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School of American Ballet Inc

EIN 13-1275970 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SCHOOL OF AMERICAN BALLET'S MISSION IS TO TRAIN STUDENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS IN CLASSICAL BALLET.

Income
$23.3 million
Spending
$19.8 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
14.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
227
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$441,370, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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

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

    43 of 43 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 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 (4)
  1. $8.4 million spent. TEACHING AND OTHER ARTISTIC PROGRAMSTHE SCHOOL PROVIDES BALLET TRAINING FOR STUDENTS AGES 6 TO 19, AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF CONCENTRATION. DURING THE WINTER TERM (SEPTEMBER - JUNE), ADVANCED STUDENTS HAVE 37 WEEKS OF CLASSES WITH UP TO 23.5 HOURS PER WEEK. THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS MEET TWICE WEEKLY FOR AN HOUR FOR 36 WEEKS. DURING FY 2025, 534 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED DURING THE WINTER TERM. THEY REPRESENTED 26 STATES AND 5 FOREIGN COUNTRIES. WINTER TERM CURRICULUM ALSO INCLUDES ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PARTICULARLY FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS, SUCH AS CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP AND YEAR END PERFORMANCE. THE SCHOOL ALSO OFFERS A 5-WEEK INTENSIVE SUMMER COURSE. 226 STUDENTS TOOK PART IN THE SUMMER COURSE DURING FY 2025. FY 2025 ALSO SAW THE EIGHTH YEAR OF A ONE-WEEK NEW YORK JUNIOR SESSION THAT ENROLLED 151 STUDENTS.THE SCHOOL PROVIDED $1,296MIL IN TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS DURING FY25. FOR WINTER TERM, 36% OF STUDENTS RECEIVED TUITION FINANCIAL AID. FOR THE SUMMER COURSE, 34% OF STUDENTS WERE AWARDED TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS. IN THE NEW YORK JUNIOR PROGRAM, 26% OF STUDENTS RECEIVED TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS.THE SCHOOL EXTENDS ITS PROGRAM EFFORTS IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA BY CONDUCTING COMMUNITY LECTURES/DEMONSTRATIONS AND COMMUNITY AUDITIONS.
  2. $5.7 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES AND RESIDENCETHE SCHOOL PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES FOCUSED ON STUDENTS' OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, INCLUDING NURSING CARE, NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING, ACADEMIC TUTORING, PILATES TRAINING AND PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR STUDENTS. FOR STUDENTS LIVING IN THE RESIDENCE HALL (UP TO 64 DURING WINTER TERM AND 188 DURING SUMMER COURSE), STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDE ON-GOING SUPERVISION, ALONG WITH SEMINARS AS WELL AS CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. IN FY25, THE SCHOOL FURTHER DEVELOPED ITS PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT PROGRAM TO ASSIST ADVANCED STUDENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS. THE SCHOOL ENDEAVORS TO ENSURE THAT SOCIOECONOMICALLY DIVERSE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL'S PROGRAMS THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID.THE SCHOOL PROVIDED $625K IN RESIDENTIAL FINANCIAL AID AND AWARDS DURING FY25. FOR WINTER TERM, 72% OF RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS RECEIVED ROOM AND BOARD FINANCIAL AID. FOR THE SUMMER COURSE PROGRAM, 7% OF RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS WERE AWARDED ROOM AND BOARD SCHOLARSHIPS.
  3. $419,113 spent. ACADEMIC SUBSIDIES AND OTHER STUDENT AIDTHE SCHOOL PROVIDED $139,250 IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION OF 7 ADVANCED STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE SCHOOL SPENT $43,520 FOR ON-SITE ACADEMIC CLASSES AND 15 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM. STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVED TOE SHOES AT A SUBSIDIZED RATE.
  4. $45,450 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES REFLECTS ADDITIONAL EARNED INCOME. INCLUDED HERE ARE FEES FROM LICENSING A BALLET TO WHICH GEORGE BALANCHINE GAVE SAB RIGHTS; THIS INCOME IS ADDED TO ENDOWMENT.

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 February 1942.

    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.