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Athfest Incorporated

EIN 20-0425341 · Athens, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ATHFEST EDUCATES ADVANCES HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION FOR LOCAL YOUTH AND THE ATHENS COMMUNITY THROUGH DIRECT SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

Income
$640,493
Spending
$476,899
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
30 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 53%
Employees
1
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$65,460, executive dir

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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $281,472 spent. ATHFEST EDUCATES PRODUCES THE ANNUAL ATHFEST MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL. ATHFEST SHOWCASES LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL TALENT TO ATHENS RESIDENTS AND RESIDENTS OF SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AND STATES. OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS THE FESTIVAL HAS GAINED A DEDICATED FAN BASE AND WE SEE FESTIVAL GOERS FROM ALL OVER GEORGIA AND THE SOUTHEAST. THE ATHENS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU ESTIMATES THAT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 PEOPLE ATTEND ATHFEST ANNUALLY. THE FESTIVAL GIVES MORE THAN 120 MUSICIANS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM LIVE AND GET THEIR MUSIC OUT TO THOUSANDS OF FANS THEY MAY NOT HAVE REACHED OTHERWISE. LESS THAN 10% OF THE BANDS WHO APPLY TO PERFORM AT ATHFEST ARE ACCPETED TO PERFORM ON THE MAIN AND SECOND STAGES. IN ADDITION, NEARLY 60 LOCAL AND REGIONAL ARTISTS SHOWCASE THEIR ART IN THE ATHFEST ARTISTS MARKET. THIS ARTIST MARKET IS A JURIED ARTIST MARKET AND ATHFEST TAKES PRIDE IN SELECTING HIGH-QUALITY ARTIST TO PARTICIPATE.
  2. $100,138 spent. ATHFEST EDUCATE ACCEPTS GRANT APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL EDUCATORS AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS WORKING IN ATHENS, GEORGIA SCHOOLS, 501(C)(3) NONPROFITS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS WITH K-12 YOUTH IN THE AREAS OF MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION. ATHFEST EDUCATES AWARDS GRANTS ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT OF HIGH-QUALITY MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. ON AVERAGE, ATHFEST EDUCATES GRANTS SERVE APPROXIMATELY 6,000 STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THESE GRANTS ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO ATTEND LIVE, PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL AND ARTISITIC PERFORMANCES AND INSTALLATIONS, PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON MUSIC AND ARTS PROGRAMS, AND INCREASE THEIR ACCESS TO, AND USE OF, PROFESSIONAL MUSIC AND ARTS EQUIPMENT. IN ADDITION, ATHFEST EDUCATES PROUDLY AWARDS GRANTS TO PERMIT EDUCATORS AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALTIES TO ATTEND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
  3. $4,631 spent. THE ULTIMATE MISSION OF ATHFEST EDUCATES IS TO ADVANCE MUSIC AND ARTS EDUCATION FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF ATHENS. ONE WAY WE ACHIEVE THIS GOAL IS THROUGH THE KIDSFEST COMPONENT OF THE ATHFEST MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL. KIDSFEST IS A THREE-DAY CELEBRATION THAT SHOWCASES KID-FRIENDLY BANDS AND GIVES YOUTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN FREE ARTS-BASED ACTIVITIES APPOXIMATELY 3,000 YOUTH ATTEND KIDFEST EACH YEAR. KIDSFEST PRIDES ITSELF ON GIVING UP-AND-COMING MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL-AGED MUSICIANS THE STAGE AND A CHANCE TO PERFORM LIVE IN FRONT OF ATHFEST FESTIVAL-GOERS. WE BELIEVE THIS EXPOSURE, BE IT FOR BAND MEMBERS OR THEIR YOUNG FANS, IS BUILDING THE BASIS FOR MUSIC APPRECIATION AND ENCOURAGING ALL YOUTH TO GET EXCITED ABOUT PLAYING MUSIC. KIDSFEST IS FREE AND IS A DRAW FOR MANY OF OUR AREA'S LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS WHICH IS PARTICULARLY VALUABLE TO OUR MISSION SINCE LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES NEEDED TO ATTEND LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES.

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 December 2004.

    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.