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New England Center for Circus Artsinc

EIN 26-0495118 · Brattleboro, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CIRCUS ARTS TRAINING FOR STUDENTS AND ARTISTS WHILE FACILITATING GREATER ACCESS AND PROGRAMMING TO EVERYONE.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
-5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
96
Volunteers
25

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

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CIRCUS ARTS DELIVERS HIGH QUALITY CIRCUS ARTS TRAINING TO PROFESSIONALS, PRE-PROFESSIONALS, AND RECREATIONAL STUDENTS, AGES 3 AND UP. NECCA DESIGNED, BUILT AND OPERATES THE FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT TRAPEZIUM IN THE US, OFFERING YEAR-ROUND INDOOR FLYING TRAPEZE, 40 FOOT CEILINGS, AND MULTIPLE APPARATUS RIGGING POINTS. NECCA OPERATES THE LARGEST PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES, TRAINING 35 FULL-TIME STUDENTS, 2,000+ ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN FOUR SESSIONS OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING ANNUALLY. NECCA PRODUCES AND STAFFS SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS IN RIGGING AND ACT CREATION, AS WELL AS MANY TRADITIONAL CIRCUS DISCIPLINES FOR PROFESSIONALS AND ADVANCED AMATEURS, ATTRACTING ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD. NECCA ALSO SUPPORTS PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUALS AND CIRCUS COMPANIES WITH RESIDENCY, MEMBERS-ONLY TRAINING AND PRIVATE LESSONS. NECCA ALSO PRODUCES 30+ PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CIRCUS ARTS DELIVERS HIGH QUALITY CIRCUS ARTS TRAINING TO PROFESSIONALS, PRE-PROFESSIONALS, AND RECREATIONAL STUDENTS, AGES 3 AND UP. NECCA DESIGNED, BUILT AND OPERATES THE FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT TRAPEZIUM IN THE US, OFFERING YEAR-ROUND INDOOR FLYING TRAPEZE, 40 FOOT CEILINGS, AND MULTIPLE APPARATUS RIGGING POINTS. NECCA OPERATES THE LARGEST PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES, TRAINING 35 FULL-TIME STUDENTS, 2,000+ ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN FOUR SESSIONS OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING ANNUALLY. NECCA PRODUCES AND STAFFS SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS IN RIGGING AND ACT CREATION, AS WELL AS MANY TRADITIONAL CIRCUS DISCIPLINES FOR PROFESSIONALS AND ADVANCED AMATEURS, ATTRACTING ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD. NECCA ALSO SUPPORTS PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUALS AND CIRCUS COMPANIES WITH RESIDENCY, MEMBERS-ONLY TRAINING AND PRIVATE LESSONS. NECCA ALSO PRODUCES 30+ PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  2. $28,629 spent. NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CIRCUS ARTS DELIVERS HIGH QUALITY CIRCUS ARTS TRAINING TO PROFESSIONALS, PRE-PROFESSIONALS, AND RECREATIONAL STUDENTS, AGES 3 AND UP. NECCA DESIGNED, BUILT AND OPERATES THE FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT TRAPEZIUM IN THE US, OFFERING YEAR-ROUND INDOOR FLYING TRAPEZE, 40 FOOT CEILINGS, AND MULTIPLE APPARATUS RIGGING POINTS. NECCA OPERATES THE LARGEST PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES, TRAINING 35 FULL-TIME STUDENTS, 2,000+ ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN FOUR SESSIONS OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING ANNUALLY. NECCA PRODUCES AND STAFFS SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS IN RIGGING AND ACT CREATION, AS WELL AS MANY TRADITIONAL CIRCUS DISCIPLINES FOR PROFESSIONALS AND ADVANCED AMATEURS, ATTRACTING ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD. NECCA ALSO SUPPORTS PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUALS AND CIRCUS COMPANIES WITH RESIDENCY, MEMBERS-ONLY TRAINING AND PRIVATE LESSONS. NECCA ALSO PRODUCES 30+ PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
  3. NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CIRCUS ARTS DELIVERS HIGH QUALITY CIRCUS ARTS TRAINING TO PROFESSIONALS, PRE-PROFESSIONALS, AND RECREATIONAL STUDENTS, AGES 3 AND UP. NECCA DESIGNED, BUILT AND OPERATES THE FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT TRAPEZIUM IN THE US, OFFERING YEAR-ROUND INDOOR FLYING TRAPEZE, 40 FOOT CEILINGS, AND MULTIPLE APPARATUS RIGGING POINTS. NECCA OPERATES THE LARGEST PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES, TRAINING 35 FULL-TIME STUDENTS, 2,000+ ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN FOUR SESSIONS OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING ANNUALLY. NECCA PRODUCES AND STAFFS SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS IN RIGGING AND ACT CREATION, AS WELL AS MANY TRADITIONAL CIRCUS DISCIPLINES FOR PROFESSIONALS AND ADVANCED AMATEURS, ATTRACTING ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS THE WORLD. NECCA ALSO SUPPORTS PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUALS AND CIRCUS COMPANIES WITH RESIDENCY, MEMBERS-ONLY TRAINING AND PRIVATE LESSONS. NECCA ALSO PRODUCES 30+ PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 December 2007.

    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 October 21, 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.