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Cashion Cultural Legacy

EIN 93-1203502 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CASHION CULTURAL LEGACY (CCL) IS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINING THE PRESERVATION, PRESENTATION, AND EDUCATION OF MEXICAN FOLK CULTURE THROUGH DANCE. IN HONOR AND RECOGNITION OF DR. SUSAN V. CASHION AND HER MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DANCE WORLD, THE CCL PURSUES THIS MISSION BY OPERATING A PROFESSIONAL MEXICAN FOLK DANCE COMPANY, OFFERING ACCESSIBLE CLASSES TO THE COMMUNITY, SPONSORING AN ARTIST EXCHANGE OF DANCERS, DIRECTORS, AND CHOREOGRAPHERS BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND MÉXICO, AND RESEARCHING AND DOCUMENTING THE ART FORM.

Income
$919,268
Spending
$681,002
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
100.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 37%
Employees
16
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$48,708, executive director until nov 2024

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 100.8 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 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 69% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 (4)
  1. $245,212 spent. LOS LUPENOS DE SAN JOSE & LOS LUPENOS JUVENIL - OUR ADULT DANCE COMPANY, LOS LUPEÑOS, AND OUR YOUTH ENSEMBLE, LOS LUPENOS JUVENIL, REHEARSE AND PERFORM YEAR-ROUND AT THE MEXICAN HERITAGE PLAZA IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA (MANAGED BY THE NONPROFIT SCHOOL OF ARTS AND CULTURE) AND ONE DAY/WEEK AT THE NONPROFIT STARTING ARTS STUDIOS, ALSO IN SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA. BOTH DANCE COMPANIES REHEARSE 2 TO 3 TIMES A WEEK FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS/WEEK/COMPANY. ALL DANCERS ARE VOLUNTEERS AND WE PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, ACCESS TO RESIDENT MASTER ARTISTS, RESEARCH TRIP PARTICIPATION, AND ACCURATE REGIONAL COSTUMING FOR THEM. IN FY 2024 WE HELD 2 SELF-SPONSORED DANCE EVENTS WHICH INCLUDED 1 OUTDOOR COMMUNITY FESTIVAL AND 1 INDOOR THEATER CONCERT. FOR THOSE THAT COULD NOT ATTEND, WE OFFERED ON-DEMAND ACCESS TO THE CONCERT AND FREE ONLINE ACCESS TO A VIDEO OF THE ENTIRE 5+ HOUR TALENT PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY FESTIVAL. OUR DANCE COMPANIES ALSO PERFORMED AT CLIENT-CONTRACTED OR PRO-BONO PERFORMANCES FOR WEDDINGS, FESTIVALS, CORPORATE PARTIES, ETC. WE ESTIMATE THAT DURING FY 2024 OUR DANCE COMPANIES PERFORMED IN FRONT OF AN ESTIMATED 21,665 AUDIENCE MEMBERS AT 40 COMMUNITY OR PRIVATE EVENTS WITH THOUSANDS MORE SEEING WHOLE OR PARTIAL VIDEOS POSTED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TIKTOK.
  2. $244,267 spent. LOS LUPENOS ACADEMY - OUR DANCE ACADEMY CONTINUED OFFERING A SELECTION OF IN-PERSON FOLKLÓRICO DANCE CLASSES DURING FY 2024. OUR TYPICAL YEAR OFFERS FOUR 10-WEEK QUARTERLY SESSIONS, EACH WITH 14 CLASS OFFERINGS TO ALL AGES, STARTING WITH TODDLERS UP TO ADVANCED ADULTS. TUITION AID OF UP TO 85% ENCOURAGES FAMILY PARTICIPATION WHERE, DUE TO THEIR ECONOMIC SITUATION, THEY COULD NOT AFFORD EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THIS AID IS FUNDED BY PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS RAISED DURING THE ANNUAL GIVING TUESDAY CAMPAIGN. IN FY 2024 OUR ACADEMY TAUGHT 751 STUDENTS AND HAD OVER 3,000 PEOPLE ATTEND SESSION RECITALS.
  3. $13,888 spent. ARTIST EXCHANGE/ARTIST RESIDENCY PROJECT- A GROUP OF 5 DANCERS PLUS OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TRAVELED TO OAXACA, MÉXICO TO TAKE MASTER CLASSES, ATTEND LECTURES & PRESENTATIONS, OBSERVE COSTUME CONSTRUCTION BY GENERATIONAL ARTISANS, AND EXPERIENCE THE WONDER AND ENERGY OF THE QUINTESSENTIAL GUELAGUETZA, AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL WHERE ALL 8 REGIONS OF OAXACA ARE REPRESENTED WITH MUSIC, DANCE, ARTISAN WARES, AND FOOD. LEARNINGS, VIDEOS, AND NEW DANCES HAVE BEEN SHARED AND REVIEWED DURING REHEARSALS. MUCH OF THE MATERIAL WILL APPEAR IN DIFFERENT EVENTS DURING THE NEXT TWO SEASONS.
  4. $10,117 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE PUBLICATIONS PROJECT AND ARCHIVES: DURING FY2024 WE BENEFITED BY RECEIVING AN ARCHIVAL INTERNSHIP SPONSORED BY DANCE/USA. THE ASSIGNED ARCHIVIST FOCUSED ON CREATING AN ARCHIVAL STRUCTURE THAT MET THE NEEDS FOR A PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION AND SPECIFICALLY DANCE. THE FIRST INROADS WERE MADE TO BEGIN TO POPULATE THE DATABASE STRUCTURE WITH VIDEOS, MUSIC, AND DOCUMENTS FROM AS FAR BACK AS THE EARLY 1970S (LOS LUPEÑOS WAS FOUNDED IN 1969).

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 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 June 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 October 1996.

    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.

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