Denver, CO

CREATIVE WEST

EIN 23-7255426

Arts, Culture & Heritage Community Arts & Public Programs Communities of color

Mission

Creative West builds equitable systems—through technology, funding, advocacy, and policy—to support and amplify creative capacity across the U.S. West and beyond.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

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About CREATIVE WEST

Creative West (formerly the Western States Arts Federation / WESTAF) is a Denver-based nonprofit and one of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations. It supports artists, arts organizations, state arts agencies, and arts advocates across a broad western region through grants, policy and advocacy, research, convenings, and technology services. In recent years Creative West completed a formal rebrand (announced September 2024) and launched a Three-Year Adaptive Bridge Plan (2024–2027) to guide its strategic priorities. The organization operates several widely used arts technology platforms and grantmaking programs that extend its impact beyond its regional membership. Creative West manages recurring funds and programs (including the Creative West Artist Fund), provides services to state arts agencies, and operates digital platforms used by arts administrators and artists for opportunity discovery, grantmaking, public art documentation, and festival management.

Notable achievements

Rebrand and 50th-anniversary milestone

In September 2024 the organization transitioned from the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) to Creative West, marking its 50th anniversary and launching a refreshed identity and a Three‑Year Adaptive Bridge Plan to guide 2024–2027 priorities.

Sustained operation of major arts technology platforms

Creative West operates and supports a suite of widely used arts technology services—including CaFÉ (CallForEntry), ZAPP (Zapplication), the Public Art Archive, GO Smart (grants management), and the Opportunities Portal—that connect artists and arts organizations with funding, opportunities, and public documentation tools.

Regional grantmaking and artist support

The organization maintains regional grant programs (including the Creative West Artist Fund) and awards that provide direct resources to artists, cultural organizations, and state/regional partners across the 16-state western region.

At a glance

Total assets: $9.7M
Annual revenue: $9.6M
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 23-7255426
Location: Denver, CO
Website: wearecreativewest.org
On Mahalo since: September 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Designated a U.S. Regional Arts Organization serving the Western region (role recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts).

Profiled and listed in major nonprofit data services (Candid/GuideStar, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Charity Navigator) and maintains publicly available IRS Form 990 filings.

Operator of the Public Art Archive and other platforms that are referenced and used by cultural institutions and public art programs nationwide.

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