Kern Dance Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
to promote/expand understanding and appreciation of dance through education and performance outreach.
- Income
- $501,948
- Spending
- $533,620
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 78%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $112,308, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 88% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (6)
- $394,776 spent. California Creative Corps:The KDA Creative Corps (KDACC)is proud to release our final report, marking the successful conclusion of a transformative $4.2 million pilot program funded by the California Arts Council. Since its inception in October 2022, KDACC has created significant job opportunities and engaged artists and cultural workers in public service projects that enhance the quality of life across the Central Valley and Eastern Sierra regions.The KDACC initiative has made a meaningful impact across 14 counties and 154 zip codes, covering 46,217 square miles in underserved regions of California. Some of the major highlights of the report include:Job Creation and Workforce Hours: The KDACC projects generated over 972 jobs, equating to an impressive 60,605 workforce hours. This job creation has provided critical economic support to Central Californias creative sector, allowing artists and cultural workers to contribute substantially to their communities.Economic Impact and Regional Reach: With $4.2 million allocated to support diverse projects across the Central Valley and Eastern Sierra, KDACC made a lasting impact across historically underfunded areas, including Kern, Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties. These projects have reached communities within the lowest quartiles of the California Healthy Places Index (HPI), bringing investment and visibility to regions with traditionally limited access to arts funding.Empowering Underrepresented Populations: KDACC specifically focused on programs that engaged vulnerable groups, such as incarcerated youth, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, elderly residents, the unhoused, LGBTQI+ communities and Indigenous tribes. By providing new platforms for creative expression, these projects have empowered diverse groups and fostered greater inclusivity in Californias arts landscape.Enhanced Civic Engagement: KDACC-funded projects have spurred greater civic engagement and public service involvement through the arts. The program has strengthened social bonds by connecting artists with local communities and contributed to improved public health, mental well-being and civic pride.
- $65,650 spent. Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACYSummer 2024~ Number of Performances: 42~ Number of Locations: 20~ Number of Artists: 216~ Number of Participants: 3,869~ Number of Assessments: 973~ Number of FREE Books Given Away: 2,763Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACY, an award-nominated, evidence-based summer reading program that uses dance to promote literacy by focusing on Common Core Standards for Reading Literature returned to libraries across Kern County this summer. KDA, the Kern County Library, and12 Kern County dance organizations were proud to launch Books in Motion: DANCE + LITERACY with the goal of reducing summer slide by encouraging reading and promoting healthy living through movement and dance.Families were invited to visit Kern County library branches between July 8 August 3 to watch dance performances based upon 12 childrens books. Featuring books like Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess and Little Red Riding Hood by Mara Alerpin, children experienced the magic of a book brought to life through an artistic performance. To further enhance learning, children also learned a short dance that coincided with the books theme and created an accompanying craft to promote role playing.
- $21,727 spent. Special Events:SHINE for Girls: DANCE + MATH = SUCCESS: July 22 July 26, 2024The Dance Studio at Garces Memorial High School24 Students11 Student Mentors1 Lead MentorSHINE 2024 was offered for FREE during a summer camp, July 22 July 26 from 8:00 am 1:00 pm at the dance studio at Garces Memorial High School. The innovative program taught girls concepts such as probability and statistics, order of operations, fractions, decimals, pre-algebra, and geometry. Girls participated in one on one mentoring sessions, small group tutoring, kinesthetic learning activities like dance, and also learned from women in STEAM guest speakers.Open Stage: December 1, 2024The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater107 Artists400 AttendeesKDA was thrilled to have hosted Open Stage 2024, an initiative aimed at bringing artists, particularly dancers, to the renowned Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater to do what they do best perform on stage! Thanks to the support from the Fox Theater, participants had the opportunity to rent the stage for 1-2 hours absolutely FREE on Sunday, December 1. MEMORYMOVES: DANCE + THERAPY: December 16 20, 2024Alzheimers Disease Association of Kern County (ADAKC)49 Participants 1 Dance/Movement Therapist3 ArtistsMEMORY Moves was a 5 day Dance/Movement Therapy program working with the Alzheimers and Dementia population at ADAKC. The program utilized a Dance/Movement Therapist (DMT) to work with 49 enrolled participants over 5 days, culminating in a Nutcracker-themed performance that included clients, caregivers and staff. Groups met daily from 1:00-2:00pm. Groups included all clients that were present each day, and staff assisted to make sure that all clients were part of the group. Clients ranged from fairly high functioning (more ambulatory, with higher cognitive functioning,) to lower functioning, (low range of motion or confined to a wheelchair, with severe memory impairment.)
- $10,458 spent. National Dance Day: September 21, 2024Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater, and Convention CenterCelebrated annually across America on the 3rd Saturday in September, National Dance Day is focused on celebrating movers of all ages, levels, and abilities by commemorating a day meant to inspire Americans to keep dancing! KDA celebrated our national dance holiday by funding 10 projects that are centered on MOVING Kern County over the next year.Earlier this summer, KDA invited Kern County individuals and organizations to take center stage by submitting an application to become an awardee of the 2024 KDA National Dance Day $10,000 giveaway contest. Applicants were invited to apply for projects that were focused on dance/movements endeavors that impact all sectors, including healthcare and education. Each application was vetted by 21 adjudicators based upon a rubric and the applications earning the highest ranks were recommended for funding.
- $8,594 spent. ADAPTIdance: DANCE + DISABILITYSeptember 21 December 14, 2024Fruitvale Norris Multipurpose Room68 Participants 1 Program Director1 Program Coordinator16 Student Interns KDA and the League of Dreams (LoD) were proud to announce the expansion of our annual ADAPTIdance program, an adaptive dance program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ages 5 22. ADAPTIdance is taught by educators who have been trained by AXIS Dance Company, one of the nations most acclaimed performance ensembles of disabled and non-disabled dancers. ADAPTidance Program Director, Myka Steele, and Program Coordinator, Romy Jones, have spearheaded the expansion of the program. As veteran ADAPTIdance volunteers for several years, both Steele and Jones have earned the trust of not only the ADAPTIdancers, but also their families, by consistently volunteering for the program that hosts a forum for physical activity that is a model for kids of all abilities to collaborate as equals while educating about disability, collaboration, and inclusion through the medium of dance.
- $440 spent. NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY FOR DANCE ARTSKern Dance Alliance Secondary ChapterNHSDA Information Meeting March 6, 2024 via ZoomNHSDA Induction Ceremony May 5, 2024 at Bakersfield Country Club NHSDA Information MeetingKDA offered an information session on Wednesday, March 6 via Zoom for students interested in learning more about the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. Led by KDA Program Coordinator, Whitney Pascual, students were able to learn more about the USAs most prestigious honors society for dancers who excel in artistry, leadership, and academic achievements. Students learned about the application process and that they must submit their applications by April 1 to be considered for induction.KDA celebrated our sixth class of National Honor Society for Dance Arts / Kern Dance Alliance Secondary Chapter inductees at Bakersfield Country Club on May 5, 2024.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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