San Francisco Ballet Endowment Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1980 AND IN 1981 MADE ITS FIRST DISTRIBUTION TO THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION (THE ASSOCIATION), A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. (SEE SCHEDULE O) SINCE INCEPTION, STRONG INVESTMENT RETURNS AND CONTRIBUTIONS, PRIMARILY FROM ESTATES AND FROM DONORS, HAVE GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND INCREASED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ENDOWMENT TO THE ASSOCIATION'S REVENUE STREAM. THE FOUNDATION IS INCORPORATED AS A SEPARATE NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING AND MANAGING ENDOWMENT FUNDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ASSOCIATION. IT SEEKS TO PROVIDE THE ASSOCIATION WITH A RELIABLE SOURCE OF SUPPORT WHILE PROTECTING ITS INVESTMENTS AGAINST INFLATION AND WIDE SWINGS IN THE CAPITAL MARKETS SO THAT THE ASSOCIATION MAY CONTINUE ITS MISSION TO SHARE THE JOY OF DANCE WITH THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE GLOBE.
- Income
- $16.6 million
- Spending
- $11.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 38.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 89%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $359,875, chief financial officer (thru 12/24)
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 38.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 71% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $10.8 million spent. THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT-HOLDING OF ENDOWMENT FUNDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION. THE BALLET HAS A POLICY OF APPROPRIATING FOR DISTRIBUTION EACH YEAR UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 5% OF ITS ENDOWMENT FUNDS' AVERAGE FAIR VALUE OVER THE PRIOR TWELVE QUARTERS YEARS AS OF JUNE 30, PRECEDING THE FISCAL YEAR IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION IS PLANNED. TYPICALLY, THE DISTRIBUTION SUPPORTS NEW SAN FRANCISCO BALLET WORKS AND PRODUCTIONS, THE BALLET'S ORCHESTRA AND MUSIC, ARTISTIC INNOVATION, TOURING, DANCE EDUCATION, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND THE SAN FRANCISCO BALLET SCHOOL. DEPENDING UPON MARKET CONDITIONS AND THE NEEDS AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES OF THE ASSOCIATION, APPROPRIATIONS FOR EXPENDITURE FROM INDIVIDUAL ENDOWMENTS MAY BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED TO FACILITATE PRESERVATION OF THE ENDOWMENT.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 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 July 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 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.