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PeerBasis
Compensation Comparability Determination

Creative Downtown Appleton Inc

Executive Director / CEO

EIN 471568601
WI · NTEE A20
FY ending 2024-12-31
June 9, 2026

This analysis benchmarks the total compensation of Jennifer Stephany, Executive Director / CEO ($3,167) against every comparable organization that fit the selection criteria — 175 in total — drawn systematically from IRS Form 990 filings, not a hand-picked subset.

Compensation sits at approximately the 3rd percentile of comparable organizationsbelow the typical range for comparable organizations

How comparable organizations were selected

175 organizations qualified on sector, size, and geography 175 within the band form the benchmarked peer set.

Distribution of comparable compensation

$891 total compensation of comparable organizations → $274,373 $3,167
$9,16410th
$21,82325th
$39,471Median
$55,62275th
$69,86190th
$3,167This org · 3rd
p10$9,164
p25$21,823
p50$39,471
p75$55,622
p90$69,861
$3,167

Comparable organizations

Each figure is Form 990 Part VII columns D + F (reportable pay plus other compensation and benefits; column F may include amounts from related organizations), normalized to WI cost of living (BEA RPP, 2023) and to its filing year (CPI-U); the reported amount is on each linked 990.

OrganizationStateTotal revenueTotal compSource
Zgd IncNY $173,301$891 990
Snap Cultural Events IncFL $173,240$31,172 990
Carl Cherry FoundationCA $180,011$38,448 990
88 International CorpNY $171,603$20,463 990
Main Street ArtsVT $180,787$28,449 990
Fundacion Nacional Para La Cultura PopularPR $169,885$9,000 990
Walking Shadow Theatre CompanyMN $169,065$5,991 990
Appalachian Arts Craft Center IncTN $168,701$48,427 990
Ne Sculpture Gallery FactoryMN $168,662$56,610 990
Tualatin Valley CreatesOR $183,224$42,307 990
Center For Arts & Learning IncVT $168,343$28,190 990
Orlando Community Arts IncFL $183,943$12,502 990
Second's New Vision And Outreach MinistriesMI $184,006$9,340 990
Classic Planning InstitME $167,461$9,123 990
City College Center ForNY $167,400$121,731 990
Folk School Of Fayetteville IncAR $184,466$12,633 990
Eleventh Hour Prayer Network IncAZ $184,686$274,373 990
Viva Voices Choral Organization IncKY $166,955$49,359 990
ArtseedCA $165,991$32,969 990
Western JusticeOR $186,494$26,676 990
Leadership Hendricks CountyIN $186,890$56,405 990
Capitol View ArtsTX $187,062$63,216 990
Arts & Crafts Association Of MeridenCT $188,286$30,216 990
National Storytelling Membership Association IncMO $163,293$11,762 990
Bird & BeckettCA $188,725$23,630 990

Methodology

Comparable organizations were drawn from electronically filed IRS Form 990 returns and matched on sector (NTEE code), budget (a size-adaptive revenue band that tightens as the organization grows), and geography (same-state first, broadening only when too few peers qualify); every organization within the band forms the peer set. To compare fairly across regions and years, peer compensation is normalized to WI cost of living (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023) and to the subject's filing year (CPI-U). The figure benchmarked is Form 990 Part VII, Section A, columns D + F — reportable pay plus other compensation, benefits, and deferred amounts (column F may include amounts from related organizations) — with the chief executive matched by role. Related-organization amounts (column E) and institutional trustees are excluded. Full methodology: peerbasis.org/methodology.

Sample, role match & sensitivity

Sensitivity — the subject's percentile under alternative compensation definitions:

BasisSubject percentile
Total compensation (D + F), cost-of-living + inflation adjusted — the PeerBasis default3rd
Total compensation (D + F), as reported (no adjustments)3rd
Reportable pay only (column D), adjusted0th
All sources (D + E + F), adjusted96th

If the percentile moves materially across these definitions, the result is sensitive to methodology choices, and the board should weigh which basis best fits its facts.

Rebuttable presumption of reasonableness · 26 CFR 53.4958-6

Compensation paid by a tax-exempt organization is presumed reasonable — shifting the burden to the IRS — when three requirements are met. This report supplies the comparability data for the second. The board should record the following in its minutes concurrently with its decision:

Draft board minutes — executive compensation

  1. The compensation of the Executive Director / CEO (Jennifer Stephany) was approved in advance by [the Board / Compensation Committee], composed of members with no conflict of interest with respect to the arrangement.
  2. Prior to its determination, the authorized body obtained and relied upon appropriate comparability data, namely the PeerBasis Compensation Comparability Determination dated June 9, 2026, comparing compensation against 175 similarly situated organizations (Same NTEE sector (A20), nationwide + budget 0.67–1.5× revenue).
  3. The authorized body determined that total compensation of $3,167 is reasonable (approximately the 3rd percentile of comparable organizations) and documented the basis for this determination concurrently, on [date], by a vote of [__ for / __ against].

Sources: IRS Form 990 e-file data (apps.irs.gov); IRS Business Master File (NTEE classification). This report is comparability data to support a board's good-faith determination under IRC 4958; it is not legal or tax advice. Generated by PeerBasis on June 9, 2026.