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Circus Arts Conservatory Inc

EIN 65-0786312 · Sarasota, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 59 cents.

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

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$8.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
82
Volunteers
270
Highest pay
$197,497, ceo (until 11-11-24)

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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 59 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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 (1)
  1. $7.5 million spent. PERFORMANCECAC PRODUCES AND PRESENTS PROFESSIONAL CIRCUS PRODUCTIONS FEATURING INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS AND ATHLETES UNDER THE BIG TOP AND IN THEATER VENUES, ATTRACTING LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL AUDIENCES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, CAC PRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 250 PERFORMANCES, SERVING AN ESTIMATED 117,000 ATTENDEES. THIS PROGRAM ELEVATES THE VISIBILITY AND RELEVANCE OF THE CIRCUS ARTS AND POSITIONS SARASOTA AS A LEADING DESTINATION FOR HIGH-CALIBER CIRCUS PERFORMANCE.TRAININGCAC OPERATES THE SAILOR CIRCUS ACADEMY, THE NATION'S LONGEST-RUNNING YOUTH CIRCUS, DELIVERING STRUCTURED TRAINING IN CIRCUS ARTS COMBINED WITH PERSONAL, ARTISTIC, AND ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, YOUTH TRAINING PROGRAMS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,980 STUDENTS THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, IN-SCHOOL TRAINING PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND RECREATIONAL CLASSES. INSTRUCTION EMPHASIZES DISCIPLINE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY. STUDENTS PROGRESS THROUGH DEFINED SKILL LEVELS, PARTICIPATE IN REHEARSAL PROCESSES, AND PERFORM IN FRONT OF LIVE AUDIENCES, WHERE THEY ARE EXPECTED TO MEET ESTABLISHED STANDARDS AND CONTRIBUTE TO ENSEMBLE WORK.OUTREACHCAC'S EDUCATION PROGRAMMING BRINGS THE CLASSROOM TO LIFE IN WAYS FEW OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CAN. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES THE ONLY ACADEMIC MAGNET CIRCUS ARTS PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES. FOR PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THE PROGRAM SERVES AS A CREDIT-BEARING COMPONENT OF THEIR ACADEMIC CURRICULUM. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTEND STRUCTURED CLASS SESSIONS AT THE CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY ARENA, WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TRANSPORTED TO THE FACILITY AS PART OF THE SCHOOL DAY. INSTRUCTION EMPHASIZES PHYSICAL WELLNESS, CREATIVITY, COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, AND DISCIPLINE, ALL DELIVERED THROUGH THE LENS OF THE CIRCUS ARTS.AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, CAC DELIVERED A CIRCUS SCIENCE CURRICULUM TO APPROXIMATELY 2,750 FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS LOCAL SCHOOLS. THE CURRICULUM USES CIRCUS-BASED INSTRUCTION TO MAKE PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS AND APPLIED SCIENCE TANGIBLE, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF NEWTON'S LAWS OF MOTION. THIS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODEL REINFORCES CLASSROOM TEACHING, SUPPORTS STUDENT PREPARATION FOR THE FLORIDA STATEWIDE SCIENCE ASSESSMENT, AND STRENGTHENS DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, AND COMMUNICATION ALONG THE WAY.LEGACYCAC PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PRESERVING AND ADVANCING SARASOTA'S HISTORIC CONNECTION TO THE CIRCUS ARTS. THE CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY WAS BORN FROM DECADES OF SARASOTA CIRCUS HISTORY AND CONTINUES TO SAFEGUARD AND PROMOTE THIS LEGACY. AS THE SARASOTA COMMUNITY APPROACHES THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF CIRCUS IN 2027, CAC CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A STEWARD OF THIS LEGACY, HONORING TRADITION WHILE INTRODUCING INNOVATION THAT REFLECTS THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF THE PERFORMING ARTS. THESE LEGACY-FOCUSED EFFORTS REINFORCE THE ORGANIZATION'S LONG-TERM VISION AND SUSTAIN SARASOTA'S IDENTITY AS A GLOBAL CENTER FOR CIRCUS ARTS.

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 February 1998.

    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.