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Ballet Rhode Island

EIN 05-0377245 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO THRILL AND MOVE OUR AUDIENCES, DANCERS, CHOREOGRAPHERS, SUPPORTERS AND STAFF WITH ART AND DISCIPLINE. OUR VISION IS TO CONTINUOUSLY INCREASE IN PASSION AND ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND STRENGTH, ACHEIVING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AS A CREATIVE FORCE IN DANCE.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
60
Volunteers
47
Highest pay
$127,667, executive dir/nonvoting di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 August 31, 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. $1.5 million spent. DURING THE 2024-2025 SEASON, BALLET RI PRODUCED A FULL SEASON OF PERFORMANCES AT FOUR VENUES: THE VETS, WOODMAN CENTER, THE UNITED THEATRE IN WESTERLY, AND ITS OWN BLACK BOX THEATER. THE PERFORMANCES DEMONSTRATED THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO SHOWCASE CONTEMPORARY AND CLASSICAL WORKS WITH EQUITABLE BRILLIANCE. PROGRAMMING RANGED FROM MIXED REPERTORY SHOWS LIKE "ART AND LITERATURE", "MADE ON HOPE", AND "BALLET MEETS THE BEATLES", WHICH FEATURED A RANGE OF CLASSICAL, NEOCLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY WORKS, A BALLET FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES "PETER AND THE WOLF", AND A TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY OFFERINGS OF "THE NUTCRACKER". THE COMPANY WAS COMPRISED OF 16 COMPANY DANCERS, 13 APPRENTICES, 16 TRAINEES, AND FOUR ARTISTIC STAFF WHO COLLABORATIVELY REHEARSE AND PERFORM SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY. BALLET RI CONTINUED TO EXPAND IN SCOPE AND REACH, CONNECTING WITH GREATER AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND BEYOND.
  2. $463,981 spent. `DURING THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR, SCHOOL OF BALLET RI CONTINUED OFFERING HIGH QUALITY AND IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCES IN THE ART FORM OF BALLET. THE SCHOOL CONTINUED OFFERING ITS PROFESSIONAL TRAINEE PROGRAM, ENSURING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES BOTH ARTISTICALLY, PEDAGOGICALLY, AND IN ARTS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN COMPETITION ENSEMBLE, NEXTGEN CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP, AND THE CULMINATION YEAR-END PERFORMANCE. THE SCHOOL'S TRANSFORMATIONAL PROVIDANCE PROGRAM, WHICH COMMENCED IN OCTOBER 2021, CONTINUED TO OFFER PROGRAMMING TO MULTIPLE SCHOOLS IN RI. THE PROGRAM WAS A GREAT SUCCESS, OFFERING OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME LEARNING ACROSS SIX PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WITH ADDITIONAL WEEKLY CLASSES HELD AT BALLET RI STUDIOS. THESE ADVANCING STUDENTS WERE PROVIDED WITH TRANSPORTATION, TUITION SUPPORT, SNACKS, AND SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE THEIR DANCE EDUCATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 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 August 2025.

    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 August 1978.

    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.