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Charlotte Ballet

EIN 58-1314711 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHARLOTTE BALLET'S MISSION: THROUGH DANCE, WE CREATE AUTHENTIC CONNECTIONS, ENGAGING AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES. CHARLOTTE BALLET'S VISION: WE INSPIRE INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL OF THE IMAGINATION.

Income
$19.0 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
157
Volunteers
148
Highest pay
$245,652, executive director

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 95% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    38 of 38 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 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 (3)
  1. $5.0 million spent. ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING: CHARLOTTE BALLET PRESENTS 5-6 PERFORMANCE SERIES OF CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY BALLET IN CHARLOTTE ANNUALLY, IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING ON TOUR LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY. THE ORGANIZATION EMPLOYS AN AVERAGE OF 28 DANCERS (20 FIRST COMPANY; 8 SECOND COMPANY) EACH SEASON. THE NATION'S TOP DANCERS ARE ATTRACTED TO CHARLOTTE BALLET'S RENOWNED ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP; THE DIVERSITY OF ITS CHOREOGRAPHERS AND CHALLENGING REPERTOIRE (BOTH CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY); AND A COMPETITIVE CONTRACT THAT INCLUDES A MINIMUM OF 36 WEEKS OF WORK PER YEAR IN PROGRAMMING, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND DANCE TRAINING, AND DIVERSE REPERTOIRE RANGING FROM FULL-LENGTH CLASSICAL BALLETS TO INNOVATIVE CONTEMPORARY WORKS. CHARLOTTE BALLET'S COLLECTIVE TALENTS PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE, STIMULATE, EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN AND ENRICH AUDIENCES.ALEJANDRO CERRUDO WAS HIRED IN MAY 2022 AS JUST THE FIFTH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR IN CHARLOTTE BALLET'S 50+ YEAR HISTORY. UNDER HIS ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP, CHARLOTTE BALLET WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF BALLET AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE, AS HIS ARTISTIC VISION IS TO "BUILD UPON THE COMPANY'S IDENTITY AS ONE OF QUALITY, CREATIVITY, AND RANGE, WHILE EMBRACING A PIONEERING PERSPECTIVE TO ENRICH THE ART FORM." IN THIS NEW ERA UNDER CERRUDO'S LEADERSHIP, CHARLOTTE BALLET IS POISED TO CONTINUE ITS MULTIFACETED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES, HIGH-CALIBER ACADEMY AND INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCES, AND GROW INTO A CREATIVE CULTURAL LEADER THAT STANDS FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WITHIN ITS OWN WALLS AND BEYOND.
  2. $316,150 spent. EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING: CHARLOTTE BALLET'SFLAGSHIP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, REACH, OFFERS BALLET AND WORLDDANCE TRAINING BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS AND DANCE ATTIRE FOR UPTO 120 STUDENTS ANNUALLY, ALL AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS' FAMILIES.CLASSES ARE CONDUCTED OVER 29 SEQUENTIAL WEEKS, IN FIVE COMMUNITYCENTERS ACROSS MECKLENBURG COUNTY. THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A RESULT OF APARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CHARLOTTE BALLET AND THE MECKLENBURG COUNTY PARK &RECREATION DEPARTMENT, IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OFCOUNTIES AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF "AN EFFECTIVE AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMWHICH CONTRIBUTES TO AND ENHANCES COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITEDSTATES AND THE NORTH CAROLINA RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION ARTSAND HUMANITIES. NOT ONLY DOES REACH OFFER ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY DANCE TRAINING AT NO COST, WITH CLASSES IN DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS MECKLENBURG COUNTY; IT ALSO OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMISING STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO TRAIN IN DANCE THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHARLOTTE BALLET ACADEMY, AS WELL AS MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR REACH GRADUATES THAT INCLUDE TEACHER ASSISTANT POSITIONS AND INTERNSHIPS. REACH SCHOLARSHIPSCOMPLEMENT NUMEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY CHARLOTTE BALLET ACADEMY TOTRAIN AT VARIOUS LEVELS. CHARLOTTE BALLET IS COMMITTED TO OFFERINGTALENTED, COMMITTED DANCERS ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING, REGARDLESSOF SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND, GEOGRAPHIC OR OTHER RESOURCE LIMITATIONS.IN ADDITION TO REACH, CHARLOTTE BALLET'S ANNUAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNITYENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDES COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES,BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS, AFTER-SCHOOL DANCE PROGRAMS, SUMMER ENRICHMENTPROGRAMS, SENIOR DRESS REHEARSALS, CURRICULUM-BASED ARTS EDUCATIONTHROUGH IN-CLASSROOM PROGRAMMING, DANCE-A-STORY WORKSHOPS,LECTURE-DEMONSTRATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL THEATER PERFORMANCES - ALL INPARTNERSHIP WITH AREA SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. APARTNERSHIP WITH INREACH (A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTSADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND OTHER DISABILITIES) OFFERSMEMBERS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS WEEKLY DANCE CLASSES BY CHARLOTTE BALLETTEACHING ARTISTS AND A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AT THE CENTER FOR DANCE.DURING THE MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL DANCE FESTIVAL, CHARLOTTE BALLET OFFERSA TWO-DAY FESTIVAL AT THE CENTER FOR DANCE, WITH MASTER CLASSES ANDAUDITIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE AND SUMMER DANCE PROGRAMS. A"SENSORY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE," GIVES INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY AUTISMSPECTRUM DISORDERS AND OTHER SENSORY, SOCIAL, AND COGNITIVEDISABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY A CHARLOTTE BALLET PERFORMANCEWITH A MODIFIED LEVEL OF SENSORY STIMULUS IN THE THEATER. IN TOTAL,CHARLOTTE BALLET'S ANNUAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTPROGRAMMING SERVES OVER 30,000 - APPROXIMATELY 85% OF WHOM ARECHILDREN/YOUTH.
  3. $1.5 million spent. DANCE TRAINING: THE OLDEST DANCE SCHOOL IN NORTH CAROLINA AFFILIATED WITH A PROFESSIONAL DANCE COMPANY, CHARLOTTE BALLET ACADEMY ANNUALLY ENROLLS OVER 900 STUDENTS AGES THREE TO ADULT FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. ALUMNI OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRAINING, THE PRE-PROFESSIONAL DIVISION, HAVE GONE ON TO DANCE AT AMERICAN SCHOOL OF BALLET, SAN FRANCISCO BALLET AND MORE; AND THE ACADEMY'S REPERTORY ENSEMBLE, A PERFORMANCE GROUP MADE OF TOP-LEVEL STUDENTS, IS DESIGNATED AS AN HONOR COMPANY WITH THE SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL BALLET ASSOCIATION.

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 October 13, 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 March 1978.

    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 October 21, 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.