Cleveland Modern Dance Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BE A NATIONAL MODEL FOR HOW A PRESENTING ORGANIZATION SERVES ITS COMMUNITY, LEVERAGING THE WORLDS BEST MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE TO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE AUDIENCES, LOCAL DANCERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
- Income
- $673,909
- Spending
- $616,873
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 9.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $90,850, executive director
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: 89 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $495,485 spent. PRESENTER: DANCECLEVELAND IS PROUD TO BE ONE OF JUST A FEW NON-VENUE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE US DEDICATED TO THE PRESENTATION OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE. OUR SUCCESS OVER 69 SEASONS IS EVIDENCED BY THE MORE THAN 400 WORLD-CLASS DANCE COMPANIES THAT HAVE PERFORMED ON OUR CURATED SEASONS. DANCECLEVELANDS HISTORY MIRRORS THAT OF THE ART FORM ITSELF, HIGHLIGHTED BY THE COMPANIES WE HAVE PRESENTED AT THE HEIGHT OF THEIR ARTISTIC TRAJECTORIES. WE HAVE REMAINED ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE ART FORM AND PRIDE OURSELVES ON THE OPEN, COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE WITH OTHER PRESENTERS, DANCE ORGANIZATIONS, AND ARTISTS BOTH LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH ENABLE US TO CONTINUALLY KEEP OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF WHAT IS NEW IN MODERN DANCE AND WHAT OUR AUDIENCES WILL BENEFIT FROM SEEING. OUR CURATORIAL PROCESS INCLUDES A FOCUS ON PRESENTING ARTISTS WHO ARE OFTEN UNDER-REPRESENTED IN THE FIELD, INCLUDING ARTISTS OF COLOR AND FEMALE DANCE MAKERS. DANCECLEVELAND IS COMMITTED TO EQUITY, ENSURING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NORTHEAST OHIO COMMUNITY IS REFLECTED ON STAGE. DANCECLEVELAND IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING NEW AUDIENCES FOR DANCE BY CREATING BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT CONTEMPORARY DANCE AS WELL AS THE CREATIVE PROCESS. DANCECLEVELAND REACHES AN AUDIENCE WITH A GREAT DIVERSITY OF AGE, ETHNICITY, PHYSICAL ABILITY, LIFESTYLE, SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE ART FORM OF DANCE. THE JOYFUL, EXPRESSIVE ATTENDEES OF OUR PERFORMANCES HAVE OFTEN BEEN CITED BY BOTH VISITING ARTISTS AND OTHER ARTS PRESENTERS AS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUELY FUN AND ENGAGED BASES IN THE PERFORMING ARTS WORLD. WE CREATE A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE SERIES BY KEEPING TICKET PRICES STRATEGICALLY LOW, OFFERING FREE TICKETS TO EACH PERFORMANCE TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION, PLANNING FAMILY-FRIENDLY MATINEES AND PRE-PERFORMANCE FAMILY ACTIVITIES (FOR SELECT ENGAGEMENTS), OFFERING FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND BY TAPPING INTO THE RESOURCES OF PLAYHOUSE SQUARE TO OFFER A FULLY ACCESSIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES. PERFORMANCES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 SERVED MORE THAN 7,800 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES: EACH PERFORMANCE IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INVIGORATING SERIES OF AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, WHICH ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE AND ENABLE AUDIENCE MEMBERS TO ESTABLISH SPECIAL CONNECTIONS TO THE VISITING COMPANIES THROUGH INFORMATIONAL EBLASTS, PRE-PERFORMANCE LECTURES, POST-PERFORMANCE Q&A SESSIONS AND BEHIND THE CURTAIN VIDEO FEATURES. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING YOUTH, ADULTS, AND SENIOR CITIZENS OF ALL ABILITIES, ARE INTRODUCED TO DANCE THROUGH COMMUNITY RESIDENCIES THAT INCLUDE MOVEMENT CLASSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND CONVERSATIONS WITH VISITING ARTISTS. OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY DANCE DAY BUILDS ON THIS WORK BY OFFERING FREE OUTDOOR EXERCISE CLASSES, DANCE DEMONSTRATIONS, COMMUNITY DANCE LESSONS, AND A SHOWCASE OF STUDENT DANCERS FROM ACROSS NORTHEAST OHIO. THIS EVENT SERVED 830 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN JULY 2024. MASTERCLASSES: EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS LIES IN OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIRECT AND FREE HANDS-ON DANCE EXPERIENCES AT THE ADVANCED AND PROFESSIONAL LEVELS TO DANCERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS SPECIAL CLASSES FOR EARLY DANCE STUDENTS. PROFESSIONAL, PRE-PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT DANCERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND FREE MASTERCLASSES LED BY MEMBERS OF THE VISITING DANCE COMPANIES WE PRESENT, THEREBY HONING THEIR TECHNIQUES, ENHANCING THEIR EXPRESSIVENESS, AND NETWORKING WITH THE VERY BEST IN THEIR FIELD. ARTIST DEVELOPMENT: IN ADDITION TO MASTERCLASSES, DANCECLEVELAND REGULARLY FINDS OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE NORTHEAST OHIO DANCE COMMUNITY WITH VISITING ARTISTS ON OUR PERFORMANCE SEASON. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, DANCECLEVELAND ENGAGED RAPHAEL XAVIER WITH HIS PRODUCTION OF SKIFF. XAVIER WORKED WITH FOUR NORTHEAST OHIO BASED DANCERS TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO THE PRODUCTION. IN ADDITION, WE WORKED WITH XAVIER AND LAKE ERIE INK TO CONDUCT A CREATIVE WRITING AND MOVEMENT PROGRAM FOR TEENS AT TWO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY. ALONG WITH A MASTERCLASS FOR AREA DANCERS, 128 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE ENGAGED THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES. THE CULMINATING PERFORMANCES AT CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGES JOHN P. MURPHY AUDITORIUM REACHED 344 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN FY2025, DANCECLEVELAND ALSO BROUGHT MARTHA GRAHAM COMPANY PRINCIPAL LLOYD GRAHAM TO NORTHEAST OHIO FOR AN EDUCATIONAL RESIDENCY SERVING 280 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL AS A A RESIDENCY WITH HELENE SIMONEAU DANSE REACHING AN ADDITIONAL 72 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CO-COMMISSIONED AND PRESENTED KNIGHTS THE DRAMA, OFFERING THE ARTIST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF HIS GRAHAM COMPANY DUTIES. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: OUR READ TO LEARNDANCE TO MOVE CURRICULUM-BASED PROGRAM SERVES PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS OVER EIGHT-WEEK SESSIONS AND PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTION TO SIX DANCE FORMS AS WELL AS SUPPORTING OHIO EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IN MOTOR DEVELOPMENT, PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, CREATIVITY, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING; AND OHIO ELA AND DANCE STANDARDS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, DANCECLEVELAND DELIVERED 360 PROGRAM HOURS WITH 5,120 STUDENT INTERACTIONS IN THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LORAIN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR. COLLABORATOR: AS A SMALL ORGANIZATION, WE THRIVE BECAUSE OF OUR COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY WHICH HAVE THE TWOFOLD BENEFIT OF REDUCING OUR FINANCIAL RISK WHILE MAXIMIZING OUR POTENTIAL TO BRING THE FINEST DANCE COMPANIES IN THE WORLD TO CLEVELAND. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON BEING ARTISTICALLY BOLD AND FISCALLY PRUDENT, WHICH ENABLES US TO BE NIMBLE AND REACTIVE TO TESTING NEW IDEAS, ENDEAVORS, AND PARTNERSHIPS. DANCECLEVELANDS VIBRANCY, RELEVANCY, REACH, AND LONG-STANDING REPUTATION OF EXCELLENCE REST ON THE STRENGTH OF A SMALL-YET-MIGHTY STAFF TEAM, A VISIONARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AN ARMY OF DEDICATED VOLUNT
- SHEER ELBOW GREASE HELP US TO GENERATE AN EQUITABLE VARIETY OF PERFORMANCES, RELATED MASTERCLASSES, DANCE WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES, AND AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY DANCE DAY. WE CAREFULLY ASSESS POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS AGAINST RIGOROUS STANDARDS FOR CREATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY AND ENJOY THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH IN-DEMAND ARTISTS WHO CHALLENGE AND INSPIRE THE AUDIENCES WE SERVE. FREQUENT PARTNERS INCLUDE CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PLAYHOUSE SQUARE, THE CITY OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, RAINEY INSTITUTE, CLEVELAND SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, FIRESTONE CLC, THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON, AND CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY. WE FREQUENTLY WORK IN A CO-PRESENTING MODEL, BRINGING OUR CURATORIAL EXPERTISE TO THE TABLE AS WE STRETCH OUR SMALL ORGANIZATIONS RESOURCES THROUGH OUR PARTNERS MARKETING AND MEDIA BUYING REACH, PRODUCTION AND SPACE RESOURCES, AND HUMAN RESOURCES. CO-PRESENTING ENABLES US TO MINIMIZE OUR FINANCIAL RISK AND EXPAND OUR REACH TO NEW AUDIENCES, MANY OF WHOM GO ON TO BE A LOYAL, REPEAT BASE OF SUPPORTERS. DANCECLEVELAND EXTENSIVELY ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LOCAL DANCE COMMUNITY, AND AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT ITS GOAL OF CREATING A VIBRANT DANCE COMMUNITY IN NORTHEAST OHIO. ADVOCACY: WE ARE NOT AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION, HOWEVER, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A VOICE TO OFFER RELATING, IN PARTICULAR, TO PUBLIC FUNDING FOR THE ARTS. WE REGULARLY REMIND OUR AUDIENCES AND SUPPORTERS ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FUNDING WE RECEIVE FROM CUYAHOGA ARTS AND CULTURE AND THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1965.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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