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Buddy Holly Hall

EIN 46-1912406 · Lubbock, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUDDY HOLLY HALL, FORMERLY KNOWN AS LUBBOCK ENTERTAINMENT AND PERFORMING ARTS ASSOCIATION (LEPAA), A TEXAS NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, ENVISIONS A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERY PERSON EXPERIENCES THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THE ARTS. BUDDY HOLLY HALL BUILDS COMMUNITY THROUGH EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES, CREATIVE COLLABORATION, AND INCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND EDUCATION. BUDDY HOLLY HALL'S VALUES DICTATE THAT WE TREAT OTHERS AS WE WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED, FOSTER THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF OUR REGION, OPERATE SUSTAINABLY AND EFFICIENTLY IN ALL ENDEAVORS, AND BUILD STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$14.1 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-48.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
4
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$215,546, ceo

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

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (3)
  1. $13.2 million spent. THE BUDDY HOLLY HALL BROUGHT MORE THAN 250,000 VISITORS TO DOWNTOWN LUBBOCK: 115 COMMERCIAL PRODUCTIONS IN HELEN DEVITT JONES THEATER; 181 EVENTS IN CRICKETS THEATER.
  2. $41,482 spent. BUDDY HOLLY HALL HELD ITS FOURTH ANNUAL BUDDY HOLLY SONGWRITERS RETREAT AND CONCERT IN 2024. THIRTY ASPIRING SONGWRITERS FROM ACROSS TEXAS, US, UK, AND NEW ZEALAND PARTICIPATED IN THE RETREAT. THE SONGWRITERS MET IN SMALL GROUPS TO COLLABORATE WITH PROFESSIONAL MENTORS THROUGH THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF SONGWRITING. A SHOWCASE CONCERT WAS HELD TO DEBUT THE BEST SONGS WRITTEN DURING THE RETREAT AND PROVIDED PERFORMERS ON-STAGE EXPERIENCES.
  3. THE KODALY INSTITUTE SYMPOSIUM WORKSHOP PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED MUSIC EDUCATION INSTRUCTION TO THE 70 AREA PROFESSIONALS.

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 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 September 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 2013.

    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.

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