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Milwaukee World Festival Inc

EIN 39-1049688 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CORPORATION SHALL BE A CIVIC ORGANIZATION NOT ORGANIZED FOR PROFIT BUT OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES INCLUDING IN FURTHERANCE THEREOF, THE PRODUCTION OF AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL IN THE MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN AREA KNOWN AS SUMMERFEST, THE PRODUCTION OF OTHER EVENTS AND ETHNIC FESTIVALS DURING AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL SEASON DURING THE MONTHS OF MAY THROUGH OCTOBER OF EACH YEAR, ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIVITIES BEING DIRECTED TOWARD PROMOTING AN UNDERSTANDING BY MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC CULTURES, EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE HISTORIES AND TRADITIONS OF VARIOUS NATIONALITIES, PROVIDING A SUITABLE SHOWCASE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, PROVIDING ACTIVITIES AND RECREATION AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PROMOTING RACIAL AND ETHNIC HARMONY IN THE COMMUNITY, PROMOTING CIVIC PRIDE, AND PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY'S YOUTH.

Income
$70.0 million
Spending
$75.7 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
2,441
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$462,058, president & ceo (non voting)

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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 79% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 (4)
  1. $33.7 million spent. SUMMERFEST IS AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL IN THE MILWAUKEE METROPOLITAN AREA. IT IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST MUSIC FESTIVAL. TOTAL ATTENDANCE WAS 555,925 IN 2024.
  2. $22.4 million spent. THIS CATEGORY REPRESENTS SEASONAL OPERATING REVENUES AND EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO A SPECIFIC EVENT. ADDITIONALLY, IT REPRESENTS OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE.
  3. $12.0 million spent. THIS CATEGORY REPRESENTS ETHNIC AND CULTURAL EVENTS, MUSIC CONCERTS AND OTHER EVENTS INCLUDING WALKS/RUNS FOR CHARITY. TOTAL ATTENDANCE WAS 582,101 IN 2024.
  4. $3,326 spent. THIS CATEGORY REPRESENTS CONSULTING, PRODUCTION, STAFFING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROVIDED TO OTHER ENTITIES PRODUCING EVENTS.

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 August 1967.

    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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