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Milwaukee Ballet Company Inc

EIN 39-1134735 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MILWAUKEE BALLET TRANSFORMS LIVES AND CONNECTS COMMUNITIES THROUGH INSPIRING PERFORMANCE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

Income
$8.3 million
Spending
$8.5 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
185
Volunteers
197
Highest pay
$223,155, artistic 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

    21 of 21 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 (3)
  1. $4.8 million spent. BALLET PERFORMANCES:MILWAUKEE BALLET COMPANY, FOUNDED IN 1970, HAS BROUGHT WORLD-CLASS PRESENTATION OF THE ART FORM TO ITS AUDIENCES. MILWAUKEE BALLET COMPANY'S LONG-TERM GOALS INCLUDE PRODUCING INSPIRING BALLET PRODUCTIONS FOR THE GREATER MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY AND MAINTAINING A FOCUS ON FAMILY PROGRAMMING IN TANDEM WITH A COMMITMENT TO THE CREATION OF NEW WORKS. DURING THE 2024/25 SEASON, MILWAUKEE BALLET WELCOMED MORE THAN 44,000 PATRONS AT 40 PERFORMANCES.
  2. $2.1 million spent. BALLET SCHOOL & ACADEMY:MILWAUKEE BALLET SCHOOL & ACADEMY OFFERS CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES A COMPLETE EDUCATION IN CLASSICAL DANCE. IT WAS ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF DANCE IN SEPTEMBER 2008, MAKING IT THE ONLY PROFESSIONAL STUDIO SCHOOL IN THE MIDWEST AND ONE OF THIRTEEN NATIONALLY TO RECEIVE SUCH RECOGNITION. THE ACCREDITATION HAS ALLOWED THE SCHOOL TO GREATLY EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS PROVIDED TO ITS STUDENTS. APPROXIMATELY 642 STUDENTS ATTEND MILWAUKEE BALLET SCHOOL & ACADEMY.
  3. $567,218 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & EDUCATION:THE MILWAUKEE BALLET II PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE TRAINING NEEDED TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN STUDENT AND PROFESSIONAL THROUGH PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS THE VITAL FORCE DRIVING MILWAUKEE BALLET COMPANY'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMING. AS THE MAIN ARM OF MILWAUKEE BALLET COMPANY'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS, MILWAUKEE BALLET II DANCERS PERFORMED FOR AND PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS REACHING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

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 April 1970.

    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.