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American Dance Festival Inc

EIN 06-0932294 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE CREATION OF NEW MODERN DANCE WORK BY BOTH ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHERS; PRESERVE OUR MODERN DANCE HERITAGE THROUGH CONTINUED PRESENTATION OF CLASSIC WORKS, AS WELL AS THROUGH ARCHIVAL EFFORTS; BUILD WIDER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES FOR MODERN DANCE; ENHANCE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE ART FORM AND ITS CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE; AND TO PROVIDE A SOUND SCIENTIFIC / AESTHETIC BASE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF DANCERS AND A FORUM FOR INTEGRATING AND DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ON DANCE EDUCATION.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
32
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$205,929, executive director/president

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

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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

    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 September 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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE CREATION OF NEW MODERN DANCE WORK BY BOTH ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHERS; TO PRESERVE OUR MODERN DANCE HERITAGE THROUGH CONTINUED PRESENTATION OF CLASSIC WORKS, AS WELL AS THROUGH ARCHIVAL EFFORTS; AND TO BUILD WIDER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES FOR MODERN DANCE.
  2. $971,583 spent. TO PROVIDE A SOUND SCIENTIFIC AND AESTHETIC BASE FOR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF DANCERS AND A FORUM FOR INTEGRATING AND DISSEMINATING INFORMATION OF DANCE EDUCATION.
  3. $454,420 spent. TO ENHANCE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE ART FORM AND ITS CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 March 1976.

    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.