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White Bird

EIN 93-1263353 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WHITE BIRD IS COMMITTED TO BRINGING THE BEST PORTLAND-BASED, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL DANCE COMPANIES TO PORTLAND, OREGON AND TO FOSTERING THE GROWTH OF DANCE IN THE REGION. WHITE BIRD WILL DO THIS THROUGH PRESENTING ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING COMPANIES AND CHOREOGRAPHERS, COMMISSIONING OR CO-COMMISSIONING NEW WORK, AND COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN PORTLAND AND THE REGION TO MAKE DANCE PERFORMANCES POSSIBLE.WHITE BIRD STRONGLY BELIEVES IN MAKING DANCE EXCITING, EDUCATIONAL, AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, YOUNG AND OLD, OF ALL SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS, AND WILL SEEK TO REALIZE THESE GOALS THROUGH CONTRIBUTED INCOME AND SPONSORSHIPS, WHICH WILL FACILITATE OUTREACH TO SCHOOLS AND KEEP TICKET PRICES AFFORDABLE. AS AN ADVOCATE FOR DANCE, WHITE BIRD WILL STRIVE TO BROADEN AUDIENCES, DEVELOP NEW DANCE VENUES, AND SUPPORT BOTH EXISTING AND NEW DANCE PROGRAMS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
8
Volunteers
130
Highest pay
$77,391, 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

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 67% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. WHITE BIRD'S 2024-25 SEASON FEATURED NINE DANCE COMPANIES FROM ACROSS THE U.S. AND AROUND THE GLOBE, DIVIDED INTO A FOUR-SHOW WHITE BIRD DANCE SERIES, THREE-SHOW UNCAGED SERIES, AND TWO-SHOW WE ARE ONE FESTIVAL. THIS SEASON WE RENEWED OUR COMMITMENT TO PRESENTING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, WITH HALF OF OUR PROGRAMS FEATURING COMPANIES FROM BRAZIL, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH KOREA, AND SPAIN. IN NOVEMBER 2024 WE CONTINUED THE LEGACY OF PRESENTING COMPANIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD WITH OKAREKA DANCE COMPANY FROM AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND. WE CLOSED OUR SEASON WITH GRUPO CORPO, BRAZIL'S MOST CELEBRATED CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY. IN OCTOBER, WE WELCOMED BODYTRAFFIC FOR THEIR PORTLAND DEBUT, AND THROUGHOUT THE SEASON WE INTRODUCED NEW TICKET DISCOUNTS AND EXPANDED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO KEEP WORLD-CLASS DANCE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS SEASON WAS OUR PRESENTATION OF THE MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY AT THE ARLENE SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL, CELEBRATING THE CENTENARY OF AMERICA'S OLDEST MODERN DANCE COMPANY. OVER 2,100 PEOPLE JOINED US FOR THIS HISTORIC EVENT, WHICH FEATURED GRAHAM MASTERWORKS ALONGSIDE NEWLY COMMISSIONED WORKS. OUR SEASON ALSO INCLUDED LANDMARK PERFORMANCES BY LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO, NOCHE FLAMENCA, AND CHANGMU DANCE COMPANY, REFLECTING OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, CULTURAL EXCHANGE, AND ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE. BUILDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION, WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN WHITE BIRD AS PORTLAND'S VIBRANT HOME FOR DANCE.

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 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 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 June 1999.

    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.