Create CA

What Create CA does

Create CA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1973 (formerly the California Alliance for Arts Education) and headquartered in Pasadena, California. It is the largest statewide organization dedicated to advancing equitable arts education for California's roughly 6 million public school students, operating a coalition-based model that mobilizes parents, teachers, students, and arts advocates to push for compliance with state arts education mandates and effective implementation of Proposition 28 funding. The organization serves four primary beneficiary segments — parents/guardians, teachers, students, and arts advocates — plus a secondary segment of school administrators, and maintains a coalition of 85+ community-based organizations and 24+ regional arts councils and county offices of education.

Create CA's product surface includes eight distinct programs and resources: the Arts Now technical assistance program for partner nonprofits, the Prop 28 AMS Planning Toolkit (co-developed with WestEd), the Spark Creativity for Brighter Futures campaign with Peanuts Worldwide, the Designing Advocacy course (with ArtCenter College of Design), the Healing Arts Workshop, the Student Voices youth engagement program, the California Arts Education Data Project, and a comprehensive Resource Library of policy papers and advocacy materials. The underlying technology stack is deliberately lightweight: a web platform (createca.org) hosted on WP Engine, NeonCRM for donation processing, Google Meet for virtual workshops, and active social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, X/Twitter) reaching 18,000 newsletter subscribers and 14,000+ combined social followers.

The organization's revenue model is dual-stream: individual donations (processed via NeonCRM, including an Annual Campaign 2026) and foundation grants, with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation identified as a major funder alongside the California Arts Council. All services, resources, and programs are offered free to beneficiaries; the organization does not charge for advocacy tools, lesson plans, or technical assistance. The 26-person staff is led by Executive Director Dr. Veronica Alvarez (appointed September 2024), with a Board of Directors chaired by Cyrus Wadia. Geographic scope is California-only.

Name

Create CA

Legal name

Create CA

Website

https://createca.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Create CA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that mobilizes parents, teachers, students, and arts advocates across California to advance equitable arts education and Proposition 28 implementation through a coalition of 85+ community partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Arts education advocacy
• Nonprofit coalition building
• Education policy mobilization
• Community organizing services
• Public school arts programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Create CA accepts one-time and recurring monthly donations from individual supporters through its NeonCRM donation platform. The Annual Campaign 2026 is mentioned as a specific fundraising initiative.
2. Foundation Grants: The organization receives grant funding from foundations including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, which has funded research initiatives and the Prop 28 Planning Toolkit development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Create CA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that mobilizes California parents, teachers, students, and arts advocates to demand equitable arts education in public schools. The organization delivers free advocacy resources, the Prop 28 Planning Toolkit, the Arts Now technical assistance program, the Designing Advocacy course with ArtCenter College of Design, the Student Voices youth engagement program, and the Spark Creativity with Peanuts campaign. Operations are funded through individual donations and foundation grants, primarily from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the California Arts Council.

Product overview

Create CA is California's nonprofit advocacy organization for equitable arts education (formerly the California Alliance for Arts Education). The organization operates as a coordination and advocacy hub rather than a commercial software product company. Its primary offerings include the Arts Now Program providing technical assistance to partner nonprofits, the Spark Creativity with Peanuts campaign offering classroom resources, the Prop 28 Planning Toolkit for school districts, the Designing Advocacy training program in partnership with ArtCenter, the Healing Arts Workshop, Student Voices youth engagement, the California Arts Education Data Project, and a comprehensive Resource Library of policy papers and advocacy materials. These programs and resources work together to advance equitable arts education policy and implementation across California schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arts Now Program A program providing aligned nonprofit organizations with technical assistance to strengthen arts education advocacy and implementation at the local level across California.
• Spark Creativity with Peanuts Campaign A statewide campaign collaboration with Peanuts Worldwide featuring monthly Peanuts-inspired artwork celebrating arts education, free lesson plans for K-5 classrooms, and campaign kits with posters, t-shirts, and participation guides.
• Prop 28 Planning Toolkit A comprehensive planning toolkit developed in consultation with arts education field leaders to help Local Education Agency administrators and school staff effectively plan for Proposition 28 Arts and Music in Schools funding and develop comprehensive arts programs.
• Designing Advocacy Program A free virtual design and advocacy course created in partnership with ArtCenter College of Design, teaching BIPOC students art-making, design principles (Procreate, Illustrator), and organizing skills to advocate for arts education.
• Healing Arts Workshop A four-week virtual workshop blending creative reflection, guided prompts, and arts-based tools for nervous system support, focusing on using the arts for personal healing and resilience.
• Student Voices Program A youth engagement initiative activating and providing a platform for student voices in arts education advocacy, including the Designing Advocacy course for college-aged students.
• California Arts Education Data Project An interactive data project providing access to California arts education data to support advocacy and policy efforts.
• Resource Library A comprehensive library of policy papers, advocacy toolkits, fact sheets, and planning resources including the Advocates' Glossary, legislative agendas, and parent/student rights information.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Peanuts Worldwide LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreate CA and Peanuts Worldwide LLC partnered on the Spark Creativity for Brighter Futures campaign throughout 2026, releasing monthly Peanuts-inspired artwork celebrating arts education. Campaign includes free lesson plans, classroom posters, t-shirts, and participation guides.
• ArtCenter College of DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Designing Advocacy, a free virtual trimester course teaching design and activism to California college students ages 18-26. Students learn Procreate and Illustrator while creating advocacy designs for arts education. Led by Indigenous artist Joel 'Rage.One' Garcia.
• WestEdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreate CA and WestEd developed the Prop 28 AMS Planning Toolkit to help Local Education Agency administrators plan for Proposition 28 implementation. WestEd also supported development of LEA profiles showcasing effective arts education programs.
• Shasta Arts CouncilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional arts council partnering with Create CA for the Spark Creativity campaign to promote arts education in Shasta County region.
• ArtsOCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrange County arts council partnering with Create CA for statewide Peanuts campaign promoting arts education.
• Arts Council of San Luis Obispo CountyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional arts council participating in Create CA's Spark Creativity campaign for arts education advocacy.
• Creative SonomaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSonoma County arts organization partner for statewide Peanuts campaign supporting arts education.
• Fresno Arts CouncilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFresno County arts council partner in Create CA's Spark Creativity campaign.
• Arts Connection NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner supporting Create CA's arts education initiatives.
• Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLACOE partnering with Create CA to support arts education initiatives in Los Angeles County schools.
• California Music Educators Association (CMEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association of music educators partnering with Create CA for advocacy and professional development.
• California Theatre Education Association (CETA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre education association collaborating with Create CA on arts education policy and advocacy.
• California Dance Education Association (CDEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance education association working with Create CA on arts education initiatives.
• California Art Education Association (CAEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisual arts education association partnering with Create CA for arts education advocacy.
• SRI EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner that conducted the Creativity Challenge study on the state of arts education in California, finding only 11% of schools meet standards. Study funded by William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
• Mariposa County Art CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Mariposa County Unified School District to deliver arts education programming through Indigenous and Community Land Restoration Project, serving students in K-6 grade.
• Sierra Foothill ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal land trust partnering with Mariposa County schools and Create CA for outdoor/environmental education that incorporates arts programming.
• Southern Miwuk NationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous community partner in Mariposa County arts education programming focused on cultural preservation and land restoration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• EdSource: California-focused nonprofit newsroom covering K-12 education policy, including arts education and Prop 28 implementation. Regional peer because both organizations operate California-only and shape public discourse on K-12 education policy, though EdSource does so via journalism rather than direct advocacy.
• Californians Together: California statewide advocacy coalition focused on equitable education for English learners and immigrant students. Regional peer because both operate as California-based advocacy coalitions partnering with school districts, parents, and policymakers on K-12 education reform.
• The Education Trust-West: California-based education equity advocacy organization working to close opportunity gaps in K-12 public schools. Regional peer because both organizations are California-based advocacy nonprofits engaging school districts, parents, and policymakers around K-12 educational equity.

Direct peers

• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National arts-in-education organization providing arts learning programs to K-12 students through affiliate network. Direct peer because both organizations bridge schools, artists, and funders to expand student access to arts education across the U.S.
• Arts Education Partnership: National coalition housed at the Education Commission of the States focused on advancing arts education through research, policy analysis, and advocacy. Direct peer because both organizations produce research, toolkits, and policy resources aimed at expanding K-12 arts education access.
• Center for Arts Education: Nonprofit dedicated to improving arts education access in New York City public schools through advocacy, programs, and partnerships. Direct peer because both organizations are nonprofit arts education advocates delivering toolkits, professional development, and coalition-driven policy work, differing primarily by geography.
• Americans for the Arts: National nonprofit advocacy organization that advances the arts at federal, state, and local levels. Direct peer because both organizations advocate for equitable access to arts education and mobilize coalitions to influence arts policy, although Americans for the Arts operates nationally rather than statewide.

Broad incumbents

• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies: Membership organization representing state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the U.S. Broad incumbent because both Create CA and NASAA sit at the intersection of state-level arts policy, agency partnerships, and advocacy infrastructure, although NASAA represents government agencies rather than independent nonprofits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/create_ca
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Create_CA
• Facebookfacebook.com/createcalifornia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/create-california
• Instagraminstagram.com/create_ca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Create CA