WACO CULTURAL ARTS FEST
Drawing People Together
WACO CULTURAL ARTS FEST
EIN: 05-0616886
as of November 2025
as of November 14, 2025
Mission
Mission: To engage and enrich our diverse community by providing arts programming, and cultural activities. Vision/Purpose: to celebrate and promote the community's diverse artistic and cultural life; develop and enrich its cultural capacity; and champion the economic, social, and education benefits of the arts.
Notes from the nonprofit
We are approaching a $5million capital campaign to include the renovation of a segregated cinema in East Waco to become a neighborhood Arts Hub - ArtPlace Waco Cultural Arts Fest dba Cultural Arts of Waco has been active for the last 20 years with community arts programs and events, “Drawing People Together” through the arts. The ArtPlace Campus will continue to expand our current footprint within the community. A permanent facility that offers visual, multimedia and even culinary/garden arts for all people. A campus, tailored to fill a vacancy in supporting community needs. ArtPlace building will house visual and multimedia arts, the Yellow Cottage Kitchen will develop an untapped, marginalized, disabled community into productive employees utilizing joint efforts between our community and employers through the culinary/garden arts.
Ruling year
2006
Principal Officer
Doreen Ravenscroft
Main address
814 Elm Ave
Waco, TX 76704-2658 USA
Formerly known as
dba Cultural Arts of Waco
EIN
05-0616886
Cultural awareness
Arts and culture
Community and economic development
Special population support
Population served
Ethnic and racial groups
Age groups
Social and economic status
Sexual identity
Family relationships
NTEE code
Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose (A20)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reportsWhat we aim to solve
In East Waco: Limited arts access for youth and community. Gentrification looms due to historic economic suppression. Yet, the community fosters visionary innovators. Rev. Stephen Cobb, founder New Hope Baptist Church; Robert Lloyd Smith, founder of the Farmers Improvement Society; Vivian Malone-Mayes, educator; Jules Bledsoe, opera singer; James Andrew Harris shook the science world in 1969 for two reasons: he co-discovered elements 104 and 105 on the periodic table, and the first African American in history to discover an element. Imagine its potential unbounded by constraints! Through our 18 years of art initiatives, we saw scarce programs, training, and resources for neuro-diverse individuals within our city! We supported the founding of the Opportunity Center for young neuro-diverse adults through our collaboration with The Arc of McLennan County. We have children becoming adults and newly identified adults with autism in our community with few options for employment.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
{254}DANCEFEST
{254}DANCEFEST is a three-day contemporary dance festival in Waco, Texas, bringing together professional and pre-professional dancers, choreographers, and companies. The festival engages artists locally, statewide, and nationally, fostering a dynamic and diverse dance community.
Waco Cultural Arts Fest
A annual arts festival bringing Free arts experiences to Waco and surrounding communities
ArtPlace
to transform a historically significant but derelict building (60+ years old) and eight empty lots on Elm Avenue into a multicultural community arts hub ArtPlace. The space will focus on youth arts education, community arts, music, and film workshops, linked to a public art space. Serving as a central anchor, ArtPlace will host year-round activities, including the popular annual Art on Elm Avenue popup art exhibitions.
Yellow Cottage Kitchen
will serve as a vocational training site for people within the neuro diverse community. It aims to provide individualized training and opportunities to earn multiple certifications. As a culinary arts initiative, YCK will teach skills for roles such as bakers, packers, graphic designers, data entry clerks, customer service professionals, and culinary herb propagators. This project addresses the link between disability and poverty by empowering participants with marketable skills.
Branding The Brazos
Thanks to a million dollar challenge grant, WCAF instigated the project "Branding the Brazos" in Waco, with a 150% of life-size monumental sculpture "The Waco Chisholm Trail Heritage" Robert Summers, Sculptor. The final arts investment was $1.9million, sculptures include the Trail Boss, Vaquero and Drover all on horseback, and twenty-five longhorns depicting the three trails that converged in Waco at the historic Waco Suspension Bridge. The project, a collaborative effort, began in 2009 and completed in 2016. This public art brought the first tourist bus to Waco! The sculpture dominates Indian Spring Park as it stands on the west side bank of the Brazos River and the river crossing at the Waco Suspension Bridge, popular with locals, visitors and a centerpiece for many events staged in Indian Spring Park.
Doris Miller Memorial
Waco City Council dedicated a 2-acre site in Bledsoe-Miller Park for a public art piece honoring WWII hero Doris Miller. A jury selected the design from 27 entries, creating a local and national memorial for this African American serviceman, commemorating his bravery during Pearl Harbor and ultimate sacrifice at sea. The project began in 2009 and dedicated in 2018. The Memorial was designed by Stan Carroll, Oklahoma City, and features a 145ft contemporary steel sculpture that represents "Many Sailors Make a Ship" and a reflection pool in remembrance of the loss of lives at sea. The Memorial includes a nine foot bronze statue of Doris Miller, and three bronze reliefs depicting the his young life, Eddie Dixon, Sculptor. The fundraising and project management was lead by Waco Cultural Arts Fest dba Cultural Arts of Waco and supported with individual donations from all over the USA, local Foundations and Businesses. $2.7 million was raised to construct the Memorial in East Waco.
Art at The Arc
Art at The Arc Art at the Arc is a summer camp tailored for neuro-diverse students K-12, and it plays a crucial role in the educational outreach programs offered by Waco Cultural Arts Fest, dba Cultural Arts of Waco. Each year, we are delighted to welcome back returning campers. Witnessing their continued participation allows us to observe their growth as individuals and assess how well they retain the knowledge of the art process from one year to the next. Our approach involves providing personalized attention to campers, working with them in small groups during sessions that last from 15 to 45 minutes. The focus of these lessons is on encouraging personal exploration and experimentation with various art materials. We guide young adults and children in understanding the use of color, shape, line, pattern, and texture while engaging in artistic activities involving paint, clay, collage, and construction projects. Zen gallery showcase https://culturalartswaco.org/zen-gallery/
Where we work
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Global
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McLean County (Illinois, United States)
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McLennan County (Texas, United States)
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Texas (United States)
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United States
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Waco (Texas, United States)
Awards
Bronze Pinnacle Award 2010
International Festival & Events Association
Zenith Award 2010
Texas Festival & Events Association
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of free admissions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2023 attendence still recovering from effect of Covid -19
Number of Neuro Diverse Students attending Art at the Art summer camp
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Art at The Arc
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Context Notes
number slowly increased to full capacity 40 after the Covid -19 hiatus
Total number of works exhibited
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Art at The Arc
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
work of neuro diverse young adults
Total number of free performances given
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Waco Cultural Arts Fest 20 Music groups 6 dance groups 1 visual artist
Number of professional artists employed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Waco Cultural Arts Fest
Total number of exhibitions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The Ofrenda for Dia de los Muertos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We aim to grow and sustain a successful arts organization in Waco through future investment in infrastructure and cultural facilities. ArtPlace and The Yellow Cottage Kitchen will be key projects to develop spaces for artistic and cultural engagement.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The organization is actively collaborating with Cultivate Advisors, led by consultant Alex Dzierbicki, and continues to develop a comprehensive five-year Strategic Plan. A Board retreat is scheduled for January 25, 2026, to review the plan in its entirety. This plan outlines the organization’s strategic direction, ensuring alignment with its mission, vision, and values. Key areas of focus include financial models for both ArtPlace and The Yellow Cottage Kitchen, succession planning, and future leadership structures. The plan also addresses the impact of COVID-19, the growing role of remote teams, and explores strategies to enhance Board engagement and optimize enterprise value. Additionally, it seeks to leverage experience in promoting economic equity and sustainability
This plan
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2023 info
Months of cash in 2023 info
Fringe rate in 2023 info
%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
WACO CULTURAL ARTS FEST
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jan 01 - Dec 31
This snapshot of WACO CULTURAL ARTS FEST’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
Created in partnership with
Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $417,633 | -$65,598 | -$371,965 | $1,955 | $1,419 |
| As % of expenses | 318.1% | -21.7% | -89.6% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $417,103 | -$67,083 | -$373,936 | $273 | -$95 |
| As % of expenses | 316.4% | -22.1% | -89.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $549,424 | $220,297 | $226,471 | $1,180,052 | $1,604,961 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | 71.4% | -59.9% | 2.8% | 421.1% | 36.0% |
| Program services revenue | 8.5% | 9.2% | 7.4% | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Membership dues | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Investment income | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other grants and contributions | 91.0% | 90.3% | 91.9% | 99.2% | 99.2% |
| Other revenue | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $131,291 | $302,494 | $415,360 | $2,153,585 | $466,735 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | -51.4% | 130.4% | 37.3% | 418.5% | -78.3% |
| Personnel | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Professional fees | 26.7% | 10.6% | 15.0% | 1.8% | 11.6% |
| Occupancy | 18.1% | 11.1% | 5.1% | 0.4% | 1.7% |
| Interest | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.9% |
| Pass-through | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other expenses | 54.1% | 77.8% | 79.2% | 97.6% | 85.8% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $131,821 | $303,979 | $417,331 | $2,155,267 | $468,249 |
| One month of savings | $10,941 | $25,208 | $34,613 | $179,465 | $38,895 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $2,000 | $2,004 | $0 | $1,250 |
| Fixed asset additions | $0 | $3,894 | $0 | $1,950 | $0 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $142,762 | $335,081 | $453,948 | $2,336,682 | $508,394 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 37.4 | 12.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Months of cash and investments | 37.4 | 12.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 56.8 | 13.4 | -1.0 | -0.2 | -0.9 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $409,287 | $318,228 | $15,347 | $16,987 | $6,187 |
| Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables | $239,272 | $51,885 | $2,250 | $250 | $12,500 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $10,484 | $19,378 | $19,378 | $21,328 | $21,328 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 95.5% | 61.9% | 72.1% | 73.4% | 80.5% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 3.6% | 8.7% | 24.8% | 1726.6% | 13.0% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $621,957 | $344,680 | -$29,256 | -$28,983 | -$29,078 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $31,848 | $213 | $131,904 | -$843,584 | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $2,420 | $0 | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $34,268 | $213 | $131,904 | -$843,584 | $293,223 |
| Total net assets | $656,225 | $344,893 | $102,648 | -$872,567 | $264,145 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Principal Officer
Doreen Ravenscroft
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
WACO CULTURAL ARTS FEST
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
WACO CULTURAL ARTS FEST
Board of directorsas of 02/11/2025
Board of directors data
Doreen Ravenscroft
Brandy Abel-Clark
Great Expectations
Doreen Ravenscroft
Jason MacGregor
Baylor University Associate Professor, Roderick Holmes Chair of Accountancy
Sugako Stone
Community Volunteer
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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 ? no -
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? no
Organizational demographics
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
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
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- Contractor and/or Paid Preparer data for 2023, 2022, 2021
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