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Boston Ballet Inc

EIN 04-2312734 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The heart of Boston Ballet is the human experience. Through our living and breathing art, we forge human connections-between artist and attendee, teacher and trainee, friend and newcomer, one's outer and inner self. Dance history is human history, full of innate beauty, generational memory, and contradictions. We share many characteristics that define our city, as global leaders of innovation with a rich heritage and diverse culture. But Boston's history is not perfect-and neither is the history of ballet. In order to heal as a community, we must unite against inequality, inequity, and exclusivity. We are Boston's Ballet. We believe in the transformative power of dance to inspire positive change in our community and beyond. We step toward the future, where our art breaks down barriers, opens minds, strengthens our connections to each other, and is shared more widely with all. Because the future of dance is the future of humanity.Together, we move-forward and farther-as Boston's Ballet.

Income
$52.0 million
Spending
$46.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
673
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$816,563, artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    44 of 44 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $30.4 million spent. Ballet Programs: Led by Artistic Director, Mikko Nissinen, the Boston Ballet maintains a diverse repertoire, ranging from full-length ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers. The Company typically gives over 100 performances at the Citizens Bank Opera House in Boston, MA during its eight-month season that ends in June of each year. The 2024-2025 season saw record setting attendance and revenue, with five season productions in addition to The Nutcracker.
  2. $8.7 million spent. Boston Ballet School (BBS): provides a comprehensive dance education with the goal of inspiring, nurturing and sustaining a life-long love of dance in every student. BBS operates state-of-the-art dance facilities in Boston, Newton, and Brookline, and offers programming for students of all ages and capabilities. The Classical Ballet Program for older dancers follows a carefully designed curriculum with nine levels of study. The Preparatory and Foundations Programs for ages 16 months to 9 years introduce children to the art of dance by promoting the exploration of creativity and expression through movement. The Adult Dance Program offers classes and workshops to students of all abilities and experience levels. The BBS Professional Division at Walnut Hill School for the Arts is an audition-only, highly competitive program that provides rigorous training to prepare students for a professional career. The Summer Dance Program is a 5-week summer intensive training opportunity for students globally. Lastly, BBS operates a handful of programs intended to introduce a love of dance to the broader Boston community. Citydance, established in 1991, provides tuition-free dance programming to over 3,000 Boston Public School third grade students. Adaptive Dance, established in 2002, provides creative movement instruction to individuals with disabilities. And BBS instructors provide training workshops to organizations locally and nationwide. BBS and Boston Ballet also engage the community by providing opportunities such as attending Boston Ballet performances and special events/activities, mentoring and teaching, and performing in showcases or community performances.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1964.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.