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Circus of the Star

EIN 41-1856160 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CIRCUS JUVENTAS, A PERFORMING ARTS CIRCUS SCHOOL FOR YOUTH, IS DEDICATED TO INSPIRING ARTISTRY AND SELF-CONFIDENCE THROUGH A MULTI-CULTURAL CIRCUS ARTS EXPERIENCE.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
74
Volunteers
336
Highest pay
$181,351, excecutive director

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

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 August 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. $2.3 million spent. CLASSES: CIRCUS JUVENTAS OFFERS OUTSTANDING CIRCUS ARTS TRAINING TO YOUTH AGES 2 TO 22. INDIVIDUAL AND COLLABORATIVE SKILLS ARE TAUGHT IN A CULTURE OF RESPECT, ACCEPTANCE, AND INDIVIDUALITY WITH A FOCUS ON SAFETY AND CREATIVITY. BEGINNING, INTERMEDIATE, AND ADVANCED LEVEL CLASSES ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND ALONG WITH SUMMER CAMPS AND WORKSHOPS IN A WIDE RANGE OF CIRCUS ACTS. SPECIALTY CLASSES ARE OFFERED FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND FOR ADULTS TRAINING TO BE PROFESSIONALS IN THE CIRCUS ARTS. TRAINING IS PROVIDED BY OVER 40 EXPERIENCED AND DIVERSE CIRCUS PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IN FY25, 1,430 INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN OVER 1,000 CLASS SESSIONS AT OUR FACILITY ALONE.
  2. $1.3 million spent. PERFORMANCES: A KEY ELEMENT OF CIRCUS JUVENTAS' PROGRAMMING ARE THE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO ALL STUDENTS. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, OVER 750 BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE LEVEL STUDENTS PERFORM IN A LARGE-SCALE SPRING PRODUCTION WITH MUSIC, COSTUMING, AND PRESENTATION. THE ANNUAL SUMMER SHOW IS PROFESSIONAL LEVEL WITH ORIGINAL SETS, COSTUMES, MUSIC, AND STAGING, INVOLVING OVER 70 OF OUR MOST ADVANCED STUDENTS AND RUNNING OVER 3 WEEKENDS. EACH WINTER, OUR INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED STUDENTS PERFORM AT OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW. COMBINED AUDIENCES FOR THESE SHOWS GENERALLY TOP 24,000 ATTENDEES ANNUALLY. IN FY25, STUDENTS IN THE SPRING CELEBRATION PERFORMANCES, SUMMER SHOW, AND HOLIDAY SHOW PERFORMED FOR NEARLY SOLD-OUT HOUSES.
  3. $36,367 spent. HOSTING AND OUTSIDE EVENTS: IN A TYPICAL YEAR, CIRCUS JUVENTAS CONDUCTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH PERFORMANCES UNDER ITS BIG TOP AND AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. IN FY25, THESE INCLUDED COMMUNITY DAY, THE BLAZE CREDIT UNION ANNUAL MEETING, CIRCUS NIGHT AT RUNNING ACES, WINTER CARNIVAL, THE ROYALSTON SQUARE GRAND OPENING, VISIT SAINT PAUL AT ALLIANZ FIELD, AND THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA GALA. CIRCUS JUVENTAS ALSO PROVIDED COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO OUTREACH PARTNERS, INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, SAINT PAUL PARKS AND RECREATION, AND OTHER YOUTH-SERVING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 February 1998.

    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.