Houston Swing Dance Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HSDS preserves and celebrates Lindy Hop and swing dance culture through dance education, social dances, workshops, outreach, historical preservation, and programs honoring the legacy of Frankie Manning and the swing-era dance community.
- Income
- $418,368
- Spending
- $387,586
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $8,500, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 September 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 (5)
- $132,564 spent. LINDYFEST IS THE LARGEST SWING WORKSHOP AND COMPETITION THAT IS HELD IN THE SOUTHWEST TO PROMOTE THE PRESERVATION OF THE SWING/LINDY STYLE OF DANCE.
- $142,803 spent. THE INTERNATIONAL SWING DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS IS A YEARLY EVENT DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF URBAN SWING DANCING. IT INSPIRES A NEW GENERATION OF SWING DANCERS THROUGH ENJOYABLE CLASSES, ELECTRIFYING COMPETITIONS, AND AMAZING SOCIAL DANCES.
- $5,419 spent. THE INTERNATIONAL LINDY HOP CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE HELD TO PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE AND SPIRIT OF LINDY HOP WHILE GIVING THE DANCE THE RESPECT AND HONOR IT DESERVES.
- $8,885 spent. The Black Lindy Hoppers Fund supports established and developing dancers, musicians, researchers, and community builders of African and African Diasporic heritage. The program supports legacy-building exchanges, youth programming, mentorship, residencies, community building, and stewardship to preserve and strengthen the cultural roots of Lindy Hop and jazz dance.
- $66,746 spent. HSDS supports a variety of ongoing programs that further its mission of preserving and celebrating Lindy Hop and swing dance culture. Program services include recurring swing dance and Lindy Hop classes, beginner and progressive instruction, community social dances, and special workshops designed to expand access to and awareness of swing-era dance and music. During the year, HSDS also hosted special community dance events and educational workshops, including swing and Balboa instruction. These activities provide opportunities for dancers of varying experience levels to learn, participate, and connect while fostering cultural preservation, intergenerational learning, artistic education, and community building through the arts.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.