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Santa Cruz Dance Theater

EIN 33-1457377 · Aptos, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

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

What it says it does

THIS CORPORATION IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION AND IS NOT ORGANIZED FOR THE PRIVATE GAIN OF ANY PERSON. IT IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION LAW FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES. THE SPECIFIC AND PRIMARY PURPOSES FOR WHICH IT IS ORGANIZED IS TO PRODUCE DANCE PERFORMANCES, PRIMARILY BALLET, IN ORDER TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT DANCE, AND TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF DANCERS, IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE PURPOSES CONTAINED IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE CONSTRUED SO AS TO BE LIMITED TO THOSE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

Income
$209,049
Spending
$190,658
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
0
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$7,258, president and artistic director

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

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 68% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (3)
  1. $110,218 spent. NUTCRACKER IS A TIMELESS CLASSICAL BALLET WITH A CHRISTMAS THEME THAT SANTA CRUZ DANCE THEATER WILL PRODUCE EVERY DECEMBER. THIS PROGRAM WAS WELL-ATTENDED AND ENJOYED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WAS PERFORMED BY LOCAL DANCE STUDENTS AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DANCERS, BOTH YOUNG AND WELL-ESTABLISHED.
  2. $53,730 spent. CINDERELLA IS A BREATHTAKING FULL-LENGTH SET TO THE EXQUISITE MUSIC OF SERGEI PROKOFIEV. THIS PROGRAM WAS WELL-ATTENDED AND ENJOYED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WAS PERFORMED BY LOCAL DANCE STUDENTS AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DANCERS, BOTH YOUNG AND WELL-ESTABLISHED.
  3. $6,000 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 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 May 2025.

    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.