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Dance Aspen

EIN 86-2924498 · Aspen, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DANCEASPEN ADVANCES CONTEMPORARY DANCE THROUGH PERFORMANCE, CREATION, AND EDUCATION. WE BRING ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER THROUGH BOLD CHOREOGRAPHY, MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION, AND TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES ON STAGE, IN SCHOOLS, AND ACROSS COMMUNITIES.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$937,275
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
20.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
15
Highest pay
$101,532, exec/artisti

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $725,633 spent. IN 2025, DANCEASPEN EXPANDED ITS ARTISTIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH A DYNAMIC SEASON OF PERFORMANCE, NEW CREATION, AND OUTREACH. THE COMPANY PRESENTED SEVEN PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND MULTIPLE SPECIAL EVENTS, REACHING MORE THAN 3,200 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS COLORADO AND WYOMING. THE SEASON INCLUDED TWO MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS AT THE WHEELER OPERA HOUSE-EMBER GLOW AND SHIFTING FORMS-AS WELL AS APPEARANCES AT TACAW, THE VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL, AND TOURING ENGAGEMENTS IN FORT COLLINS, CRESTED BUTTE, RIFLE, AND GILLETTE. DANCEASPEN COMMISSIONED AND PREMIERED 11 NEW WORKS BY COMPANY ARTISTS AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CHOREOGRAPHERS, INCLUDING PRINCESS GRACE AWARD RECIPIENTS AND LEADING CONTEMPORARY DANCE MAKERS. THROUGH DANCESTART AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED MORE THAN 1,200 STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SENIORS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ACROSS THE ROARING FORK VALLEY AND BEYOND. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS, FREE PERFORMANCES, MASTERCLASSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE ASPEN ART MUSEUM, HOTEL JEROME, PITKIN COUNTY SENIOR CENTER, BEST BUDDIES, ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL, AND TACAW ENGAGED MORE THAN 900 PARTICIPANTS. DANCEASPEN FURTHER ADVANCED ACCESS TO THE ARTS BY PROVIDING MORE THAN 1,100 FREE TICKETS AND PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCES, REINFORCING ITS COMMITMENT TO MAKING WORLD-CLASS CONTEMPORARY DANCE ACCESSIBLE TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE REGION. IN 2025, DANCEASPEN EXPANDED ITS ARTISTIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH A DYNAMIC SEASON OF PERFORMANCE, NEW CREATION, AND OUTREACH. THE COMPANY PRESENTED SEVEN PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AND MULTIPLE SPECIAL EVENTS, REACHING MORE THAN 3,200 AUDIENCE MEMBERS ACROSS COLORADO AND WYOMING. THE SEASON INCLUDED TWO MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS AT THE WHEELER OPERA HOUSE-EMBER GLOW AND SHIFTING FORMS-AS WELL AS APPEARANCES AT TACAW, THE VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL, AND TOURING ENGAGEMENTS IN FORT COLLINS, CRESTED BUTTE, RIFLE, AND GILLETTE. DANCEASPEN COMMISSIONED AND PREMIERED 11 NEW WORKS BY COMPANY ARTISTS AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CHOREOGRAPHERS, INCLUDING PRINCESS GRACE AWARD RECIPIENTS AND LEADING CONTEMPORARY DANCE MAKERS. THROUGH DANCESTART AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED MORE THAN 1,200 STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SENIORS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ACROSS THE ROARING FORK VALLEY AND BEYOND. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS, FREE PERFORMANCES, MASTERCLASSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE ASPEN ART MUSEUM, HOTEL JEROME, PITKIN COUNTY SENIOR CENTER, BEST BUDDIES, ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL, AND TACAW ENGAGED MORE THAN 900 PARTICIPANTS. DANCEASPEN FURTHER ADVANCED ACCESS TO THE ARTS BY PROVIDING MORE THAN 1,100 FREE TICKETS AND PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCES, REINFORCING ITS COMMITMENT TO MAKING WORLD-CLASS CONTEMPORARY DANCE ACCESSIBLE TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

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 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 March 2022.

    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.