689257ea4aa7b0889e7a9ed041dd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_473755745_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Creative Waco funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/creative-waco-morg_3b7e689257ea4aa7b0889e7a9ed041dd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Creative Waco's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Creative Waco down — hundreds of funders to go?