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Country Music Hayride Inc

EIN 30-0194169 · Carthage, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COUNTRY MUSIC HAYRIDE IS DIDICATED TO THE CULTURE AND PRESERVATION OF TRADITIONAL COUNTY MUSIC IN CARTHAGE TEXAS. LIKE THE CITY ITSELF, WHICH HOUSES THE TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME INITIATED TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE TEXANS TO THE COUNTRY MUSICK INDUSTRY; THE HAYRIDE HAS LONG BEEN A VENUE3 FOR LOCAL SINGERS AND PICKERS TO SHOCASE THEIR TALENTS ON STAGE IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE. THESE TALENTED INDIVIDUALS HAVE HONED THEIR VOICES AND POLISHED THEIR MUSICIANSHIP ON THE HAYRIDE STAGE. THE MUSIC HAS EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS TO INCLUDE GOSPEL AND EVEN SOURHERN ROCK. THE SETTING FOR THIS VARIETY OF LIVE MUSIC HAS BEEN IN THE BUILDING ON AN OLD MOVIE THEATER. THEESQUIRE WAS BUILT IN 1949. NATURALLY, AS THE YEARS PASSED THE ESQUIRE BEGAN TO SHOW OLD MOVIES IN THE NOSTALGIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE 50'S & 60'S. ONCE AGAIN, THIS LOCATION JUST OFF THE SQUARE IN DOWTOWN CARTHAGE, FOUND ANOTHER SOURCE OF AMUSEMENT FOR LIVE AUDIENCES. THE REVOLUTION OF ENTERTAINMENT VIA A "LIVE SH

Income
$77,711
Spending
$56,225
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 (1)
  1. $56,225 spent. THE PRESERVATION OF TRADITIONAL COUNTRY MUSIC BY PROVIDING A VENUE FOR LOCAL TALENT TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2012.

    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 2025.

    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 September 2016.

    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.