Artisan Cheese Festival
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ARTISAN CHEESE FESTIVAL PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT ARTISAN CHEESE, INCLUDING SEMINARS, TASTINGS, CHEF DEMONSTRATIONS AND CHEESEMAKING DEMONSTRATIONS.
- Income
- $260,063
- Spending
- $255,937
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 170
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 August 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 (4)
- $250,587 spent. TO PRODUCE AN ANNUAL ARTISAN CHEESE FESTIVAL TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THE CALIFORNIA ARTISAN CHEESE FESTIVAL IS AN ANNUAL MULTI-DAY PUBLIC EVENT HELD IN SONOMA COUNTY THAT CELEBRATES THE CRAFT OF ARTISAN CHEESEMAKING THROUGH EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND DIRECT SUPPORT OF SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS. NOW IN ITS 20TH YEAR, THE FESTIVAL BRINGS TOGETHER OVER 100 ARTISANS, CHEESEMAKERS, WINEMAKERS, AND BREWERS FOR A TASTING AND MARKETPLACE THAT GIVES THE PUBLIC DIRECT ACCESS TO HAND-CRAFTED PRODUCTS AND THE MAKERS BEHIND THEM.
- THE FESTIVAL OFFERS FARM AND PRODUCER TOURS, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS, AND A CHEESE CRAWL IN SONOMA COUNTY. THESE PROGRAMS CONNECT CONSUMERS DIRECTLY WITH THE PEOPLE AND PLACES BEHIND ARTISAN FOOD PRODUCTION, PROVIDING EDUCATION ON TRADITIONAL CHEESEMAKING METHODS AND REGIONAL FOOD CULTURE. SESSIONS ARE LED BY WORKING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND ARE DESIGNED TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO BOTH NOVICE ENTHUSIASTS AND EXPERIENCED FOOD AND BEVERAGE PROFESSIONALS.
- BY PROVIDING A PUBLIC PLATFORM FOR SMALL AND INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS, THE FESTIVAL ADVANCES AWARENESS OF CALIFORNIA'S ARTISAN CHEESEMAKING COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTS THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF THE PRODUCERS WHO PARTICIPATE. APPROXIMATELY 170 VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL'S OPERATIONS EACH YEAR, CONTRIBUTING MEANINGFULLY TO ITS COMMUNITY-DRIVEN MISSION
- SECTION 1.263(A)-1(F) DE MINIMIS SAFE HARBOR ELECTION ARTISAN CHEESE FESTIVAL PO BOX 11264 SANTA ROSA, CA 95406 EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 20-5609771 FOR THE YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2025 ARTISAN CHEESE FESTIVAL IS MAKING THE DE MINIMIS SAFE HARBOR ELECTION UNDER SECTION 1.263(A)-1(F).
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on January 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on January 15, 2013.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.