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Down for Dance

EIN 82-2389441 · Newport Beach, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITIES TO BUILD A STRONGER SENSE OF SELF THROUGH DANCE AND THE ARTS.

Income
$417,811
Spending
$362,134
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 62%
Employees
11
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$73,415, artistic director/board member

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
  1. $299,645 spent. WE PROVIDE DANCE & ARTS CLASSES AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. IN 2025, WE TRANSITIONED OUR PROGRAMMING FROM 4 SESSIONS PER YEAR TO 3 SESSIONS PER YEAR BY COMBINING OUR WINTER AND SPRING SESSIONS INTO A LONGER 20 WEEK SESSION. THIS ALLOWED US TO OFFER OUR STUDENTS 2 ADDITIONAL WEEKS OF PROGRAMMING ALONG WITH MORE CONTINUOUS AND CONSISTENT PROGRAMMING SINCE WE REMOVED THE BREAK BETWEEN WINTER AND SPRING. THIS EXTENDED SCHEDULE CONTRIBUTED TO AN 18% GROWTH IN PROGRAM HOURS FOR STUDENTS.IN THE FALL OF 2025, 12 OF OUR 18 CLASSES WERE SOLD OUT WITH WAITING LISTS. AS OF JANUARY 2026, THERE ARE 102 STUDENTS ON WAITLISTS FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES. ACROSS OUR IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PROGRAMS, WE PROVIDED 57 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING OVER $20K TO STUDENTS AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO NEVER TURN A STUDENT AWAY FOR INABILITY TO PAY. 2025 BROUGHT MANY EXCITING ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR DOWN FOR DANCE: WE PROVIDED MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE TRAINED AND GREW OUR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT TEAM, AND WE FOSTERED PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY.TO CREATE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE: HOSTED 12 ONLINE SHOWCASES AND PERFORMED AT 16 IN-PERSON SHOWS & COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDING: THE ROLLETTE'S BOUNDLESS TALENT SHOWCASE; THE MUSIC CENTER'S 46TH ANNUAL VERY SPECIAL ARTS FESTIVAL; CA-LEND; AMONG OTHERS. HOSTED OUR FIRST-EVER WORKSHOPS CO-TAUGHT BY DFD ASSISTANTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME. HOSTED OUR 6TH ANNUAL MUSICAL THEATER SUMMER CAMP - A FUN-FILLED WEEK OF DANCING, SINGING, ACTING, KARAOKE & ART; 2 FORMER BROADWAY PERFORMERS JOINED OUR CAMP FACULTY THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS A HIGHLIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS. HOSTED OUR ANNUAL ASSISTANT CLASS/TRAINING FOR 7 OF OUR ASSISTANTS. FILMED AND PRODUCED 2 MUSIC VIDEOS WITH OUR JAZZ CONTEMPORARY STUDENTS. SUPPORTED A WEEKEND WORKSHOP ON THE EAST COAST TO CONNECT WITH ONLINE STUDENTS. TO FOSTER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WE: TAUGHT AT ALL 3 RAD CAMPS FOR THE FIRST TIME (CAMPS FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITIES). TAUGHT AT CAMP PALS IN LA (CAMPS FOR INDIVIDUALS OF ALL ABILITIES). PARTNERED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT AND BETTER SERVE THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY INCLUDING: DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF ORANGE COUNTY AND THE DEAR MOM CONFERENCE IN LAGUNA BEACH. HAD OUR FIRST VIRAL VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA FEATURING OUR BOARD MEMBER, COLE (4.2 MILLION VIEWS) AND HAVE GAINED 1700 FOLLOWERS (95% INCREASE IN FOLLOWERS).

Source: Form 990 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 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 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 September 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 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.