Financial and Operational Overview
1023
Non Profit Status
Financial History
Dance Medicine Philly has been operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization since 2020. Each year, we file the federal Form 990-N (e-Postcard), also known as the EZ form, because our annual income falls below the IRS threshold (currently $50,000) required for the full 990 form. While we are not legally required to publish more than our 990 form, our IRS determination letter and the original form 1023 for exemption, we are choosing to share more financial information with you here out of our commitment to transparency and trust with our community.
Dance Medicine Philly has gone through many evolutions. For the first five years, everyone involved in organizing the events volunteered 100% of their time and energy—without receiving compensation—because we believed in putting everything toward the bigger vision of gathering people to move, connect, and build community. Every dollar went back into the vision: investing in speakers, lighting, venue costs, and building a small fund to bring in incredible artists like Poranguí, Deya Dova, and Mose to elevate the experience. From the very beginning, this has always been about something bigger than ourselves.
As the community grew, so did its needs. To meet those needs, we’ve expanded our team and, for the first time, began offering modest compensation to a small group of organizers to honor their time and efforts in holding and facilitating this space. Even so, Dance Medicine Philly remains a nonprofit at its core—all funds go back into sustaining events, supporting artists, investing in better equipment (so we can own rather than rent), and nurturing the long-term vision of one day building a community center.
All of our financial decisions are made collectively—we decide by consensus as a team. No one person is in charge; payouts, purchases, and investments are all discussed openly and agreed upon together.
Bi-Monthly Dance Events
Our primary programming includes bi-monthly dance events, which serve as both our main community offering and a key source of income.
-
Typical Income per Event: $900–$1,700
-
Typical Event Costs: $1,100–$1,400
-
Typical Event Profit/loss: $-200 - +$600
-
Staffing (production & coordination): ~$350
-
Marketing: ~$200
-
Venue Rental: ~$350-600
-
Presenters (DJ + warm-up + sound bath): $300–$600
-
Most events operate close to break-even, though some generate a small surplus. These surpluses are reinvested into the organization through equipment purchases, marketing, and operational support.
Funding & Support
Currently, DMP does not receive outside donations or grant funding. Our events are self-sustaining, and all revenue is reinvested back into the organization. However, we are open and excited to welcome future support—whether in the form of donations, grants, or partnerships—to help us grow our impact and expand the vision of bringing Dance Medicine to more communities and organizations. We especially welcome collaborators with experience in grant writing or nonprofit fundraising to join us in this next chapter.
Annual Campout
Our other major offering is the annual campout, which has been held for the past five years. This event generally operates at a break-even level, with expenses matching income.
​
The income and expenses have varied widely each year but here is a general breakdown of the event:​
-
Total Income per event: $20,000-$35,000
-
Total Expenses for artists: $5000-$10,000
-
Venue Rental: $5,000-$7,500
-
Food: $4,000-$6,000
​
Outside staffing or hired services costs: $2000-$3000
DMP organizing team compensation $4,000-$8,000