Creative Lives Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

In 2025, creative lives piloted a cohort training program in a framework for wise education, serving 27 early and elementary educators from Vermont and New Hampshire. The program trained cohesive teams of educators from the same schools and centers, strengthening individual growth while improving collaboration, consistency, and student outcomes. Participants devoted approximately 110 hours to training, including coursework, applied practice, peer learning, and classroom implementation. The program included two sequential courses (foundations 1 and foundations 2), site visits, and a closing retreat. Several participants elected to earn graduate credit through southern New Hampshire university. Program outcomes and effectiveness educator outcomes (post-training compared to pre-training): - 77% reported feeling regularly joyful in their work (30% pre-training). - 73% reported regularly making wise decisions at work (33% pre-training). - 79% reported moving effectively between leading and listening (27% pre- training). - 89% strongly agreed the training improved their ability to support children's learning and potential. - 93% agreed or strongly agreed they now have a more complete understanding of how to educate and raise children. Student and classroom impacts: - ability to inspire students to learn increased from 37% to 79%. - support for wise decision-making increased from 28% to 71%. - support for emotional stability increased from 62% to 93%. - support for balanced classroom dynamics increased from 68% to 93%. - support for discipline and accountability increased from 26% to 67%. Description of educational approach a framework for wise education is based on ellen tadd's discoveries about the human energy (chakra) system and its practical role in optimal human development. The framework identifies seven interconnected categories- inspiration, focus, self-esteem, good intentions, emotional well-being, identity, and discipline-that together support learning, resilience, collaboration, and well-being a framework for wise education is based on ellen tadd's discoveries about the human energy (chakra) system and its practical role in optimal human development. The framework identifies seven interconnected categories- inspiration, focus, self-esteem, good intentions, emotional well-being, identity, and discipline-that together support learning, resilience, collaboration, and well-being. Illustrative impact participants consistently reported meaningful personal, professional, and organizational growth. One center director shared that the program does not just change educators but transforms teams. Another educator noted that training alongside colleagues improved collaboration and student outcomes. Parents and educators also described improved emotional regulation and student resilience, including one instance where a child applied framework tools to respond to a discriminatory incident with calm reflection and leadership. Funding sources and volunteer time funding sources include tuition, private and public grants, and charitable donations. Volunteer time equates to approximately 5,800 in paid staff time, based on an estimated rate of 25 per hour. Current and planned activities building on the success of the cohort training program pilot, creative lives is committed to scaling this model to serve educators working with children from the early years through high school. The organization is developing self-paced courses, workshops, and supporting tools to extend reach while maintaining program quality. Creative lives seeks continued grant support to provide tuition assistance and ensure access to this in-depth training.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 82.3%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $13.22 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 80%; rating input score 80; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 1 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 14
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -28.7%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.37; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 47.9%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -4.8% per year; rating input score 0; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -3.7% per year; rating input score 0; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings