Creative Options
Creative Options reported $27.5 million in revenue and $22.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.52 went to program services, $16.48 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 100.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $238,976 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 94% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $22MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $27MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.5% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 16.5% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | Not reported | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 100.0% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $238,976 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.08% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 11.8 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 5 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseResidential - we operate over 40 housing units throughout the baltimore metro area for developmentally disabled individuals. We pride ourselves on supporting individuals in home environments which promote good health and hygiene, safety, individualized choices and an atmosphere of pride. Our staff work closely with the individuals, family members, resource coordinators and other professionals to identify the specific needs, wants and desires of each individual in our program
Our day support services program operates monday through friday 8:30am to 3pm and consists of a spectrum of daily structured activities. Vocational development & training activities are designed to increase and maximize employment potential. This program offers sessions such as money management, clerical enhancement, janitorial training, and effective communications skills. The day habilitation includes enhancing areas of personal development, personal hygiene/sensory stimulation, leisure skills, and community integration, motor skills, speech and language skills
Residential foster care - the organization has a contract with maryland department of human services (dhs) to provide various foster care services. The fees are based upon a flat rate, either daily or monthly, which is set by dhs, based on attendance days per individual
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $222,619 | $0 | $16,357 | $238,976 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $222,719 | $0 | $15,510 | $238,229 |
| DEPUTY DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,486 | $0 | $6,763 | $125,249 |
| DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $108,603 | $0 | $3,258 | $111,861 |
| DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $105,328 | $0 | $6,358 | $111,686 |
| DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $105,354 | $0 | $1,047 | $106,401 |
| DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $102,393 | $0 | $0 | $102,393 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Creative Options (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $462K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b5 · 5 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5324
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Creative Options's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Creative Options, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Creative Options spent in FY2025, $83.52 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Questions people ask
How much of Creative Options's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Creative Options reported that 83.5% of its $22.2 million in expenses went to program services, 16.5% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Creative Options pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Creative Options reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $238,976, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Creative Options get its money?
Of $27.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 0.0% came from contributions and grants and 100.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Creative Options a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1770675 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202611209349300541 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531259349302413 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421309349303912 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331239349301033 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221309349305012 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131239349300908 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1770675: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.