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Ballet Five Eight NFP

EIN 45-5395602 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

BALLET 5:8 CONTINUED TO ADVANCE ITS MISSION OF SPARKING CONVERSATION ON LIFE, FAITH, AND HUMAN DIGNITY THROUGH INNOVATIVE STORYTELLING AND WORLD- CLASS DANCE.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
47
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$43,569, artistic dir

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

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 109% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $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 May 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)
  1. $614,979 spent. BALLET 5:8 EMPLOYED 30 PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AND SERVED MORE THAN 500 STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF BALLET 5:8, PROVIDING TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR ASPIRING ARTISTS. THE COMPANY REACHED THOUSANDS OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS ILLINOIS THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDED THE WORLD PREMIERE OF LA LLORONA, A NEW BALLET EXPLORING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH. THE PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART AND THE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION ALLIANCE OF ILLINOIS, AND INCLUDED COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS WITH THE RAICES STORYTELLING COALITION, WHERE LATINA MOTHERS SHARED LIVED EXPERIENCES TO PROMOTE HEALING AND AWARENESS. BALLET 5:8 ALSO FORGED A LANDMARK COLLABORATION WITH THE KEHREIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN CHICAGOS AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD, BRINGING BALLET TO THE VENUE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS PERFORMANCE CELEBRATED THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINA AND BLACK WOMEN IN THE ARTS AND FEATURED CHOREOGRAPHY BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JULIANNA RUBIO SLAGER, GUEST ARTIST RACHEL HUTSELL OF NEW YORK CITY BALLET, AND SPOKEN WORD ARTIST QUINA ARAGON. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, BALLET 5:8 EXPANDED ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DANCE, AMPLIFIED UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES, AND STRENGTHENED ILLINOISS CREATIVE ECONOMY BY EMPLOYING ARTISTS AND ENGAGING COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE. BALLET 5:8 EMPLOYED 30 PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AND SERVED MORE THAN 500 STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF BALLET 5:8, PROVIDING TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR ASPIRING ARTISTS. THE COMPANY REACHED THOUSANDS OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS ILLINOIS THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCES, PARTNERSHIPS, AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDED THE WORLD PREMIERE OF LA LLORONA, A NEW BALLET EXPLORING POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION AND MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH. THE PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART AND THE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION ALLIANCE OF ILLINOIS, AND INCLUDED COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS WITH THE RAICES STORYTELLING COALITION, WHERE LATINA MOTHERS SHARED LIVED EXPERIENCES TO PROMOTE HEALING AND AWARENESS. BALLET 5:8 ALSO FORGED A LANDMARK COLLABORATION WITH THE KEHREIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN CHICAGOS AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD, BRINGING BALLET TO THE VENUE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS PERFORMANCE CELEBRATED THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINA AND BLACK WOMEN IN THE ARTS AND FEATURED CHOREOGRAPHY BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JULIANNA RUBIO SLAGER, GUEST ARTIST RACHEL HUTSELL OF NEW YORK CITY BALLET, AND SPOKEN WORD ARTIST QUINA ARAGON. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, BALLET 5:8 EXPANDED ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DANCE, AMPLIFIED UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES, AND STRENGTHENED ILLINOISS CREATIVE ECONOMY BY EMPLOYING ARTISTS AND ENGAGING COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE.
  2. $361,033 spent. PROFESSIONAL COMPANY PERORMANCES FOR OVER 15,000 GUESTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 May 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 October 2012.

    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.