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Columbia Book Festival Inc

EIN 47-2530900 · Columbia, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COLUMBIA BOOK FESTIVAL, INC. IS ORGANIZED TO EDUCATE AUDIENCES ABOUT LITERARY ARTS THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY BOOK FESTIVAL AND RELATED LITERARY PROGRAMMING. THE ORGANIZATION BRINGS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND EMERGING AUTHORS, POETS, JOURNALISTS, AND OTHER LITERARY PROFESSIONALS TO COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, FOR PUBLIC READINGS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, WORKSHOPS, INTERVIEWS, AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS.THROUGH ITS FESTIVAL AND YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES, THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES LITERACY, ENCOURAGES LIFELONG LEARNING, FOSTERS ENGAGEMENT WITH CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE, AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH WRITERS AND LITERARY ARTISTS. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES, INCLUDING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, READERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH MANY EVENTS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO MAXIMIZE PUBLIC ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION.

Income
$115,899
Spending
$123,581
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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. $123,581 spent. THE COLUMBIA BOOK FESTIVAL, INC. IS ORGANIZED TO EDUCATE AUDIENCES ABOUT LITERARY ARTS THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY BOOK FESTIVAL AND RELATED LITERARY PROGRAMMING. THE ORGANIZATION BRINGS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND EMERGING AUTHORS, POETS, JOURNALISTS, AND OTHER LITERARY PROFESSIONALS TO COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, FOR PUBLIC READINGS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, WORKSHOPS, INTERVIEWS, AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS.THROUGH ITS FESTIVAL AND YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES, THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES LITERACY, ENCOURAGES LIFELONG LEARNING, FOSTERS ENGAGEMENT WITH CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE, AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH WRITERS AND LITERARY ARTISTS. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES, INCLUDING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, READERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH MANY EVENTS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO MAXIMIZE PUBLIC ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 June 2026.

    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 December 2014.

    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.