For Funders

Thank you for your interest in supporting
Center for Creative Education

We know that the individuals, corporations, and foundations that support us value transparency and want to make sure their gift is meeting the goal of transforming education.

Below, you can find the answer to some frequently asked questions regarding funding needs and expenses. If you have further questions, please contact Chief Advancement Officer Jonathon Ortiz-Smykla at 561-805-9927 ext. 106 or jonathono@cceflorida.org.

Partnering for Impact:
Why Funders Choose CCE

The Center for Creative Education (CCE) is redefining student success—placing children, families, and communities at the center of a bold, holistic strategy that’s producing measurable outcomes in Palm Beach County and offering a scalable model for education reform nationwide.
We believe learning should be joyful, student-centered, and equity-driven. That belief powers everything we do.

A Three-Part Strategy
Driving Transformative Impact

CCE’s model is built on the understanding that academic success doesn’t happen in isolation.
Our approach integrates three interdependent forces:

1. The Student

Through The Foundations School, we deliver personalized, arts-integrated instruction that routinely surpasses local and national academic benchmarks.

2. The Family

Through caregiver literacy, engagement, and support services, we create an ecosystem of success around each learner.

3. The Community

By embedding our methodology across partner schools and community programs, we extend our impact far beyond our campus walls.

CCE exists to break the cycle of academic inequity—
uniting creativity, community, and whole-child learning into one integrated system of support.

CCE’s Four Pillars of Impact

1. THE FOUNDATIONS SCHOOL

A tuition-free, K–5 independent school serving students who:

Are behind academically
Live in or near poverty
Are zoned for underperforming public schools
Show promise but are not thriving in traditional classrooms

With small class sizes, real-time diagnostics, and arts-integrated instruction:
On an annual basis, around 90% of our 3rd graders are reading on grade level—compared to just 24% in nearby public schools.

2. Karakul-Held Academy

CCE’s enrichment and community engagement hub, reaching thousands of students and families each year through:

C.A.D.R.E.: Out-of-school time enrichment across Palm Beach County
Pre-K Readiness Initiative: Supporting underprepared early learners
The Art of Science(in partnership with Cox Science Center)
Mental Health & SEL Supports(with Center for Child Counseling)

Support from funders fuels creative enrichment, early learning intervention, and whole-child support beyond the school day.

3. Blue Planet Global Education

A globally connected program that:

Links Palm Beach students with peers around the world
Fosters project-based, cross-cultural learning
Develops empathy, collaboration, and global citizenship

Funders help us equip students to lead in a globally connected world through creativity and cultural exchange.

4. DePorres P.L.A.C.E. Adult Literacy Center

CCE’s newest pillar, advancing inter-generational impact by:

Supporting adult learners through literacy and ESL instruction
Building workforce and life skills
Empowering parents and caregivers to support student learning
Breaking cycles of poverty through education

Philanthropic investment here changes family trajectories and strengthens communities from the ground up.

Strategic Funding Opportunities

Philanthropic partners fuel our mission through high-impact investments in:



Educational Equity

Tuition-free student access
Early learning readiness and adult literacy
Transportation, meals, and wraparound supports



Whole-Child and Family Wellness

On-site mental health services
Social-emotional learning tools
Caregiver engagement and financial literacy



Innovative Teaching & Learning

Arts-integrated curriculum
STEAM and global education enrichment
Teaching artists, science partners, and training programs



Capacity & Growth

Playground and facility enhancements
Staff retention and professional development
Model documentation and national knowledge sharing

Join Us

In a time when education systems are struggling, CCE offers a proven, joyful, and scalable solution. Funders are not just supporting students—they’re helping to transform how learning happens, and who it works for.

Where can I find information about CCE financials?

We know that the individuals, corporations, and foundations that support us value transparency and want to make sure their gift is meeting the goal of transforming education.

Review Financials

CCE Financials

The Center for Creative Education is committed to accountability and transparency.

We are in exceptional financial health as an organization, by far the best in our 25-year history. We received a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator which is their highest rating for the fourth year in a row.

Review our nonprofit report provided on Charity Navigator

100% “Financial Health“

Over the years, Charity Navigator has awarded CCE a perfect 100% rating for its “Financial Health” and for its “Accountability & Transparency”. This achievement is something that only 75 other charities have attained and only 3 charities have earned this honor in the category of education.

This perfect score identifies our organization as a fiscally responsible and one that adheres to good governance and best practices that minimize the chance of unethical activities. Less than 1% of the thousands of charities rated by Charity Navigator have earned perfect scores. We continue to focus on our financial performance with the goal of ensuring that we utilize our donors’ funds in responsible ways.

The Center continues to operate in a fiscally responsible and transparent way, as we post both our audits and our 990’s on our website for anyone interested in our fiscal performance.

“We applaud these charities for exceeding industry standards and outperforming other organizations who are performing similar work.” (Charity Navigator)

Endowment Fund

CCE opened an endowment fund with the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties in 2016. The goal of the endowment is to ensure operating funds to support the mission of CCE.

Donate Now