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Debbie Allen Dance Inc

EIN 95-4831387 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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

THE DEBBIE ALLEN DANCE ACADEMY IS A CULTURAL CENTER COMMITTED TO MAKING DANCE A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS. THE ACADEMY PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL AND RIGOROUS TRAINING FOR YOUNG DANCERS IN OVER TWELVE FORMS, ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL DANCERS, AND YOUTH-FOCUSED OUTREACH AND EDUCATION INITIATIVES.

Income
$7.1 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
38.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
55
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$120,000, trustee

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 38.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
  1. $1.3 million spent. THE TUITION PROGRAM: THE DEBBIE ALLEN DANCE ACADEMY OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE DANCE CURRICULUM TO STUDENTS AGES 4 AND UP FROM SEPTEMBER THRU JUNE. DADA STUDENTS TAKE FOUR TO TEN CLASSES A WEEK, DEPENDING ON THEIR AGE AND ACADEMY LEVEL, AT OUR DADA STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES. DADA MAKES ITS PROGRAMS ACCESSIBLE BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 80% OF ITS ACADEMY STUDENTS. DADA PROVIDES PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR MOST TALENTED AND DEDICATED STUDENTS IN OUR PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS. DADA ALSO PRODUCES AN ANNUAL STUDENT RECITAL THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR OUR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THE TUITION PROGRAM INCLUDES VIRTUAL CLASSES ADMINISTERED BY DADA VIRTUAL.
  2. $229,243 spent. THE SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAM: DADA HAS THREE STYLE-SPECIFIC INTENSIVES THAT BRING STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO STUDY AT DADA. DADA ON POINTE, LA HIP HOP INTENSIVE AND THE LOS ANGELES TAP FESTIVAL PROVIDE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY WITH UNRIVALED WORLD-RENOWNED CHOREOGRAPHERS, DANCERS AND TEACHERS. DADA S SUMMER INTENSIVE, WITH PROGRAMS IN LOS ANGELES AND ATLANTA, IS DESIGNED TO EXPONENTIALLY EXPAND THE TECHNIQUE AND VOCABULARY OF THE SERIOUS DANCE STUDENT. BOTH INTENSIVES CULMINATE IN A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE RECITAL. DADA ALSO HAS A PRE-ACADEMY SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAM AS WELL AS AN EARLY BIRD SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGES 4-7 IN LOS ANGELES.
  3. $351,044 spent. THE HOT CHOCOLATE NUTCRACKER: DEBBIE ALLEN'S ADAPTATION OF THE CLASSIC TWO-ACT BALLET BY COMPOSER TCHAIKOVSKY, REVISITED INTO A MODERN MUSICAL. MS. ALLEN TAKES US ON AN EXCITING JOURNEY TO NEW LANDS WITH LARGER THAN LIFE, FUN-FILLED CHARACTERS.
  4. $1.2 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.