Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Joffrey Ballet

EIN 36-4009741 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JOFFREY IS A WORLD-CLASS, CHICAGO-BASED BALLET COMPANY AND DANCE EDUCATION ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION, PRESENTING A UNIQUE REPERTOIRE ENCOMPASSING MASTERPIECES OF THE PAST AND CUTTING-EDGE WORKS. THE JOFFREY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ARTS EDUCATION AND ACCESSIBLE DANCE TRAINING THROUGH ITS JOFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS.

Income
$39.7 million
Spending
$31.5 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
211
Volunteers
61
Highest pay
$686,609, the mary b. galvin artistic 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    61 of 64 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 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 (3)
  1. $21.4 million spent. DURING THE 2024-2025 SEASON, THE COMPANY PRESENTED FOUR PROGRAMS: ATONEMENT (10 PERFORMANCES; 15,870 ATTENDEES), THE NUTCRACKER (27 PERFORMANCES INCLUDING 2 STUDENT MATINEE PERFORMANCES; 73,100 ATTENDEES), GOLDEN HOUR (10 PERFORMANCES; 14,554 ATTENDEES), AND ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND (14 PERFORMANCES; 32,696 ATTENDEES). TOTAL ATTENDANCE 136,220. THE JOFFREY ALSO TOURED TO BADEN BADEN, GERMANY, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
  2. $4.1 million spent. THE ACADEMY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF CLASSICAL BALLET TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, LEVELS AND BACKGROUNDS. WITH THE TALENTS CULTIVATED AT THE ACADEMY, STUDENTS CAN PURSUE CAREERS AS PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AT COMPANIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN DANCE. THROUGH THE ACADEMY'S PROGRAMS, STUDENTS DEVELOP A DIVERSE SET OF SKILLS INCLUDING ARTISTRY, CREATIVITY, DISCIPLINE AND CONFIDENCE, AMONG OTHERS. THE ACADEMY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, EDUCATIONAL TRAINING WHICH FORM FUTURE AUDIENCES AND BUILD THE ORGANIZATION'S REPUTATION WORLDWIDE. AROUND 2,700 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE JOFFREY ACADEMY'S PROGRAMS.
  3. $1.2 million spent. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS IN ALL GRADE LEVELS WITH A HIGHLY STRUCTURED DANCE EXPERIENCE WHERE THEY WILL DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS ARTICULATED BY ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) STANDARDS SUCH AS SELF-DISCIPLINE, RESPECT, AND CONFIDENCE THROUGH THE STUDY OF VARIOUS FORMS OF DANCE. IN ADDITION, THESE PROGRAMS HELP BUILD A STRONG DANCE FOUNDATION BY FOCUSING ON CORRECT POSTURE, PLACEMENT, COORDINATION, STRENGTH, FLEXIBILITY AND MUSICALITY. BY PROVIDING THIS SERVICE TO THE YOUTH, WE HOPE TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF THIS ART FORM, AND INSTILL LIFE SKILLS THAT LAST LONG AFTER PROGRAMS END. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM SERVED 1,627 STUDENTS IN 30 SCHOOLS.

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

  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 June 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 July 1995.

    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.