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Dane County Fair Association Corporation

EIN 39-0818102 · Verona, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DANE COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION PROMOTES AND SPONSORS THE DANE COUNTY FAIR, AN ANNUAL PUBLIC EXHIBITION IN MADISON, WISCONSIN. THE FAIR'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO DEVELOP EXCELLENCE IN DANE COUNTY YOUTH BY GIVING RECOGNITION TO THEIR ENDEAVORS THROUGH EXHIBITS IN LEADERSHIP, ANIMAL SCIENCES, MECHANICAL SCIENCES, HOME AND FAMILY ARTS, CULTURAL ARTS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH PREMIUMS ARE AWARDED.

Income
$445,394
Spending
$437,944
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
15
Volunteers
170

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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. $369,605 spent. THE DANE COUNTY FAIR IS AN ANNUAL, FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT HELD IN WISCONSIN'S CAPITAL CITY EVERY JULY. FRIENDS FROM NEAR AND FAR VENTURE TO THE ALLIANT ENERGY CENTER IN MADISON FOR FREE CONCERTS, ENTERTAINMENT, GREAT FOOD, ANIMALS, AND ADVENTURE. THE FAIR HAS A RICH HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1851 WHEN THE FIRST DANE COUNTY FAIR WAS HELD IN MADISON. THE FAIR'S LONG HISTORY GUIDES US AS WE STRIVE TO HONOR THE PAST WHILE CONTINUING A TRADITION AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.OUR ORGANIZATION IS CENTERED AROUND THE COMMUNITY OF DANE COUNTY, AND IT IS OUR GOAL TO HOST AN EVENT THAT IS NOT ONLY FUN, BUT EDUCATIONAL FOR EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE. ATTENDEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO WALK THROUGH THE NEW HOLLAND PAVILIONS AND THE EXHIBITION HALL TO VIEW YOUTH-DEVELOPED PROJECTS THAT ARE AN ACCUMULATION OF THEIR HARD WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR GENEROUS FRIEND OF THE FAIR SPONSORS, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER THIS PUBLIC EXHIBITION FOR DANE COUNTY'S YOUTH, GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THEIR ENDEAVORS. DANE COUNTY FAIR SPONSORS ALSO ALLOW US TO OFFER EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS SUCH AS THE KIDDIE FARM AND LEARNING LANE TO OUR ATTENDEES, ALONG WITH UNIQUE DAILY ACTIVITIES.THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNER SUPPORT, THE FAIR IS ABLE TO BE A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR DIFFERENT OUTREACH GROUPS, ALLOWING FOR POSITIVE IMPACTS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. THE FAIR PROUDLY WORKS WITH THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES, MADISON SCHOOL & COMMUNITY RECREATION, AND DAYCARES. OUR OUTREACH CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH THE DANE COUNTY FAIREST OF THE FAIR PROGRAM AN AMBASSADOR WHO SERVES AS VOICE AND A FACE FOR THE FAIR AS WELL AS A ROLE MODEL TO YOUTH IN DANE COUNTY.THE 2025 DANE COUNTY FAIR WAS ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 29,638 PEOPLE AND HAD 538 INDIVIDUAL YOUTH EXHIBITORS PLUS 266 YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATED IN GROUP ORGANIZATION ENTRIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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? 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 September 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 December 1958.

    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.

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