Dancemakers Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 23% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
DANCE MAKERS, INC.S MISSION IS TO SAVE AND STRENGTHEN YOUTH BY PROMOTING THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING WHILE ENCOURAGING THEIR CREATIVITY THROUGH THE STUDY OF DANCE AND OTHER PERFORMING ARTS.
- Income
- $2.6 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 23%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 69%
- Employees
- 18
- Highest pay
- $73,007, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1523% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 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, 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)
- $353,268 spent. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS ROCKETSHIP, PERRY STREET AND BROWNE EDUCATION CAMPUS: THE SUCCESS OF THE SMARTS PROGRAM HAS DEMONSTRATED THE VALUE OF HOLISTIC ARTS PROGRAMMING THAT HELPS STUDENTS IN OUR REGION TO GROW ARTISTICALLY AND ACADEMICALLY. AMONG OUR RECENT SUCCESSES, DANCE MAKERS IS MOST PROUD OF OUR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF ACCESS TO THE ARTS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. WE WERE ABLE TO REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT, PIVOTING SWIFTLY TO VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION, THEN TO AN IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL HYBRID MODEL.
- $353,268 spent. LEARN 24 PROGRAM BROWNE EDUCATION CAMPUS & PERRY STREET: GRANT FUND SUPPORTED THE SMARTS DESIGNED TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE AND TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC, RECREATIONAL AND OTHER ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SUCH AS TUTORING, DANCE, ART AND OTHER CULTURAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN. IT ALSO PROVIDES LIFE-LONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SMARTS FOCUSES ON ACADEMIC, ENRICHMENT, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER. THE SUCCESS OF THE SMARTS PROGRAM HAS DEMONSTRATED THE VALUE OF HOLISTIC ARTS PROGRAMMING THAT HELPS STUDENTS IN OUR REGION TO GROW ARTISTICALLY AND ACADEMICALLY. AMONG RECENT SUCCESSES, DANCE MAKERS IS MOST PROUD OF OUR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF ACCESS TO THE ARTS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. WE WERE ABLE TO REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT, PIVOTING SWIFTLY TO VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION, THEN TO AN IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL HYBRID MODEL.
Source: Form 990 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.