Berkeley Ballet Theatre Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Berkeley Ballet Theater offers the highest quality dance training from beginning to professional levels, supports a preprofessional youth company, introduces ballet to young audiences through an outreach program, is committed to access, diversity and equity in students and faculty, offers special classes to boys and provides economic assistance to promising dancers in need of financial assistance.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 77%
- Employees
- 70
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $85,019, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (5)
- $567,177 spent. Youth Division: BBT's Youth Division provides dancers with the opportunity to study classical ballet in a disciplined, professional atmosphere that is also supportive of each student's unique talents, passions, and creative voice. Our commitment to offering a rigorous syllabus in an inclusive space, equips students with exceptional training that can launch them into a professional dance career or a lifelong, meaningful connection to ballet. The nurturing, encouraging, and body positive environment at BBT also gives students the confidence and persistence to make an impact in whatever life path they choose. Each dancer in BBTs Youth Division matriculates through the curriculum at a different pace. Unlike academic learning, dancers often progress through their training in a non-linear fashion, experiencing bursts of growth that can be followed by seemingly long periods of plateau in which a deepening of core values is built up to support the dancers next leap forward.
- $315,098 spent. Adult Open Division: BBTs Adult Open Division offers weekly classes at all levels led by a member of BBTs celebrated Faculty and featuring live accompaniment at Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Classes are designed for dancers to begin at any time Please see the Level descriptions below to select an appropriate class. BBTs Open Division combines the highest level of ballet training with a positive atmosphere that cultivates community and celebrates individuality.
- $189,059 spent. Post:ballet: Berkeley Ballet Theater is the official school of Post:ballet, the acclaimed contemporary dance company founded in 2009 by Artistic Director Robin Dekkers, named 25 to Watch by DANCE Magazine. Berkeley Ballet Theaters dancers and community are connected to the creative process of a professional company that has gained local and national recognition for making work that is inventive, focused, sophisticated, and anything but risk averse SF Chronicle. Offering professional-level performance opportunities and inspiring workshop experiences to BBT dancers, this partnership amplifies both organizations shared values of artistic excellence, inclusivity, passion, and imagination. Whether a dancer is interested in pursuing pre-professional training in the Youth Division or experiencing the joy of movement in the Adult Division, this partnership with Post:ballet enriches each dancers experience at BBT and cultivates a collaborative relationship between members of both organizations communities. In March 2025, BBT disbanded the professional company, Post:ballet. The company performed one final program at the end of January 2025.
- $126,039 spent. Pre-Ballet Division: Berkeley Ballet Theater is honored to guide young dancers through their introduction to ballet. BBT's Pre-Ballet Division faculty have expertise in both the art of dance and early childhood development. Our goal is to support our dancers both as artists and people and we are here to facilitate the process of finding the class that best serves dancers and their families. Dancers in BBT's Pre-Ballet Division are introduced to fundamental elements of dance training, including physical movement, creative play, exploration of rhythm and shape, and spatial awareness. Our young dancers learn important community building skills, including taking turns, patience, listening, focus, self-respect, and respect for others. All of these skills are meant to prepare our young dancers to thrive and grow in their love of dance as they move on to the increasingly rigorous training provided in the Youth Division.
- $63,020 spent. Dance for PD is a movement program developed through a collaboration between the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group, based on the idea that professional dancers can help people with Parkinsons disease improve movement, balance, rhythm, and coordination. Classes are designed for individuals with Parkinsons at any stage, require no dance experience, and combine various dance styles with live music in a supportive, social, and enjoyable environment. The program offers free, weekly in-studio classes for dancers with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1981.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.