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Carolina Ballet Inc

EIN 56-1445383 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAROLINA BALLET'S MISSION IS TO PERFORM WORLD-CLASS PROFESSIONAL BALLET, ENTERTAINING AND ENLIGHTENING AUDIENCES IN RALEIGH, THE TRIANGLE REGION, THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND BEYOND. CAROLINA BALLET WORKS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION BY (CONT. ON SCH. O)1) ATTRACTING, DEVELOPING ENLIGHTENING DANCERS AND ARTISTIC PERSONNEL COMBINED WITH A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS; 2) COMMISSIONING NEW WORKS BY INNOVATIVE CHOREOGRAPHERS; 3) PRESENTING TRADITIONAL BALLETS OF LEGENDARY MASTERS; AND 4) EDUCATING CURRENT AND FUTURE AUDIENCES THROUGH PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS AND OTHER PERFORMANCE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
114
Volunteers
78
Highest pay
$170,958, artistic director/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $7.9 million spent. CAROLINA BALLET OFFERS CLASSICAL WORKS, TRADITIONAL STORY BALLETS, AND INNOVATIVE NEW CHOREOGRAPHY, AS WELL AS AN ANNUAL NUTCRACKER PROGRAM. WE PERFORM APPROXIMATELY 75-80 TIMES EACH SEASON. EACH YEAR, WE DONATE OVER 2,500 TICKETS TO COMMUNITY SERVICE NONPROFITS AND PERFORM A "FREE" NUTCRACKER COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE IN DECEMBER. SINCE 1998, WE HAVE PRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 1,150 PERFORMANCES TO MORE THAN 1M PEOPLE.THE BALLET HAS REACHED MORE THAN 100,000 CHILDREN (PRE-K TO HIGH SCHOOL) THROUGH VARIOUS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. SUCH AS DANCERS IN SCHOOLS WHICH PRESENTS HANDS-ON BALLET DEMONSTRATIONS BY PROFESSIONAL DANCERS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OWE CONTINUE TO TRAIN AND ENGAGE YOUNG AND EMERGING DANCERS THROUGH OUR RUTH S. SHUR SUMMER INTENSIVE, ONE OF THE TOP-RATED SUMMER BALLET TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY. OUR SCHOOL OF CAROLINA BALLET (SCB) OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DANCE TRAINING AFTER SCHOOL FOR AGES 6 AND UP. SCB PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR GENDER.CAROLINA BALLET IS PROUD OF OUR ORGANIZATION'S RESILIENCE, ADAPTABILITY, AND FLEXIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. WE RECENTLY CELEBRATED OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY DURING FY 2022-2023, MARKING AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN OUR JOURNEY. IN ADDITION TO OUR CORE PROGRAMS, OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CEO DEMONSTRATES A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY BY TEACHING AT THE WOMEN'S HOMELESS SHELTER AND LEADING CLASSES FOR THE WAKE COUNTY FOSTER PROGRAM HERE AT OUR STUDIOS, EXPANDING OUR REACH AND IMPACT BEYOND THE STAGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 October 1985.

    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.