Louisville Ballet
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Louisville Ballet meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
Louisville Ballet makes moving art that respects tradition, encourages innovation, and fosters life-long learning. It inspires connection, conversation, and a profound sense of community, by striving for bold collaborations, by nurturing the next generation of artists, by celebrating diversity, and by creating access for all.
Year, State Incorporated:
1950, KY
Louisville Ballet is the fifth oldest professional ballet company in the United States and the Official State Ballet of Kentucky. Its 24 professional artists and 39 studio company dancers this past year provided over 52 public performances. Beyond the stage, the nonprofit makes a significant financial impact on the city, supported by a workforce of 108 professionals. Now entering its 73rd season, Louisville Ballet proudly presents its 2024-2025 season featuring beloved traditions, thrilling world premieres, and inspiring stories of love, hope, and magic. Community is an essential pillar of its vision to increase access to arts in Kentucky. It prioritizes expanding work with elementary schools, ensuring programs address under-resourced communities, and hosting events that celebrate cultural diversity. Louisville Ballet provides in-school residencies, performance assemblies, before/after-school programs, student matinees, adaptive dance partnerships, audience engagement initiatives, scholarship opportunities, and virtual programming. Last year it reached nearly 22,000 participants across 180 locations, including public and private schools, libraries, community centers, social service agencies, senior centers, and public parks. The Louisville Ballet School proudly celebrates 28 years of exceptional dance training and education. During the 2023-2024 season, the school conducted 5,415 classes for nearly 900 students, ranging in age from 3 months to 76 years. In addition, mind.body.balance, a health and wellness program, provides quality training in a variety of dance and fitness styles for adults and teens ages 15+, from the true beginner to the professional dancer.
For the year ended May 31, 2024, Louisville Ballet's program expenses were:
| Production | $2,944,270 |
| Ballet School | $1,160,035 |
| Community Engagement | $174,103 |
| Total Program Expenses | $4,278,408 |
Chief Executive
Leslie Smart, Chief Executive Officer
Chair of the Board
Ms. Kathryn Shaver
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Board Size
31
Paid Staff Size
76
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Planned giving arrangements, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.), Membership appeals, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Louisville Ballet's audited financial statements for the year ended May 31, 2024.
Source of Funds
| Contributions and grants | $2,741,503 |
| Ticket sales | $1,438,918 |
| Net school tuition and other program fees | $1,102,333 |
| Contributions of nonfinancial assets | $275,299 |
| Miscellaneous income | $122,777 |
| Net community engagement | $102,435 |
| Investment income | $41,971 |
| Rental income | $27,596 |
| Total Income | $5,852,832 |
Programs: 82% Fundraising: 7% Administrative: 11%
| Total Income | $5,852,832 |
| Total expenses: | $5,231,707 |
| Program expenses | $4,278,408 |
| Fundraising expenses | $355,992 |
| Administrative expenses | $597,307 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $621,125 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $-486,378 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $134,747 |
| Total Liabilities | $4,478,622 |
| Total Assets | $4,613,369 |
Total assets as reported above include $1,479,837 in property and equipment, net.
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Report completed by:
BBB serving Greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana