Circus Harmony teaches the art of life through Circus education. We work to build character and expand community for youth of all ages, cultures, abilities and backgrounds. Through the teaching and performing of Circus arts, we help people defy gravity, soar with confidence and leap over social barriers.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
65¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 18 volunteers and 11 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $102K a year · 17% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
65%
of spending
Fine: 65% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$94K
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $493K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 3.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $87K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$37K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
0
of 11 voting members
Concern: none of 11 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$631K
+6% vs prior year
Spent
$618K
To programs
65%
Net assets
$669K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$631K
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$494K
FY2021$727K
FY2022$511K
FY2023$556K
FY2024$596K
FY2025$631K
Expenses
$618K
FY2025▲ +0.6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$405K
FY2021$322K
FY2022$402K
FY2023$545K
FY2024$614K
FY2025$618K
Net assets
$669K
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$146K
FY2021$551K
FY2022$659K
FY2023$634K
FY2024$655K
FY2025$669K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending May 2025) · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 2001.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

65 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 65% · $402K Management & general 21% · $130K Fundraising 14% · $86K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

13 people listed on the 990; $94K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Non Voting Director
$93,917Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice-President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jessica Hentoff’s $94K as Non Voting Director is at the 85th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2216 $100K–1M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jessica Hentoff$93,917$97,750$83,527$70,280$68,592$68,361

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Circus Harmony executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Teaches circus arts to build character, confidence, and community for youth.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $402K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Architecture and acrobats is a program that uses circus arts to tell the story of historically and architectually significant sites int ST louis through live and video performancess created and presented by circus harmony youth circus performers. The program includes free circus classes for youth in the neighborhoods we are showcasing.

$315Kprogram expense
02

Showcase and teacher trainingthe circus harmony showcase and teacher training program is a unique arts education and youth development program. This ongoing project includes the finding, training, and development of youth circus performers from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

$86Kprogram expense
03

Defy gravity 101 brings circus classes to local schools and community centers throughout the ST louis are. Through teaching circus arts, we empower individual children to challenge themselves through approprate risk taking; increase fitness through improvements in fine motor and visual tracking skills; and cultivate life skills like…

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 9 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$631K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$394K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$200K
Investment incomeLn 3$35K
Money outPt IX
$618K
Ln 25
Programscol B$402K
Managementcol C$130K
Fundraisingcol D$86K
Owns and owesPt X
$669K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$169K
Total assetsLn 16$706K
LiabilitiesLn 26$37K
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b0
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$394K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$200K
Investment incomeLn 3$35K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Total revenueLn 12$631K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$168K
SavingsLn 2$1K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$169K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$493K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$706K
LiabilitiesLn 26$37K
Net assetsLn 32$669K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 511
VolunteersI 618
Fiscal year endsHeaderMay
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$188K$169K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$461K$493K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$676K$706K
LiabilitiesLn 26$21K$37K
Net assetsLn 32$655K$669K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$94K$39K$25K$29K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$303K$231K$36K$36K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$9K$6K$1K$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$30K$21K$5K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$16K$16K
Investment management feesLn 11f$4K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$73K$65K$6K$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$6K$2K$2K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$12K$5K$6K$644
Information technologyLn 14$13K$3K$6K$4K
TravelLn 17$11K$9K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$3K$402$3K$20
InsuranceLn 23$12K$2K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$29K$16K$7K$7K
All other expensesLn 24e$3K$2K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$618K$402K$130K$86K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $631K$618K$14K$669K 990 PDF
FY2024 $596K$614K−$18K$655K 990 PDF
FY2023 $556K$545K$11K$634K 990 PDF
FY2022 $511K$402K$109K$659K 990 PDF
FY2021 $727K$322K$405K$551K 990 PDF
FY2020 $494K$405K$90K$146K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $631,350 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $382,125$393,985
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $203,972$200,175
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $9,585$35,482
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$1,708
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $595,682$631,350
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $391,392$435,715
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $222,406$182,026
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $613,798$617,741
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$18,116$13,609
Part VI · Governance 0 of 11 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members0
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $631,350 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$393,985
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$393,985
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $200,175$200,175
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $35,482$35,482
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Unrelated business $1,708$1,708
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $200,175 · Unrelated business $37,190 · Excluded from tax $0$631,350
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $617,741 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $39,445 · Management $25,358 · Fundraising $29,114$93,917
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $231,305 · Management $35,841 · Fundraising $35,785$302,931
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $6,185 · Management $1,357 · Fundraising $1,234$8,776
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $20,521 · Management $4,649 · Fundraising $4,921$30,091
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $16,388$16,388
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $3,779$3,779
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $64,954 · Management $5,577 · Fundraising $2,032$72,563
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,147 · Management $1,603 · Fundraising $2,078$5,828
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $4,889 · Management $6,324 · Fundraising $644$11,857
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,507 · Management $5,888 · Fundraising $4,106$12,501
IX-17 TravelPrograms $9,044 · Management $2,265$11,309
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $402 · Management $2,544 · Fundraising $20$2,966
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,104 · Management $10,319$12,423
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $16,265 · Management $6,512 · Fundraising $6,507$29,284
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,996 · Management $1,132$3,128
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $401,764 · Management $129,536 · Fundraising $86,441$617,741
Part X · Balance sheet $706,213 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $186,798$168,087
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,340$1,348
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $22,217$38,662
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $4,805$5,518
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $460,902$492,598
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $676,062$706,213
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $11,761$15,566
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $8,854$21,591
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $20,615$37,157
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $655,447$669,056
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $655,447$669,056
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $676,062$706,213
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $669,056 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$631,350
XI-2 Total expenses$617,741
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$13,609
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$655,447
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$669,056

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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