Project Bandaloop
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BANDALOOP celebrates the human spirit, nature, and communities through dance that uses climbing technology to expand and challenge what is possible. At the vanguard of vertical performance, BANDALOOP seamlessly weaves dynamic physicality and intricate choreography to turn the dance floor on its side. Founded in 1991 by Amelia Rudolph and now under the artistic direction of Melecio Estrella, the work re-imagines dance, activates public spaces, and inspires wonder and imagination in audiences around the world. BANDALOOP trains dancers and youth at home and on tour, and has performed live for over a million people.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 68%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $115,608, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 26 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 98% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 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
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (2)
- $942,387 spent. Performance: PROJECT BANDALOOP IS AN INNOVATOR OF VERTICAL PERFORMANCE, THE ORGANIZATION seamlessly weaves dynamic physicality, INTRICATE CHOREOGRAPHY AND CLIMBING TECHNOLOGY TO TURN THE DANCE FLOOR ON ITS SIDE. THE ORGANIZATION RE-IMAGINES DANCE, ACTIVATES PUBLIC SPACES, AND INSPIRES WONDER AND IMAGINATION IN AUDIENCES AROUND THE WORLD, HAVING NOW PERFORMED FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN OVER 400 CITIES IN EUROPE, AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, THE AMERICAS, AND ASIA.
- $483,041 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAM: PROJECT BANDALOOP TEACHES THE GENERAL PUBLIC, multidisciplined PERFORMERS, DANCERS AND YOUTH AT HOME IN THE BANDALOOP STUDIOS AND ON TOUR, AS A LEADER IN VERTICAL DANCE EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION TRAINS, AND HIRES TEACHERS TO SHARE THE JOY OF VERTICAL DANCE WITH STUDENTS AT HOME, ABROAD AND IN artist-in-residence programs.THROUGHOUT ALL THESE ENGAGEMENTS, BANDALOOP INSPIRES WONDER AND IMAGINATION.IN OAKLAND AND ON TOUR. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF Melecio Estrella AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AS WELL AS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THOMAS CAVANAGH AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, THE WORK OF DANCE ON WALL CONTINUES TO OFFER HOPE AND INSPIRE JOY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN CITIES AROUND THE US AND FOR THE WORLD.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 February 1997.
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.