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Empower Dance Foundation

EIN 82-1726612 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUPPORT DANCE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Income
$121,812
Spending
$120,039
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Highest pay
$11,850, executive director

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 (4)
  1. $45,602 spent. OUTREACH PROGRAM. DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS,THE OUTREACH PROGRAM REACHED MORE THAN 50 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CORNWALLIS COMMUNITY THROUGH ACTIVITIES HOSTED AT THE WEAVER STREET COMMUNITY CENTER. PARTICIPANTS WERE PROVIDED WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DANCE TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
  2. $16,035 spent. TUITION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG DANCERS, THE PROGRAM AWARDED 16 TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS FOR ADVANCED TRAINING AT EMPOWER SCHOOL OF MOVEMENT, CHOSEN FOR CHRIST DANCE STUDIO, AND CAROLINA BALLET DANCE STUDIO. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS HELPED REDUCE FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND ENSURED PARTICIPANTS HAD ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY DANCE EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. EDF ALSO SPONSORED THE COMMUNITY'S HOLIDAY EVENT, WHICH WELCOMED PARTICIPATION FROM MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES WHO ENJOYED PERFORMANCES PRESENTED BY THE DANCERS. IN ADDITION, EDF ORGANIZED A TRIP FOR PARTICIPATING YOUTH TO ATTEND A PERFORMANCE OF THE NUTCRACKER IN RALEIGH BY CAROLINA BALLET, WHERE SEVERAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS WERE PERFORMING. THIS EXPERIENCE EXPOSED STUDENTS TO PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL DANCEPRODUCTIONS WHILE CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LOCAL YOUNG ARTISTS.
  3. $10,192 spent. E3 SUMMER PROGRAM - E3 EMPOWER, ENGAGE, EXCITE.YOUTH PARTICIPANTS WERE PROVIDED WITH A 10-DAY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO NURTURE BOTH THEIR EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING THROUGH DANCE INSTRUCTION, CREATIVE EXPRESSION, AND CULTURAL EXPLORATION. THE PROGRAM CREATED A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS COULD BUILD CONFIDENCE, DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, AND SELF-EXPRESSION WHILE DEVELOPING THEIR ARTISTIC SKILLS. TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY AND FULL PARTICIPATION, THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED LUNCH, DANCE ATTIRE, AND DAILY SNACKS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS.
  4. $2,820 spent. FUNDS WERE USED TO TAKE YOUTH TO OUTSIDE PROGRAMS TO EXPOSE THEM TO CULTURAL EVENTS, BALLETS, MUSICALS AND RECITALS.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 December 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 2017.

    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.