Keane Sense of Rhythm Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Keane Sense of Rhythm's mission is to preserve, present, create, and expand the boundaries of American Tap Dance. We accomplish our mission through educational programs, the creation of new works, performing, presenting accessible tap events, and investing in youth. Another objective has evolved to provide life-long learning in the art and practice of tap dance for adults as we age by providing "Tappy Hour", a class dedicated to beginning adults with a specialized curriculum that focuses on our brains, bones, and balance.
- Income
- $286,852
- Spending
- $266,757
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 61%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $60,902, 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Weak: 26 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
- $102,426 spent. Leadership Training: The organization teaches historically significant and contemporary tap dance to the Youth Tap Ensemble aka YTE (10-20 dancers ages 8 to 18). Beginning this year, we hired a new director for our Youth Tap Ensemble, thus replacing the founders of the program and growing our legacy. The format changed from a school-year program and a separate summer program to one fall-intensive program that culminates in a performance with live music, and three less intense training programs to serve students the rest of the year.Fifteen (15) % of these dancers received scholarships. Students learn from basic to advanced skills, improvisation, musicality and, of course, rhythm.Our students expand their artistic talents and improve their leadership skills by having a voice in creativity and and logistically deciding priorities.Students perform multiple times per year at various venues such as the St. Paul Winter Carnival. We go beyond creating dancers and develop people who understand the value of arts and arts education.We are also a training ground for dancers interested in developing their teaching skills.Our Tap Classes at St. Paul Freedom Schools' summer program invite alumni to assist while learning how to build successful, high-quality enrichment experiences for elementary and middle school students.
- $61,456 spent. Educational Involvement: Keane Sense of Rhythm currently does outreach programming with three Elementary Schools in St. Paul, Mn. We specifically work with the Freedom School students year-round in grade K-5th grade. By bringing a high-quality enrichment program, we supplement arts education for underserved youth with real and perceived barriers to attending a dance class of any kiind.We serve an average of 100 participants annually and quarterly showcases serve peers and families as audience members, totalling over 1,000 people. Keane's outreach program included adult tap classes in Richfield and St. Paul community education, as well as St. Paul Jewish Community Center.Most classes run for 6 sessions at a time, 3 or 4 times a year. These 'Tappy hour" classes are low cost and shoes may be borrowed rather than bought. We served approximately 135 adults through community education programs.We offer a wide variety of classes, including 55+ classes for aging adults: the total adults served reached over 200.We hosted master classes with guest artists serving over 60 participants.
- $40,970 spent. Community Performances: Our 24th National Tap Dance Day was celebrated as a free public event.Affinity groups from across the state signed up to showcase their talent and passion. The event took place at Celtic Junction, an outdoor stage.About 60 performers from 4 affiliations and 200 audience members enjoyed the outdoor performane.Students across all of our programs were invited to perform.Keane became the volunteer coordinator of the St. Paul Winter Carnival Family Day stage, 30 of our dancers performed, as well as 10 other performing groups, and 180 audience members.In May, we produced our second "Mn Dance Experience", an adjudicated performance opportunity for students to get direct feedback from professionals and opportunities for scholarships to tap events/courses nationally serving 25 performers and 100 audience members.We produced a student showcase in the fall title Groove. We sold out 2 shows, serving 250 audience members and boasted a cast of 30 dancers and 5 musicians.We provided dancers to Boom Dance Fest in Stillwater and Dances at the Lake in Minneapolis, which combined served 250 audience members.The TC marathan was cancelled due to poor air quality.
- Community Involvement: We could not accomplish all we do in our outreach programs without the commitment and support of each school's faculty and staff,The demand for us to return and expand is a testament to the quality of programming we provide.We have a core group of Alumni who support us by teaching, performing and volunteering in multiple capacities.The Dancing Fair (local manufacturer) has supported the organization as a key donor since 1997 by supplying shoes as well as funding.Our organization serves as a valuable resource to the dance community at large, like loaning 30 pairs of tap shoes to a local theater for a musical that had a tap number.We provide inexpensive rental space for 5 individuals and organizations for an average of 10 hours per week.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.