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.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$64K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · 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
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$64K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
12 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 11.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
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
$14K
0.7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
18
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 18 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.1M
Spent
$992K
To programs
72%
Net assets
$1.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2020
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
$992K
FY2020
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
$1.9M
FY2020
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 FY2020 Form 990 (year ending September 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

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

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $717K Management & general 14% · $134K Fundraising 14% · $141K

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

21 people listed on the 990; $64K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Artistic Director / Director
$64,499Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman / Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair / Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair (part Year) / Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
CEO / Executive Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary / Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer / Director
$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 · $717K · in their own filed words · FY2019
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.

$308Kprogram expense
02

Academic programs include tutoring for every student, enrichment exercises, an intensive summer reading/math program, and a robust college and career readiness program. Students have access to a library, computer laboratory, MakerSpace, and a daily "homework cafe." Students receive work-based learning experiences in STEAM industries…

$228Kprogram expense
03

Family Service programs treat children in crisis, assist families in crisis, conduct group therapy for students, and provide parent training. Participants receive daily mentoring from staff and volunteers, and engage regularly in counseling groups that promote essential skills to meet social and emotional needs.

$180Kprogram 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 FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$698
Money outPt IX
$992K
Ln 25
Programscol B$717K
Managementcol C$134K
Fundraisingcol D$141K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$978K
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$14K
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b18
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$173K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$698
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$978K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$978K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$903K
Total assetsLn 16$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$14K
Net assetsLn 32$1.9M
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$874K$978K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$940K$903K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M$1.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$18K$14K
Net assetsLn 32$1.8M$1.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$126K$107K$10K$10K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$1K$646$302$86
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$438K$319K$31K$88K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$5K$3K$683$802
Other employee benefitsLn 9$7K$2K$644$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$50K$40K$3K$7K
Legal feesLn 11b$150$150
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$13K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$162K$116K$31K$15K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$16K$6K$11K
Office expensesLn 13$34K$14K$18K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$2K$1K$569$162
OccupancyLn 16$41K$35K$6K$221
TravelLn 17$2K$101$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$237$237
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$44K$29K$13K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$12K$9K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$35K$35K
All other expensesLn 24e$3K$2K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$992K$717K$134K$141K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $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 Viewing $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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,105,577 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,006,093$1,103,323
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$698
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,730$1,556
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,011,823$1,105,577
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 $475,012$626,271
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $319,436$365,894
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $794,448$992,165
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $217,375$113,412
Part VI · Governance 18 of 20 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members18
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 $1,105,577 across 5 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $1,556 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$172,927
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$930,396
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,103,323
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $698$698
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $698 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,556$1,105,577
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $992,165 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $106,790 · Management $9,754 · Fundraising $9,529$126,073
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $646 · Management $302 · Fundraising $86$1,034
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $319,003 · Management $30,915 · Fundraising $87,693$437,611
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $3,320 · Management $683 · Fundraising $802$4,805
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,446 · Management $644 · Fundraising $3,697$6,787
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $39,504 · Management $3,061 · Fundraising $7,396$49,961
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $150$150
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $12,528$12,528
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $115,963 · Management $30,959 · Fundraising $15,414$162,336
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $5,553 · Fundraising $10,806$16,359
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $13,940 · Management $18,220 · Fundraising $1,583$33,743
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,219 · Management $569 · Fundraising $162$1,950
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $35,360 · Management $5,858 · Fundraising $221$41,439
IX-17 TravelPrograms $101 · Management $2,307$2,408
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsFundraising $237$237
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $29,432 · Management $13,363 · Fundraising $1,485$44,280
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $8,577 · Management $3,475$12,052
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $35,122$35,122
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $1,574 · Fundraising $1,716$3,290
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $716,976 · Management $134,362 · Fundraising $140,827$992,165
Part X · Balance sheet $1,936,161 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $873,633$977,759
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $8,030$50,913
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $4,590$4,683
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $939,981$902,806
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,826,234$1,936,161
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $17,706$14,221
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $17,706$14,221
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,800,498$1,840,282
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $8,030$81,658
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,808,528$1,921,940
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,826,234$1,936,161
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,921,940 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,105,577
XI-2 Total expenses$992,165
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$113,412
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,808,528
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,921,940

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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