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Passes our checks

Odc

EIN 34-1191163 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ODC IS DEDICATED TO THE LIFECYCLE OF THE ARTISTIC PROCESS. ODC AIMS TO INSPIRE AUDIENCES, CULTIIVATE ARTISTS, ENGAGE COMMUNITY, AND FOSTER DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION THROUGH DANCE.

Income
$7.9 million
Spending
$8.8 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
270
Volunteers
104
Highest pay
$164,938, executive director

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 20% 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

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

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

    20 of 27 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 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 (1)
  1. $5.9 million spent. IN 2024, ODC CONTINUED NAVIGATING SIGNIFICANT FISCAL CHALLENGES DRIVEN BY: -SHARP INCREASES IN OPERATING COSTS; -THE WITHDRAWAL OF LONG-TIME FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE FUNDERS FROM THE SF BAY AREA ARTS SECTOR -THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF NATIONAL MEDIA NARRATIVES PORTRAYING SAN FRANCISCO'S "DOOM LOOP," WHICH -DAMAGED PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY AND CLEANLINESS AND REDUCED LOCAL ENGAGEMENT; AND -THE IRS'S TEMPORARY HALT IN PROCESSING ERTC CREDITS, DELAYING NEARLY $1 MILLION IN ELIGIBLE FUNDS. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, ODC IMPLEMENTED A HIRING FREEZE OUTSIDE OF REVENUE GENERATING ROLES; PAUSED NEW PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, AND LAUNCHED THE QUIET PHASE OF A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO: -TRANSFORM ITS NEWEST CAMPUS BUILDING (PURCHASED IN 2022); -RECAPITALIZE THE BOARD-DESIGNATED ARTISTIC VENTURE + INNOVATION FUND (AVIF), WHICH SUPPORTS PROGRAMS AND INNOVATION; AND -BUILD THE PERMANENT ENDOWMENT TO ENSURE LONG-TERM STABILITY. AFTER DRAWING DOWN THE AVIF TO BALANCE THE 2023 BUDGET, RECAPITALIZATION BECAME ESSENTIAL. ODC'S FISCAL RESILIENCE IN 2023/24 STANDS IN CONTRAST TO MANY 50+ YEAR-OLD NONPROFITS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE REGION THAT CLOSED PERMANENTLY. THROUGHOUT 2024, ODC'S CONTINUING PROGRAMS GREW IN IMPORTANCE TO ITS COMMUNITY, THE CONTEMPORARY DANCE FIELD, AND THE BAY AREA ARTS ECOSYSTEM. THE ORGANIZATION REMAINED ONE OF THE LAST FIVE REGIONAL PROVIDERS, OR THE SOLE PROVIDER, OF CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS: -MENTORSHIP AND BUSINESS INCUBATION FOR DANCE ARTISTS; -$25/HOUR DANCE-MAKING SPACE; -50% SUBSIDIZED "ARTS ACCESS" CLASS AND TICKET RATES; -EMPLOYMENT FOR DANCE ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, AND CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS -CULTURAL ACTIVATION OF THE MISSION DISTRICT AND YERBA BUENA ARTS CORRIDOR. ODC'S RENTAL DISCOUNT INITIATIVE, CURATED BY A PANEL OF GUEST ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, GRANTED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF DISCOUNTED AND FULLY SUBSIDIZED STUDIO AND MEETING SPACE TO ARTISTS, PEER ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL NONPROFITS. ODC REMAINS ONE OF ONLY FIVE BAY AREA ORGANIZATIONS RENTING STUDIOS AT OR BELOW $25/HOUR. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED REBUILDING ITS IN-PERSON CLASS OFFERINGS IN ODC SCHOOL AND ODC HEALTH, RECRUITING AND RE-HIRING FACULTY, EXPANDING CLASS SCHEDULES, AND EXTENDING INCUBATION PERIODS FOR NEW OFFERINGS (EG ALLOWING LONGER PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT BEFORE IMPOSING ASSESSMENT OF ROI AND MISSION IMPACT AND SUBJECTING THEM TO CANCELLATION FOR LACK OF INITIAL ATTENDANCE). BY YEAR-END, ODC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT REACHED 8,695 STUDENTS, UP FROM 2,513 IN 2023, AND RESTORED THE SCHOOL'S SCHEDULE TO 200 WEEKLY CLASSES, MATCHING PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. THE TEACHING AND ACCOMPANIST ROSTER GREW TO 130, UP FROM 96 IN 2023 AND SURPASSING 2019'S 102. ODC'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTED 10% OF YOUTH AND TEEN PARTICIPANTS (UP FROM 9% IN 2023), AWARDING $63,594 IN ASSISTANCE, AN INCREASE FROM $52,258 IN 2023, REFLECTING RISING COMMUNITY NEED. ODC'S 11-MEMBER PROFESSIONAL DANCE COMPANY MAINTAINED 48 WEEKS OF CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT, WITH BENEFITS CONTINUED THROUGH A 4-WEEK UNPAID LAYOFF. THIS IS AMONG THE MOST GENEROUS CONTRACTS IN U.S. DANCE. ODC HEALTH CONTINUED PROVIDING CROSS-TRAINING, RECOVERY PROGRAMS, AND ACCESS TO THE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE HEALTHY DANCERS' CLINIC, EARNING NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS A MODEL FOR DANCER WELLNESS. IN ITS 38TH ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF THE VELVETEEN RABBIT, ODC PROVIDED FREE PERFORMANCES AND STANDARDS-BASED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS (OVER 7 HOURS OF LESSONS) TO 1,280 TITLE I ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, PLUS DISCOUNTED ACCESS FOR 798 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES. EDUCATIONAL GUIDES AND ACTIVITY BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. ODC ALSO EXPANDED ITS DIGITAL PLATFORM, CONNECT, TO REACH NEW AUDIENCES AND DELIVER HYBRID PROGRAMMING. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, ODC'S PROFESSIONAL COMPANY HAS PERFORMED FOR OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN 44 STATES AND 13 COUNTRIES, PREMIERING 146+ ORIGINAL WORKS BY CHOREOGRAPHERS BRENDA WAY, KIMI OKADA, KT NELSON, AND GUEST ARTISTS INCLUDING CATHERINE GALASSO, SONJA DELWAIDE, DEXANDRO MONTALVO, AND AMY SEIWERT. FOLLOWING AN AGGRESSIVE 2023 CAMPAIGN TO RESUME TOURING, ODC EXPANDED ITS 2024 APPEARANCES TO IDAHO, OHIO, AND MISSOURI, ALONGSIDE ITS BAY AREA HOME SEASONS CONTINUING TO REBUILD NATIONAL AND LOCAL TOURING CAPACITY AND CONTRACTS WITH RELEVANT PRESENTERS DESPITE SECTOR-WIDE FISCAL CONSTRAINTS. ODC RETAINED ITS CORE LEADERSHIP STAFF WITH MINIMAL TURNOVER, PRESERVING CONTINUITY AND INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE. IT RECRUITED AND SECURED THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS, FOLLOWING ITS STRATEGIC PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS WITH FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCHOOL'S OFFERINGS IN ADDITION TO DYNAMIC LIVED EXPERIENCE AND RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE.

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 November 6, 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 October 2001.

    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 November 4, 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.