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American College Dance Association Inc

EIN 23-7359759 · Severna Park, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 24% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN COLLEGE DANCE ASSOCIATION'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE DANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH SPONSORSHIP OF REGIONAL CONFERENCES AND VIRTUAL EVENTS. STUDENTS AND FACULTY AROUND THE REGION AND COUNTRY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR DANCE WORKS ADJUDICATED BY A PANEL OF NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED DANCE PROFESSIONALS IN AN OPEN AND CONSTRUCTIVE FORUM.THE CONFERENCES ARE THE PRIMARY MEANS FOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY DANCE PROGRAMS TO PERFORM OUTSIDE THEIR OWN ACADEMIC SETTING AND TO GAIN EXPOSURE TO THE DIVERSITY THROUGHOUT COLLEGE DANCE NATIONALLY. ACDA ALSO SPONSORS THE NATIONAL COLLEGE DANCE FESTIVAL, A BIENNIAL EVENT, SHOWCASING WORKS SELECTED FROM EACH REGIONAL CONFERENCE FOR PRESENTATION, USUALLY AT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN WASHINGTON, DC. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ACDA HAS DEVELOPED VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT DANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION, INCLUDING A SCREENDANCE FESTIVAL AND VIRTUAL ADJUDICATION.

Income
$395,686
Spending
$297,544
Spent on programs
24%
Reserves
15.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
2
Volunteers
94
Highest pay
$84,327, executive di

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

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    24% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    35 of 35 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

    10 of 10

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

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $9,531 spent. ACDA REGIONAL CONFERENCES (11 PROGRAMS) ACDA HOSTED 11 REGIONAL CONFERENCES THAT EACH CONSISTED OF 3-4 DAYS OF CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, RESEARCH PANELS, AND AUDITIONS. ADDITIONALLY, EACH CONFERENCE HAD 6-8 PERFORMANCES INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADJUDICATION AND FEEDBACK FROM 10 PANELS OF ADJUDICATORS. CONFERENCES ALSO PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FACULTY-ONLY CLASSES AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $61,850 spent. ACDA NATIONAL FESTIVAL ACDA HOSTED THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY WITH 4 DAYS OF CLASSES, PANELS, PERFORMANCES, AND LARGE-GROUP MEETINGS.

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 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 June 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 March 1974.

    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.