Caldera

What it reported doing in 2024

Dan wieden and his family established caldera in 1996 to focus on the strengths of youth and their communities, led by the belief that "when youth are given access to the explosive power of creativity, they can change their world." since then, caldera has engaged over 15,000 youth through an award-winning, seven-year cohort model that includes a robust summer program, in-school partnerships, residencies and performances. Continued on schedule o.in 2024, caldera's apprentice program came back in a big way. The 2024-25 cohort consisted of ten high school students: five in portland and five in central Oregon. These ten emerging artists took the spark of creativity that they found as caldera youth and explored it further. What does it mean to create art for others? How much power does a creative voice have, and what can it accomplish? These were questions they sought to answer through their work and the experiences they had as apprentices.all of our youth work incorporates these core ingredients: awe and wonder, intercultural connection, safety, self-reflection, failure and resilience, dependability, and applied creativity. All evaluation activities were complete/scheduled with analysis underway. More than 200 pre- and post-surveys, nine partner surveys, five youth focus groups, and 18 alumni interviews completed as part of the evaluation plan launched last year. What we've learned so far? Impact increases over time in the youth program and that young people build confidence, connection, and creativity.we served 496 young learners; 190 of them during the beloved summer program.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 66.5%; rating input score 66
• Program expense ratio: 65.2%; rating input score 65
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.59 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 3.9%; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 7.58; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.3%; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 13.6% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 20.9% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings