To prepare underserved youth for success in college, career, and life through dance education, academic support, and family services.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
67¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 100 volunteers and 27 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $107K a year · 8% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
67%
of spending
Fine: 67% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$251K
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$994K
47% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 47% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 22 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 22 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.2M
-13% vs prior year
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
67%
Net assets
$1.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.2M
FY2025▼ -13%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.1M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.4M
FY2025$1.2M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2025▼ -7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$992K
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.6M
FY2024$1.7M
FY2025$1.6M
Net assets
$1.1M
FY2025▼ -24%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.9M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$1.5M
FY2025$1.1M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2013.

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

Where the money goes

67 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 67% · $1.1M Management & general 11% · $178K Fundraising 21% · $334K

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

26 people listed on the 990; $251K 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
CEO/Executive Director
$155,209Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Artistic Officer/Director
$96,209Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman / Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair/Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary/Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary (part Year)/Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer/Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

James Wright’s $155K as CEO/Executive Director is at the 69th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
James Wright$155,209$135,550$119,511$106,096$56,111—
Jennifer Oliver$96,209$89,741$82,312$74,620$67,417$64,499

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.

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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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Prepares low-income youth for college to help them escape poverty.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Dance training is at the core of the program. Research has shown that learning dance imparts an array of life skills: self-awareness, concentration, discipline, respect, goal setting with accountability, and creative problem solving, to name a few.

$480Kprogram expense
02

Academic programs include tutoring for every student, enrichment exercises, intensive literacy support and summer camps, as well as a robust college and career readiness program. Students have access to a library, computers, makerspace, and a daily "homework cafe." students receive world of work career education experiences in steam…

$335Kprogram expense
03

Family service programs support mental health and wellness, in addition to treating children in crisis, assisting families in crisis, conducting group therapy for students, and providing parent training.

$238Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 5 grants · $80K · 2020–2023
Unitemized GrantFY2023$6,551
Unitemized GrantFY2022$12,500
Unitemized GrantFY2022$6,014
Unitemized GrantFY2021$6,523
Unitemized GrantFY2020$48,198

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$38K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$37K
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.1M
Managementcol C$178K
Fundraisingcol D$334K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$319K
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$994K
PeoplePt VI, VII
26
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$78K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$45K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$226K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$37K
Investment incomeLn 3$683
Other incomeLn 4–11$38K
Total revenueLn 12$1.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$319K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$319K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$696K
Other assetsLn 15$965K
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$994K
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 527
VolunteersI 6100
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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$357K$319K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$741K$696K
Total assetsLn 16$2.5M$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.0M$994K
Net assetsLn 32$1.5M$1.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1K$1K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$343K$187K$66K$90K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$2K$1K$796$341
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$585K$413K$14K$158K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$23K$12K$2K$9K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$32K$25K$7K$517
Payroll taxesLn 10$77K$53K$5K$18K
Legal feesLn 11b$5K$4K$534$756
Accounting feesLn 11c$15K$15K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$14K$14K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$136K$119K$12K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$17K$8K$6K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$17K$11K$4K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$8K$5K$2K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$80K$71K$7K$2K
TravelLn 17$11K$11K$920
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$3$2K$484
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$57K$37K$18K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$38K$19K$13K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$102K$78K$4K$20K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$1.1M$178K$334K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.2M$1.6M−$319K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.4M$1.7M−$249K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.3M$1.6M−$282K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.4M$1.3M$93K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.2M$1.2M$4K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.1M$992K$113K$1.9M 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 M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,246,471 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,370,003$1,170,523
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $129,666$37,319
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,900$683
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$68,830$37,946
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,433,739$1,246,471
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $6,551$1,230
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,061,891$1,060,759
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$14,484
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $614,400$489,295
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,682,842$1,565,768
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$249,103−$319,297
Part VI · Governance 20 of 22 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22
VI-1b Independent voting members20
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,246,471 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $11,594 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$226,075
VIII-1e Government grants$77,500
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$866,948
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$44,704
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,170,523
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $25,725$25,725
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $683$683
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$75,006−$75,006
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $112,952$112,952
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $37,319 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $38,629$1,246,471
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,565,768 across 20 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,230$1,230
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $187,015 · Management $65,600 · Fundraising $89,972$342,587
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $1,138 · Management $796 · Fundraising $341$2,275
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $412,774 · Management $14,065 · Fundraising $157,765$584,604
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $12,382 · Management $1,651 · Fundraising $8,522$22,555
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $24,589 · Management $7,097 · Fundraising $517$32,203
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $53,319 · Management $5,276 · Fundraising $17,940$76,535
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $3,780 · Management $534 · Fundraising $756$5,070
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $14,943$14,943
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $14,484$14,484
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $118,690 · Management $12,452 · Fundraising $5,223$136,365
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $8,355 · Management $5,535 · Fundraising $3,114$17,004
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $10,720 · Management $3,758 · Fundraising $2,188$16,666
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,580 · Management $2,304 · Fundraising $1,401$8,285
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $71,472 · Management $6,565 · Fundraising $1,570$79,607
IX-17 TravelPrograms $10,502 · Fundraising $920$11,422
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3 · Management $1,972 · Fundraising $484$2,459
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $36,736 · Management $18,076 · Fundraising $2,008$56,820
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $18,682 · Management $13,409 · Fundraising $6,408$38,499
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $78,138 · Management $3,852 · Fundraising $20,165$102,155
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,054,105 · Management $177,885 · Fundraising $333,778$1,565,768
Part X · Balance sheet $2,126,637 assets, 13 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $357,261$318,958
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $329,450$83,850
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $63,027$62,690
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $741,198$696,494
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $991,657$964,645
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,500,233$2,126,637
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $56,917$29,638
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $991,839$964,819
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,048,756$994,457
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,119,662$1,047,301
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $331,815$84,879
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,451,477$1,132,180
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,500,233$2,126,637
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,132,180 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,246,471
XI-2 Total expenses$1,565,768
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$319,297
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,451,477
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,132,180

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

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