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Madison Festivals Inc

EIN 39-1366837 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 80 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WE ASPIRE TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH EVOLVING, BEST-IN-CLASS EVENTS THAT ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
2
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$150,276, president

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 80 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 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

    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

    0 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 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 (2)
  1. $701,093 spent. TASTE OF MADISON HELD SINCE 1983, THE TASTE OF MADISON IS MADISON FESTIVALS' FLAGSHIP EVENT. MADISON'S END-OF-SUMMER PICNIC WITH OVER 80 RESTAURANTS, TWO ENTERTAINMENT STAGES, AND OVER 25 BEVERAGE STANDS DRAWS OVER 250,000 PEOPLE TO THE CAPITOL SQUARE OVER SATURDAY AND SUNDAY OF LABOR DAY WEEKEND. TASTE OF MADISON HAS RAISED OVER $1.9 MILLION DOLLARS SINCE 1995 FOR LOCAL NON-PROFIT AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $398,370 spent. MADISON MARATHON THE MADISON MARATHON, HALF MARATHON, AND 10K IS HELD OVER VETERANS DAY WEEKEND IN EARLY NOVEMBER. ALL RACES BEGIN AND FINISH ON CAPITOL SQUARE. AN EXPO IS HELD ON THE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY PRIOR TO SUNDAY'S RACE DAY. THE MADISON MARATHON BENEFITS OVER 30 LOCAL NONPROFITS AND CHARITIES ANNUALLY.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.