PLATINUM2023

Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation

Leadership.Community.Culture.

aka CACAF   |   Atlanta, GA   |  www.caribbeanculturalarts.org

Mission

Our Mission is to support exceptional educational programs and services for the next generation of cultural leaders. We do this by providing funding to programs that promote cultural leadership through mentoring, career advancement, and artistic development.

Notes from the nonprofit

Since its inception, the Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation (CACAF) has partnered with the private sector, community-based organizations, and the governments of Caribbean nations to support disaster-affected communities in those countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, its US-based work centered on the delivery of donated clothing, coats, and other items and meal preparation and distribution to the homeless community in Atlanta, Georgia. Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Partnering with the CACAF supports our ongoing youth arts, senior services, and disaster relief program efforts. Sadly, most public school budgets have eliminated art and music programs from their curriculums. Your support helps fund our Cultural Connect Youth Art Education Program--our essential program that helps fill the gap by giving underserved multicultural students access to learn and grow their artistic skills.

Ruling year info

2019

Principal Officer

Michael Thomas

Main address

1185 Hightower Trail #501383

Atlanta, GA 31150 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

81-2269638

NTEE code info

Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose (A20)

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (T12)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

The problem that we aim to address is the lack of resources for Caribbean-American and Latin-American students in their career advancement. We also address those in need of relief funds, services, and products during Hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. This includes an internship, career placement, mentorship, and disaster preparedness programs. Our Cultural Connect Program offers multicultural students the opportunity to learn about the global community. The Program's Mission is to bridge a gap in cultural understanding and build an efficient diverse community of inclusion. Sadly, most public school budgets have eliminated art and music programs from their curriculums. Your support helps fund our Cultural Connect Youth Art Education Program--our essential program that helps fill the gap by giving underserved multicultural students access to learn and grow their artistic skills and appreciation. Our program allows them to develop language and reading skills.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Educational Mentorship

We target University students and high schools, offering mentorship, internship, and career placement opportunities.

Population(s) Served
Academics
Multiracial people

We offer support for Hurricane and other natural disasters within the USA and Caribbean/Latin america region. This includes shipments, emergency relief,

Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups
People of Latin American descent

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of multi-year grants received

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Ethnic and racial groups, Age groups

Related Program

Educational Mentorship

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

The grants are based upon donations given to the CACAF for capacity building and program-specific logistics.

Total number of grants awarded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Children and youth, Multiracial people, People with diseases and illnesses

Related Program

Disaster Relief Programs

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

City of Atlanta Mayor Office of Cultural Affairs Fulton County Community Services

Number of children who have the ability to understand and comprehend communication

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Ethnic and racial groups

Related Program

Educational Mentorship

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of free participants on field trips

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Ethnic and racial groups

Related Program

Educational Mentorship

Type of Metric

Context - describing the issue we work on

Direction of Success

Increasing

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Our goal is to assist the younger generation to reach their goals while offering constructive mentorship opportunities for their careers. Our cause is to continue to assist with disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters that impact communities that we serve daily.

We are working with various community organizations, leaders, corporate sponsors, youth groups, and community organizations within the Caribbean and Latin America diaspora. Our sustainable development plan includes strategic partnerships with community organizations that she the same values and goals. We plan to create a plan to share with additional states and countries. We will focus on curriculum development, technology implementation, and sustainable resources for families that we serve in the community.

Our capabilities are based on our executive board, and advisory, which is comprised of community leaders. We have established relationships with various agencies and companies that assist with our mission. Our focus is to utilize our influence to impact the organization's programs.

Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation Inc. focuses on Youth Arts Programs, Senior and Veterans Services, and Disaster Relief efforts.

We have raised significant funds for our relief and educational mentorship programs. We have selected a long-term relief project to impact those devasted by Hurricane Irma and Maria in the USVI and Puerto Rico. We have partnered with local municipalities, corporations, and small businesses, to help our mission of connecting with the multicultural community. We have pivoted during the pandemic to offer art therapy services for students, and meal programs to first responders.

In addition, we served over 120 Senior and Veterans in Metro Atlanta, over 75 youths, and over 5 countries with Disaster Relief efforts.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.
  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    We conduct electronic surveys from our community virtually and in person to ensure quality engagement.We focus on age, location, and demographics.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    We have included data in our programs to ensure quality and success.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our community partners,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    We are tailoring our programs to be successful and progressive due to feedback.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people,

Financials

Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation

Board of directors
as of 03/22/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Michael Thomas

Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation

Term: 2022 - 2024


Board co-chair

Chris Scott

Caribbean American Cultural Arts Foundation

Term: 2020 - 2022

Chris Scott

Dr. Aliston Thomas

Alrene Barr

Yvette Thomas-Henry

Ivan Shammas

Sherry Bellille

Dr. Allisa Horsford

Marva Jacobs

Jackie Robinson

Melissa Noel

Ria Edoo

Lorettta Green-Williams

Astra Astra Armbrister-Rolle

Saurel Quettan

Dr. David Panton

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/22/2023

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Decline to state
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 03/22/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.