Creative Washtenaw logo

Creative Washtenaw

Public charity · Grantmaker Ann Arbor, MI EIN: 26-0638491 Website

To advocate for and provide support services to artists creative workers organizations businesses educational and government entities to ensure that Washtenaw County Michigan - the greater Ann Arbor area - remains a great place for all to create live work learn play and visit.

Creative Washtenaw at a glance

In short: Creative Washtenaw gave $20K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$20,000
-90.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
2
-90.9% vs 2023
Average grant
$10,000
+7.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$74,343
-60.6% vs 2023
Primary geography
Michigan (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Creative Washtenaw funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2024

Furnace Design Studio LLC DBA Chris Nordin Studios: $10KFurnace Design Studio LLC DBAChris Nordin Studios$10KWSG Gallery: $10KWSG Gallery$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Furnace Design Studio LLC DBA Chris Nordin Studios ($10K). Together the top 2 received $20K.

Grant Size Distribution

24 grants across all recorded years

24<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 24 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Ann ArborChelseaYpsilanti

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 22 grants2023 2 grants2024

From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2024) to $205K (2023). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $20K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Furnace Design Studio LLC DBA Chris Nordin Studios Ann Arbor, MICity of Ann Arbor Arts ARPA$10,000
WSG Gallery Ann Arbor, MICity of Ann Arbor Arts ARPA$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$74,343$222,447$263,859$20,0002$1,233
2023$188,546$683,509$679,895$204,55022$900
2022$64,287$163,268$183,237———
2021$72,243$156,645$181,699———
2020$92,294$191,908$243,583———

About Creative Washtenaw

Based on IRS filings

Creative Washtenaw is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Ann Arbor, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $74K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $20K. Net investment income was $1K.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Creative Washtenaw is led by Deb Polich, President-Ceo since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Deb Polich

    President-Ceo

    President CEO → President, 2023

    President → President-Ceo, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    30 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tina Walther

    Chair

    Treasurer → Chair, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Abby Fanelli

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amy Karbo

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Asha Jordan

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael McCarthy

    Treasurer

    Trustee → Treasurer, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dave Snyder

    Secretary

    On filings since 2023

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (6)
  • Former: Alexandra West (2020–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Damian Farrell (2020–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Jay Mullick (2020–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Melissa MIlton Pung (2020–2022) — Secretary
  • Former: Chloe Cook Gray (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Colby Spencer Cesaro (2020–2021) — Chair

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.

Frequently asked questions about Creative Washtenaw

How much does Creative Washtenaw give each year?

Creative Washtenaw gave $20K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $205K across 22 grants.

How large is Creative Washtenaw?

Creative Washtenaw reported $74K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $222K.

What is Creative Washtenaw?

Creative Washtenaw is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Ann Arbor, MI. It holds $74K in total assets as of 2024.

Where does Creative Washtenaw operate?

Creative Washtenaw has awarded grants in Michigan.

What is Creative Washtenaw's EIN?

Creative Washtenaw's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0638491. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 20, 2025)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Creative Washtenaw'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.

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