Lula Washington Contemporary Dance Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE LULA WASHINGTON CONTEMPORARY DANCE FOUNDATION IS A 501(C) 3 TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1980 BY LULA AND ERWIN WASHINGTON TO PROVIDE A CREATIVE OUTLET FOR MINORITY DANCE ARTISTS IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES. THE CREATIVE MISSION IS TO BUILD A PROFESSIONAL INNER-CITY BASED MODERN DANCE COMPANY THAT TOURS WORLD-WIDE WITH INNOVATIVE DANCE WORKS ROOTED IN AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, CULTURE, AND VALUES. OUR EDUCATION MISSION IS TO CREATE A SCHOOL IN THE INNER CITY WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN LEARN THE ART OF DANCE, LAUNCH CAREERS IN DANCE, AND WHERE DANCE IS USED TO MOTIVATE, EDUCATE, INSPIRE, CHALLENGE, AND ENRICH YOUNG LIVES SO THEY CAN GROW TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL, PRODUCTIVE, AND COMPETITIVE ADULTS.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $798,262
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 22 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 9
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 734% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 253 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $793,052 spent. THE LULA WASHINGTON DANCE THEATRE (LWDT) THE POPULAR NAME FOR THE LULA WASHINGTON CONTEMPORARY DANCE FOUNDATION. IT IS COMPOSED OF TWO BROAD ELEMENTS. IT IS A DANCE SCHOOL THAT SERVES MAINLY INNER -CITY YOUTH, BUT, ADULTS AS WELL. THE SCHOOL OFFERS DANCE TRAINING IN BALLET, MODERN DANCE, TAP, HIP HOP, AFRICAN DANCE, JAZZ DANCE, CARIBBEAN DANCE, AND OTHER FORMS. AS PART OF THE SCHOOL, LWDT HOSTS A YOUTH DANCE. ENSEMBLE, WHICH GIVES CONCERTS IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS AT THE LWDT FACILITY. AS PART OF THE SCHOOL, LWDT PRODUCES AN ANNUAL YOUTH DANCE RECITAL; A SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVE AND CONCERT; A FALL DANCE CONCERT OUTSIDE IN ITS PARKING LOT FOR THE DANCE ALL DAY FESTIVAL; AND A YEAR END KWANZAA FESTIVAL. EACH OF THESE FOCUSES ON THE YOUTH, BUT THE ADULT DANCERS REGULARLY MAKE APPEARANCES AS WELL. LWDT IS ALSO AN ADULT, PROFESSIONAL MODERN DANCE COMPANY THAT GIVES PERFORMANCES IN LOS ANGELES AND ACROSS THE US. LOCALLY, THE DANCE COMPANY IS HIRED TO PERFORM AT THEATERS AND OTHER VENUES. FROM TIME TO TIME, THE DANCE COMPANY WILL SELF-PRODUCE A CONCERT OR CONCERTS AT ITS STUDIO THEATRE. LULA WASHINGTON IS THE MAIN CHOREOGRAPHER FOR THE COMPANY. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR TAMICA WASHINGTON-MILLER ALSO CHOREOGRAPHS FOR THE COMPANY, AS WELL AS OTHER RESIDENT ARTISTS. OFTEN, LWDT BRINGS IN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CHOREOGRAPHERS TO SET GUEST CHOREOGRAPHY ON THE COMPANY DANCERS. OCCASIONALLY, THE COMPANY, TOURS TO FOREIGN NATIONS. IT HAS DANCED IN CHINA, RUSSIA, MEXICO, BRAZIL,KOSOVO, ISRAEL, ITALY, GERMANY, CANADA, AND SPAIN. THE LULA WASHINGTON DANCE THEATRE (LWDT) THE POPULAR NAME FOR THE LULA WASHINGTON CONTEMPORARY DANCE FOUNDATION. IT IS COMPOSED OF TWO BROAD ELEMENTS. IT IS A DANCE SCHOOL THAT SERVES MAINLY INNER -CITY YOUTH, BUT, ADULTS AS WELL. THE SCHOOL OFFERS DANCE TRAINING IN BALLET, MODERN DANCE, TAP, HIP HOP, AFRICAN DANCE, JAZZ DANCE, CARIBBEAN DANCE, AND OTHER FORMS. AS PART OF THE SCHOOL, LWDT HOSTS A YOUTH DANCE. ENSEMBLE, WHICH GIVES CONCERTS IN THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS AT THE LWDT FACILITY. AS PART OF THE SCHOOL, LWDT PRODUCES AN ANNUAL YOUTH DANCE RECITAL; A SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVE AND CONCERT; A FALL DANCE CONCERT OUTSIDE IN ITS PARKING LOT FOR THE DANCE ALL DAY FESTIVAL; AND A YEAR END KWANZAA FESTIVAL. EACH OF THESE FOCUSES ON THE YOUTH, BUT THE ADULT DANCERS REGULARLY MAKE APPEARANCES AS WELL. LWDT IS ALSO AN ADULT, PROFESSIONAL MODERN DANCE COMPANY THAT GIVES PERFORMANCES IN LOS ANGELES AND ACROSS THE US. LOCALLY, THE DANCE COMPANY IS HIRED TO PERFORM AT THEATERS AND OTHER VENUES. FROM TIME TO TIME, THE DANCE COMPANY WILL SELF-PRODUCE A CONCERT OR CONCERTS AT ITS STUDIO THEATRE. LULA WASHINGTON IS THE MAIN CHOREOGRAPHER FOR THE COMPANY. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR TAMICA WASHINGTON-MILLER ALSO CHOREOGRAPHS FOR THE COMPANY, AS WELL AS OTHER RESIDENT ARTISTS. OFTEN, LWDT BRINGS IN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CHOREOGRAPHERS TO SET GUEST CHOREOGRAPHY ON THE COMPANY DANCERS. OCCASIONALLY, THE COMPANY, TOURS TO FOREIGN NATIONS. IT HAS DANCED IN CHINA, RUSSIA, MEXICO, BRAZIL,KOSOVO, ISRAEL, ITALY, GERMANY, CANADA, AND SPAIN.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 June 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.