College For Creative Studies is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Detroit, Michigan, registered in 1957, with $91,257,434 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B+, and it directs about 71% of spending to programs.
Revenue (FY2023)
$91.3M
▼ 3.4% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$97.9M
Net assets
$221.9M
Employees
1,127
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For College For Creative Studies: 71% to programs · $10 to raise $100 earns a B on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For College For Creative Studies: 27 mo reserves · -7% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For College For Creative Studies: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For College For Creative Studies: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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The college for creative studies is a private college offering a bachelor of fine arts degree in 13 different majors and master of fine arts degrees in four majors. ccs is an accredited institutional member of the national association of schools of art and design and is accredited by the higher learning commission of the north central association. the college enrolled 1,400 students in degree seeking programs. the college also offers non-credit courses in the visual arts through its continuing education programs and annually provides over 3,000 detroit youth with art and design education through partnership programs.
Developing and rehabilitating the argonaut building and college parking structure. this development will house art and design education as well as provide additional student housing.
Revenue grew from $64.7M (FY2013) to $91.3M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Operating margin
-7.2%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$263.6M
Total liabilities
$41.7M
Net assets
$221.9M
Salaries & benefits
$31.0M
32% of expenses
Board members
34
33 independent
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $91,257,434▼3.4% | $97,859,307▲0.6% | $221,891,358▼0.9% | $263,605,125▼3.0% | 990 |
| 2022 | $94,517,851▼6.0% | $97,263,798▲2.3% | $223,816,120▼1.3% | $271,661,547▼0.6% | 990 |
| 2021 | $100,598,734▲19.5% | $95,101,605▲14.0% | $226,801,772▼6.4% | $273,316,245▼4.3% | 990 |
| 2020 | $84,173,161▲3.6% | $83,423,619▼1.8% | $242,433,251▲14.5% | $285,566,595▲11.7% | 990 |
| 2019 | $81,212,922▼3.6% | $84,949,645▲2.6% | $211,771,365▼1.7% | $255,607,237▼2.0% | 990 |
| 2018 | $84,248,155▲9.4% | $82,794,041▲7.2% | $215,419,169▲1.0% | $260,715,547▼0.3% | 990 |
| 2017 | $77,031,368▼1.2% | $77,252,716▲4.7% | $213,330,986▲0.6% | $261,475,783▼0.1% | 990 |
| 2016 | $77,957,055▲2.7% | $73,753,249▲4.4% | $212,083,514▲36.0% | $261,655,004▲27.1% | 990 |
| 2015 | $75,883,093▲9.9% | $70,641,519▲5.0% | $155,980,468▼7.8% | $205,854,757▲0.9% | 990 |
| 2014 | $69,059,398▲6.7% | $67,265,735▲7.3% | $169,175,838▼2.3% | $203,952,880▼2.1% | 990 |
| 2013 | $64,747,732 | $62,677,079▲5.5% | $173,083,148▲3.1% | $208,226,949▲3.0% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $59,437,324▲5.1% | $167,847,847▲1.6% | $202,090,200▲0.7% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $56,538,313▲3.4% | $165,260,587▲0.6% | $200,589,633▼2.3% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $54,664,361▼1.3% | $164,217,714▲3.2% | $205,256,628▲0.8% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $55,369,684 | $159,154,818 | $203,549,673 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Highest-paid: Donald L Tuski Phd — $377,180 (0.39% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donald L Tuski Phd | President | 40 | $377,180 |
| Timothy Flattery | Provost | 40 | $259,333 |
| Teresa Lareau | Vp of Institutional Advanc | 40 | $242,469 |
| Kerri Mckay | Vp of Finance | 40 | $233,576 |
| Greg Fraser | Chief Information Officer | 40 | $204,163 |
| Ian Lambert | Dean of Graduate Studies | 40 | $190,848 |
| Paul Snyder | Chair of Transportation Design | 40 | $188,266 |
| Christina Deroos | Director Kresge Arts In Detroit | 40 | $186,257 |
| Carla Gonzalez | Dean of Enrollment | 40 | $178,228 |
| Olga Stella | Vp of Strategy & Communica | 40 | $175,948 |
| Alburn H Elvin Jr | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| Danialle Karmanos | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| Darrell Burks | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| David M Hempstead | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| Don Manvel | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| Frank Campanale | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| James H Vandenberghe | Treasurer | 0.3 | — |
| James M Nicholson | Chairman | 0.3 | — |
| Jody Ingle III | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| Kc Crain | Trustee | 0.3 | — |
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Allied Universal Security Services | Security Services | $1,961,813 |
| Continental Cafe LLC | Food Service | $1,777,969 |
| Mechanical Design & Installation LLC | Mechanical Services | $592,804 |
| Foremost Communications | Print and Distribution Services | $481,789 |
| Walker Street Acquisition LLC | Investment Services | $302,377 |
49 grants to College For Creative Studies totaling $4.1M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2024 | $1,000,000 |
| Community Foundation For Southeast Michigan | Arts and culture | 2024 | $222,645 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $15,000 |
| Community Foundation For Southeast Michigan | Arts | 2023 | $210,400 |
| American Chemistry Council | General operating support | 2023 | $50,000 |
| Paypal Charitable Giving Fund | — | 2023 | $30,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2023 | $20,000 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $20,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $16,100 |
| Tides Foundation | Quality education | 2022 | $500,000 |
| Tides Foundation | Quality education | 2022 | $500,000 |
| Community Foundation For Southeast Michigan | Education program/general operations/scholarship funds | 2022 | $290,911 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2022 | $112,550 |
| American Chemistry Council | General operating support | 2022 | $50,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Educational | 2022 | $20,000 |
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Data for College For Creative Studies (EIN 38-1550064) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.