Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival Inc

EIN 04-6002993 · Becket, 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

TO SUPPORT DANCE CREATION, PRESENTATION, EDUCATION, AND PRESERVATION, AND TO ENGAGE AND DEEPEN PUBLIC APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT FOR DANCE.

Income
$19.1 million
Spending
$14.8 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-13.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
172
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$287,055, ceo & artistic director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    30 of 31 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $8.0 million spent. PRESENTATION: THE 2024 FESTIVAL FEATURED 9-WEEKS OF PROGRAMMING IN THE HISTORIC TED SHAWN THEATRE AND ON THE OUTDOOR HENRY J. LEIR STAGE. WE WELCOMED OVER 87,750 SUMMER ATTENDEES AND AN INCREDIBLE ROSTER OF ARTISTS AND COMPANIES FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD. THIS SEASON WE PRESENTED 37 DANCE COMPANIES, WERE JOINED BY OVER 7,300 LIVESTREAM VIEWERS ON OUR DIGITAL STAGE THROUGH JACOB'S PILLOW LIVE, BROUGHT 2 ON THE ROAD PERFORMANCES INTO BERKSHIRE COUNTY, PUT ON 12 PILLOW TALKS, INSTALLED 5 EXHIBITIONS, AND HOSTED TWO PARTIES AND ONE DANCE BATTLE. OVERALL, 504 DANCERS PERFORMED IN FESTIVAL 2024, AND OUT OF 105 TOTAL FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES, 21 WERE PILLOW DEBUTS
  2. $1.2 million spent. EDUCATION: THE CONTINUUM OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT JACOB'S PILLOW DELIVERS ACCESSIBLE ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCES TO STUDENTS BOTH ON THE PILLOW'S CAMPUS, IN CLASSROOMS, AND IN COMMUNITY SPACES. IN 2024 THE PILLOW REACHED OVER 900 PITTSFIELD STUDENTS THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE CURRICULUM IN MOTION, FIELD TRIPS, STEAM TEAM SUMMER CAMP, AND WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES AS PART OF THE 10X10 UPSTREET ARTS FESTIVAL. THE SCHOOL AT JACOB'S PILLOW IS WHERE DANCERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS DEFINE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR DISTINCT ARTISTIC VOICES, WHILE MAKING THE CONNECTIONS THAT ADVANCE THEIR WORK IN THE FIELD. IN 2024, THE SCHOOL AT JACOB'S PILLOW RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 572 APPLICATIONS MAKING IT AN INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE YEAR. ACROSS 10.5 WEEKS, WE HOSTED 5 PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL AT JACOB'S PILLOW FEATURING 119 ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. IN 2024, 61 ALUMNI OF THE SCHOOL RETURNED TO THE PILLOW IN PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL.
  3. $680,376 spent. ENGAGEMENT: JACOB'S PILLOW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS SERVE THOUSANDS OF BERKSHIRE RESIDENTS EVERY YEAR. THROUGHOUT THE 2024 FESTIVAL, OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS REACHED OVER 3,140 PEOPLE VIA 76 IN-PERSON EVENTS BOTH ON AND OFF OUR CAMPUS. OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY DAY TOOK PLACE ON AUGUST 16 WELCOMING 463 ATTENDEES FOR A DAY OF FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY, ALL-AGES ACTIVITIES. OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY CLASS SERIES OFFERED MORNING CLASSES IN BALLET, YOGA, CONTEMPORARY DANCE, PILATES, AND HIP-HOP FOUR DAYS A WEEK WITH 876 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING. ADDITIONALLY, WORKSHOPS WITH FESTIVAL ARTISTS HELD ON THE JACOB'S PILLOW CAMPUS PROVIDED 307 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE DANCE WITH THE ARTISTS PERFORMING ON OUR STAGES THIS SUMMER.
  4. $895,941 spent. PRESERVATION: AS JACOB'S PILLOW HAS BEEN SHAPING THE HISTORY OF DANCE IN AMERICA OVER THE PAST NINE DECADES, IT HAS ALSO BEEN ACTIVELY DOCUMENTING AND PRESERVING THIS MOST EPHEMERAL OF ART FORMS, AND IN THE PROCESS HAS CREATED A REPOSITORY OF DANCE HISTORY THAT IS EXTENSIVE AND UNIQUE. THE COLLECTIONS HOUSED IN THE ARCHIVES INCLUDE AUDIOTAPES, BOARD MINUTES, BOOKS, CORRESPONDENCE, COSTUMES, FILMS, PHOTOGRAPHES, POSTERS, PROGRAMS, SCRAPBOOKS, VIDEOS, AND MORE. THE ARCHIVES IS ONE COMPONENT OF THE PILLOW'S PRESERVATION PROGRAM, WHICH ALSO DOCUMENTS THE ONGOING ACTIVITIES OF THE FESTIVAL AND ORGANIZES EXHIBITS EXPLORING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DANCE HISTORY. THE CENTER FOR MOST OF JACOB'S PILLOW'S PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES IN BLAKE'S BARN, AN 18TH CENTURY BUILDING THAT WAS RELOCATED TO THE PILLOW GROUNDS AND RECONFIGURED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PURPOSE. DURING THE SUMMER, THIS RESEARCH FACILITIES IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC DAILY, AND THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, THE ARCHIVES MAY BE VISITED DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. IN 2024 THE ARCHIVES WELCOMED OVER 14,000 VISITORS TO BLAKE'S BARN.
  5. $508,984 spent. CREATION: THE PILLOW LAB IS JACOB'S PILLOW'S YEAR-ROUND INCUBATOR FOR NEW WORK. THE ANNUAL SEASON OF BESPOKE RESIDENCIES SUPPORTS U.S.-BASED AND INTERNATIONAL DANCE ARTISTS DURING CRUCIAL DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH, AND TECHNICAL STAGE OF CHOREOGRAPHY-DRIVEN PROJECTS. PILLOW LAB ARTISTS AND THEIR COLLABORATORS RECEIVE UNRESTRICTED USE OF THE PILLOW'S STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES. ARTISTS LIVE ON CAMPUS AND RECEIVE IN-KIND HOUSING, AN ARTIST FEE FOR EACH COLLABORATOR, A GROCERY STIPIEND, PROFESSIONALLY FILMED VIDEO DOCUMENTATION AND A MINI-DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THEIR WORK, AND ACCESS TO THE PILLOW'S EXTENSIVE ARCHIVES. IN 2024 WE HOSTED 10 PILLOW LABS AND WELCOMED 85 PARTICIPATING ARTISTS TO OUR CAMPUS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1943.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.