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Dallas Black Dance Theatre

EIN 75-1756215 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE AND PRODUCE CONTEMPORARY AND MODERN DANCE AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT BRIDGE CULTURES AND REACH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$5.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
-3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
51
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$187,149, executive director

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: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% 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

    20 of 20

    It owes -128% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 81% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 41 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. $3.5 million spent. SEASON PERFORMANCES- FUNDING INCLUDE FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE GRANTS. -DANCE AFRICA (OCTOBER), DIRECTOR'S CHOICE (NOVEMBER), BEHIND THE SCENES (NOVEMBER), BLACK ON BLACK (DECEMBER), CULTURAL AWARENESS (FEBRUARY), DANCING BEYOND BORDERS WEST & NORTH (MARCH), RISING EXCELLENCE(APRIL), AND SPRING CELEBRATION(MAY). -INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACKS IN DANCE FESTIVAL(IABD - JANUARY)-LOCAL AND NATIONAL DANCE PERFORMANCES BY MASTER CHOREOGRAPHERS AND NEW WORKS BY CONTEMPORARY CHOREOGRAPHERS. -OUTDOOR FESTIVAL HELD FOR COMMUNITY WITH MARKET PLACE, LIVE PERFORMANCES AND ENTERTAINMENT IN CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN CULTURE THROUGH DANCE PERFORMANCES, MUSIC AND ARTS (DANCE AFRICA). -NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHERS CONTRIBUTE CULTURAL DIVERSITY (CULTURAL AWARENESS) -PROGRAM AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS (STUDENT MATINEES AND BEHIND THE SCENES) -DBDT PRODUCES A SEASON COMPRISED OF ELEVEN UNIQUE PRODUCTIONS HELD IN ARTS DISTRICT VENUES; (WYLY THEATRE, MOODY PERFORMANCE HALL, THE MAJESTIC AND THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER). IN-PERSON PERFORMANCES HAVE RETURNED TO 100% FULL CAPACITY WITH VIRTUAL LIVESTREAM AT AFFORDABLE RATES AND ON DEMAND RECORDING AVAILABLE FOR 48 HOURS.
  2. $478,052 spent. DALLAS BLACK DANCE ACADEMY- FUNDING IS COMING FROM CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION GRANTS. THE OFFICIAL SCHOOL OF DBDT, CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS OF DELIVERING EDUCATIONAL CLASSES/PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULT STUDENTS, DELIVERING DANCE INSTRUCTORS TO A COMMUNITY OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. -PROFESSIONAL DANCE INSTRUCTORS OFFER A VARIETY OF CLASSES FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AND LEVELS. MORE THAN 550+ STUDENTS PER WEEK IN 50 DANCE CLASSES WITH 4 LEVELS OF TRAINING WHICH INCLUDE BALLET, JAZZ, TAP AND AFRICAN. -EMPHASIS ON LIFE SKILLS AND DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-ESTEEM THROUGH SELF DISCIPLINE AND DIRECTED DANCE STUDIES IN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. -DBDA HAS 3 PERFORMING ENSEMBLES: ALLEGRO PERFORMING ENSEMBLE - DBDT'S PREMIER ACADEMY ENSEMBLE, THE SENIOR PERFORMING ENSEMBLE AND THE JUNIOR PERFORMNING ENSEMBLE. THE GROUPS PERFORM LOCALLY AT FESTIVALS AND VARIOUS EVENTS IN DALLAS-FORT WORTH METROPOLITAN AREA. -DBDA HAS TWO LEAD OUTREACH TEACHER AND HAS PROVIDED CLASSES FOR THE DANCE INTEGRATION PROGRAM AND THE BODIES IN MOTION PROGRAM THAT MEET TEKS STANDARDS TO 35 SCHOOLS IN DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH METROPLEX, DURING THE SY2023-2024. -SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO A SELECT NUMBER OF STUDENTS ANNUALLY -PERFORMANCE AWARDS CEREMONY AND PRESENTATION HELD AT END OF YEAR RECITAL IN MAY -IN PERSON CLASSES IS BACK IN FULL CAPACITY.
  3. $373,110 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

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 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 May 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 June 1986.

    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.