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Bare Bait Dance

EIN 85-3481283 · Missoula, MT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BARE BAIT DANCE WITH WESTSIDE THEATER COMMITS TO NURTURING THE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, AND PRESENTATION OF THE PERFORMING ARTS IN WESTERN MONTANA, PARTICULARLY CELEBRATING DANCE AND CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE.

Income
$282,852
Spending
$291,190
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 68%
Employees
16
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$32,592, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $118,883 spent. BBD PROFESSIONAL COMPANY SEASON: THE WESTSIDE THEATRE/BARE BAIT DANCE SEASON INCLUDES FIVE MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS, FEATURING NEW WORKS BY OUR IN-HOUSE COMPANY AS WELL AS PERFORMANCES BY ACCLAIMED GUEST ARTISTS. WE PROVIDE PAID PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL DANCERS, NURTURING THEIR CREATIVE WORK AS CHOREOGRAPHERS AND FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND AS TEACHERS WHILE COLLABORATING WITH ARTISTS OF OTHER DISCIPLINES. WE ENRICH MONTANA WITH HIGH-QUALITY, ORIGINAL DANCE PERFORMANCES FOR THOUSANDS OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS EACH YEAR.
  2. $48,633 spent. RENTALS AND REVENUE SHARE: WESTSIDE THEATER IS AN IDEAL SPACE FOR ARTISTS OF ALL DISCIPLINES TO TEACH, COLLABORATE, AND SHARE THEIR WORK. IT ALSO IS A MULTI-USE VENUE TO HOST SPECIAL EVENTS THAT NEED A LITTLE MORE PIZZAZ! WE OFFER A COLLABORATIVE SPACE FOR LOCAL AND TOURING ARTISTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK, GROW THEIR PROJECTS, AND SHARE IN THEIR SUCCESS WHILE DEEPENDING THE COMMUNITY'S APPRECIATION FOR CONTEMPORARY DANCE THROUGH PERFORMANCES BY NATIONAL GUEST ARTISTS/COMPANIES PRESENTED BY THE WESTSIDE THEATER. OUR ORGANIZATION SHARES IN THE PRODUCTION RISK BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING OUR FELLOW MAKERS. THROUGH ARTIST LAB, WE EMPOWER PROFESSIONAL MOVEMENT ARTISTS WITH AFFORDABLE STUDIO ACCESS AND PROFIDE 100 HOURS AT NO COST FOR REHEARSAL AND PROCESS TIME THROUGH BARE-SUMMER RESIDENCY EXPERIENCE.
  3. $48,633 spent. MOVEMENT EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES: WE CONNECT 100'S OF WESTERN MONTANANS WITH DIVERSE DANCE AND MOVEMENT EXPERIENCES TO TRAIN, PERFORM, AND/OR BE IN ARTISTIC DIALOGUE. WE WELCOME EVERYONE FROM TEENS TO OLDER ADULTS, NOVICES TO PROFESSIONALS, THROUGH OUR BBD COMPANY CLASS, MONTANA DANCE EDUCATORS (MODE PROGRAM) IN MISSOULA HIGH SCHOOLS, AND OUR OFFERINGS AT WESTSIDE THEATER-REVEAL MASTERCLASS SERIES AND WEEKLY COMMUNITY CLASSES AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2021.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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