Magfest Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT VIDEO GAME MUSIC, ART AND HISTORY; TO PROMOTE PUBLIC APPRECIATION OF VIDEO GAME MUSIC, ART, AND HISTORY; TO UNDERTAKE OTHER CHARITABLE PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, AND ACTIVITIES NOT INCONSISTENT WITH SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE IRS CODE AND STATE LAW.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 13.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 90%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 1,700
- Highest pay
- $81,807, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 June 30, 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)
- $2.1 million spent. THE MUSIC AND GAMING FESTIVAL IS MAGFEST INC'S FLAGSHIP EVENT, OCCURRING ANNUALLY EACH WINTER. MAGFEST'S LIBRARY OF HISTORIC GAMING CONTENT CONTAINS CONSOLE, ARCADE, AND NON-ELECTRONIC EXHIBITS DATING FROM 1971 TO THE PRESENT. THE MAGFEST EVENT GIVES ITS ATTENDEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE GAMING HISTORY. MAGFEST ALSO EXHIBITS VIDEO GAMES CREATED BY INDEPENDENT DEVELOPERS, GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ALSO, MAGFEST FEATURES PERFORMANCES OF MUSIC EITHER ARRANGED FROM OR INSPIRED BY THE MUSIC FEATURED IN VIDEO GAMES. THESE PERFORMANCES PRESERVE THE ART-FORM OF VIDEO GAME MUSIC AND PROMOTE THE APPRECIATION OF IT. MAGFEST PROVIDES A ROBUST SCHEDULE OF PROGRAMMING WHICH INCLUDES INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS FOR ATTENDEES. THE MAGFEST EVENT WAS CREATED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY EXHIBITIONS, AS THESE EXHIBITIONS PRIMARILY EXIST AS A FOR-PROFIT MEANS OF ADVERTISING. MAGFEST'S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A VENUE IN WHICH ITS ATTENDEES CAN LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF GAMING.
- $371,199 spent. MAGFEST, INC HOLDS SMALL EVENTS IN VARIOUS U.S. CITIES TO PROMOTE THE MAGFEST BRAND, AND TO ALSO BRING OUR MISSION CONTENT TO PEOPLE WHO CANNOT NORMALLY TRAVEL TO OUR FLAGSHIP WINTER EVENT. THESE EVENTS USUALLY FEATURE LIVE PERFORMANCES OF MUSIC ARRANGED FROM/INSPIRED BY VIDEO GAMES, AND ALSO PROVIDES CLASSIC HISTORICAL GAMING EXHIBITS FOR PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 June 2024.
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 June 2015.
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.