Burlycon
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BurlyCon is a community-oriented, professional growth and educational organization for burlesque performers, fans, and aficionados. We conduct educational events to preserve, promote, and advance burlesque as a theatrical art form. We offer classes, workshops, panels, and other educational offerings that further professional skill and development. We are committed to supporting personal transformation through creative artistic expression in the burlesque arts.
- Income
- $162,236
- Spending
- $100,508
- Reserves
- 8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Highest pay
- $10,800, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 (2)
- $90,765 spent. In 2025, BurlyCon Annual Convention convened hundreds of artists, educators, and performers from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe in SeaTac, Washington, reinforcing its role as the premier professional development event for the burlesque arts community. The convention offered over 50 workshops and educational sessions spanning critical disciplines including business management, performance technique, media literacy, costume design and construction, and artistic development, equipping participants with the tools and knowledge to sustain viable careers in the performing arts. BurlyCon serves as a vital hub for an underserved segment of the arts community, providing access to professional training and peer mentorship that would otherwise be unavailable to independent artists and small performance companies. By bringing together leading practitioners and emerging talent under one roof, the convention fosters cross-cultural exchange, supports the preservation and evolution of a historic American art form, and strengthens the economic resilience of its participants. Beyond its educational impact, the 2025 convention generated meaningful economic benefit for the greater SeaTac and Seattle communities. Attendees traveling to Washington contributed directly to local hotel occupancy, airline revenue, ground transportation, dining, grocery, and retail spending throughout the convention period. This influx of out-of-area visitors provided a measurable boost to neighborhood businesses and service providers, demonstrating BurlyCon's role not only as a cultural institution but as a driver of local economic activity. The 2025 convention demonstrated the organization's continued commitment to accessibility, professional growth, and community building, directly advancing BurlyCon's mission to elevate burlesque as a legitimate and respected performing art.
- $1,702 spent. In 2025, BurlyCon proudly continued its partnership with the Burlesque Hall of Fame by serving as the official educational arm of the organization's Finishing School programming. This collaboration brought together a distinguished roster of participants, including legendary figures from burlesque's golden era, acclaimed new-burlesque performers, and academic scholars, to deliver and engage in specialized class programming rooted in the art form's rich history. The Finishing School represents a unique intersection of living history and contemporary practice, offering students direct access to knowledge and techniques passed down from the originators of the craft. By facilitating this programming, BurlyCon plays an essential role in preserving burlesque heritage, documenting its cultural legacy, and ensuring its traditions are transmitted to the next generation of performers and educators.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.
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 March 2013.
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.