Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Balletx

EIN 31-1784286 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BALLETX EXPANDS THE VOCABULARY OF CONTEMPORARY BALLET FOR ALL AUDIENCES THROUGH INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCES, WORLD PREMIERE CHOREOGRAPHY, DANCE EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
34
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$217,833, artistic & executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 July 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. $809,542 spent. PERFORMANCE SERIES AND WORLD PREMIERE COMMISSIONS: BALLETX'S ANNUAL PERFORMANCE SEASON IN PHILADELPHIA FEATURES FIVE SERIES THAT SHOWCASE NEW COLLABORATIONS, LARGE-SCALE EVENING-LENGTH WORKS, ORIGINAL SCORES, GUEST ARTISTS, AND LIVE MUSIC. THE 2024-2025 SEASON INCLUDED: FALL SERIES, WITH A WORLD PREMIERE BY MARGUERITE DONLON; BALLETX IN BRYN MAWR, WITH WORLD PREMIERES BY KEELAN WHITMORE AND BALLETX DANCERS; WINTER SERIES, WITH WORLD PREMIERES BY GREGORY DAWSON AND CAILI QUAN; FESTIVAL AT THE MANN, WITH A FULL-LENGTH WORLD PREMIERE BY JENNIFER ARCHIBALD; AND SUMMER SERIES, WITH WORLD PREMIERES BY AMY HALL GARNER AND NOELLE KAYSER. PERFORMANCES REACHED AUDIENCES IN EXCESS OF 15,000.
  2. $433,045 spent. TOURING: IN ADDITION TO PHILADELPHIA MAIN STAGE PERFORMANCES, BALLETX PARTICIPATES IN A GROWING NUMBER OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TOURS. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE COMPANY TOURED TO THE FOLLOWING VENUES: THE JOYCE THEATER (NEW YORK, NY), THE KENNEDY CENTER (WASHINGTON, DC), HARRIS THEATER (CHICAGO, IL), LAGUNA DANCE FESTIVAL (LAGUNA, CA), LAFON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (LULING, LA), TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (COLLEGE STATION, TX), LONGWOOD GARDENS (KENNETT SQUARE, PA), BALLET NIGHTS (LONDON, UK), FESTIVAL DES ARTS DE SAINT-SAUVEUR (CANADA), AND VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL (VAIL, CO). TOUR PERFORMANCES REACHED AUDIENCES IN EXCESS OF 13,000.
  3. $213,984 spent. DANCE EXCHANGE: DANCE EXCHANGE IS BALLETX'S IN-SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT INTRODUCES THE BASICS OF DANCE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A FUN AND STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT THAT SPARKS CURIOSITY AND CREATIVITY THROUGH MOVEMENT EXERCISES, CHOREOGRAPHY, AND LIVE PERFORMANCE, WHILE STRENGTHENING IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS SELF-CONFIDENCE, FOCUS, TEAMWORK, AND DETERMINATION. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, DANCE EXCHANGE ENGAGED SEVEN DANCE TEACHING ARTISTS AND THREE LIVE MUSICIANS TO WORK WITH 442 3RD AND 4TH GRADE STUDENTS IN 18 CLASSROOMS AT FIVE PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TO INCREASE THE REACH OF DANCE EXCHANGE, IN 2018 BALLETX LAUNCHED THE DANCE EXCHANGE DREAM TEAM, A FULL-SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT INVITES EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS FROM OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS TO SELF-SELECT TO ATTEND WEEKLY AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES AND PERFORM ALONGSIDE THE BALLETX COMPANY AT POP UP PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, BALLETX HOSTED 34 DREAM TEAM MEMBERS, WHO PERFORMED ALONGSIDE THE BALLETX DANCERS AT FOUR PUBLIC PERFORMANCES.
  4. $2.7 million spent. POP UP PERFORMANCES: BALLETX BRINGS ITS DANCERS INTO PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS FOR MULTIPLE FREE POP UP PERFORMANCES EACH SEASON. THESE PERFORMANCES INTRODUCE DANCE TO NEW AUDIENCES AROUND THE CITY AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND NEW EXPERIENCES FOR CITIZENS WHO MAY HAVE NEVER SEEN BALLET. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, BALLETX PERFORMED POP UPS JENKINTOWN FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, ABINGTON LIBRARY, THE PHILADELPHIA FALL ARTS FESTIVAL AT THE KIMMEL CENTER, WAVERLY HEIGHTS, BEAUMONT, AND DILWORTH PARK AT CITY HALL.FESTIVAL AT THE MANN: BALLETX'S PLATFORM AS RESIDENT DANCE COMPANY OF THE MANN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT CONTEMPORARY BALLET IN A WAY THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE, INVITING NEW AUDIENCES TO ENGAGE WITH THE ART FORM. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE FESTIVAL INCLUDED PRE-SHOW PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL YOUNG ARTISTS, AND THE COMPANY WORKED WITH 70 SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO DONATE OVER 3,400 FREE TICKETS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT PHILADELPHIA.CHOREOGRAPHIC FELLOWSHIP: LAUNCHED IN 2016, BALLETX'S CHOREOGRAPHIC FELLOWSHIP UNITES ONE EMERGING ARTIST EACH SEASON WITH A DISTINGUISHED CHOREOGRAPHER WHO SERVES AS A MENTOR AS THEY BOTH CREATE WORLD PREMIERES ON THE BALLETX DANCERS. AS ONE OF THE ONLY PROGRAMS IN THE NATION THAT FOCUSES ON CHOREOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT IN BALLET, THE FELLOWSHIP STRENGTHENS BALLETX'S MISSION BY PRIORITIZING THE CREATION OF NEW WORKS BY NEW VOICES, AND EMPOWERS CHOREOGRAPHIC MENTORS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE LEADERS IN THEIR FIELD. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, BALLETX HOSTED CHOREOGRAPHIC FELLOW NOELLE KAYSER, MENTORED BY MARGUERITE DONLON.CHOREOGRAPHIC INCUBATOR: BALLETX'S CHOREOGRAPHIC INCUBATOR OFFERS EMERGING CHOREOGRAPHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR ARTISTIC VISION THROUGH A WEEK-LONG, PAID RESIDENCY. THE INCUBATOR ALLOWS FOR EXPLORATION WITHOUT THE PRESSURE OF IMMEDIATE PRODUCTION, CULTIVATING NEW VOICES IN DANCE. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, BALLETX COMMISSIONED INCUBATOR ARTISTS JA COLLECTIVE.BALLETX BEYOND: IN 2020 AND IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BALLETX LAUNCHED ITS DIGITAL, SUBSCRIPTION-BASED STREAMING PLATFORM FOR WORLD PREMIERE DANCE, BALLETX BEYOND. BALLETX BEYOND INTRODUCES THE COMPANY'S WORK TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE, WHILE BUILDING AN OPEN PLATFORM TO EXPLORE ARTISTIC IDEAS AND VISIONS. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, BALLETX COMMISSIONED ITS RESIDENT FILMMAKER, DANIEL MADOFF, TO CREATE NINE BEHIND-THE-SCENES DOCUMENTARIES ON THE CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND THE COMPANY'S WORLD PREMIERE BALLETS.INTENSIVES: SINCE 2012, BALLETX HAS CULTIVATED THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCERS THROUGH ITS ANNUAL INTENSIVE PRE-PROFESSIONAL DANCE TRAINING PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE DEVELOPING DANCERS WITH DAY-LONG WORKSHOPS IN BALLET, REPERTORY, CONDITIONING, AND MORE. INTENSIVE STUDENTS TRAIN IN AN INTIMATE, COMPANY-STYLE SETTING, AND THEIR EXPERIENCE CULMINATES IN A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE. IN THE 2024-2025 SEASON, BALLETX'S INTENSIVES SERVED 54 STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 July 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 2002.

    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.