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Celebrate Frederick Inc

EIN 52-2131513 · Frederick, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY A SHARED CULTURAL EXPERIENCE.

Income
$369,408
Spending
$311,064
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
23.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
0
Volunteers
210

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 (7)
  1. $56,347 spent. IN THE STREETS - FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN THE STREETS HAS BEEN REGARDED AS ONE OF FREDERICK'S BEST ANNUAL EVENTS! THIS OUTSTANDING OUTDOOR STREET FESTIVAL FEATURES NUMEROUS BLOCKS OF CONTINUOUS ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES, MULTIPLE STAGES OF LIVE MUSIC, CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES, FABULOUS FOOD, STROLLING ENTERTAINMENT AND MORE. THIS FREE EVENT IS HELD IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN FREDERICK ALONG CARROLL CREEK LINEAR PARK AND MARKET STREET FROM CARROLL CREEK TO 7TH STREET. THE FESTIVAL DAY ALSO FEATURES THE ANNUAL MARKET STREET MILE AND THE UP THE CREEK PARTY. IN THE STREETS ATTRACTS FAMILY-ORIENTED AUDIENCES AND YOUNG ADULTS. DUE TO THE GREAT VARIETY OF ENTERTAINMENT THROUGHOUT THE EVENT, AGE GROUPS OF ATTENDEES VARY THROUGHOUT THE EVENT DAY. GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE FESTIVAL DRAWS AN AUDIENCE FROM THE LOCAL CITY AND COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE REGION INCLUDING WASHINGTON D.C., NORTHERN VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, CARROLL COUNTY, AND SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA. AVERAGE FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE - 75,000
  2. $60,285 spent. SUMMER CONCERT SERIES - A SUNDAY NIGHT TRADITION IN FREDERICK, THESE FREE CONCERTS ARE HELD SUNDAY EVENINGS AT 7:00 PM IN JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST. PERFORMANCES FEATURE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ACTS IN A VARIETY OF MUSICAL GENRES. VISITORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING A CANNED FOOD ITEM, IN LIEU OF ADMISSION, TO BENEFIT THE FREDERICK COUNTY FOOD BANK. THE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES ATTRACTS AN AUDIENCE LARGELY BETWEEN THE AGES OF THE 25 AND 54. THE ZERO TO MINIMAL CONCERT COST AND PERFORMANCE VARIETY ATTRACTS CONCERT GOERS OF ALL INCOME LEVELS. GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE PERFORMANCES DRAW LARGELY FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY OF FREDERICK. AVERAGE CONCERT ATTENDANCE - 2,000 TO 3,000 (30,000 PER SEASON)
  3. $109,166 spent. FREDERICK'S 4TH - FREDERICK'S 4TH HAS SERVED AS THE PREMIER 4TH OF JULY EVENT LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY FOR OVER 30 YEARS. FAMILIES FROM THE SURROUNDING REGION ENJOY A DAY PACKED WITH FREE OR LOW-COST ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT. DUNK A FREDERICK CELEBRITY OR RACE A BATH TUB DOWN CULLER LAKE - THERE IS A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. THE CELEBRATION BEGINS AT NOON AND IS CAPPED OFF BY AN AWARD-WINNING FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT DUSK. FREDERICK'S 4TH CELEBRATION ATTRACTS FAMILY-ORIENTED AUDIENCES AND YOUNG ADULTS. DUE TO THE GREAT VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT, AGE GROUPS OF ATTENDEES VARY THROUGHOUT THE EVENT DAY. GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE CELEBRATION DRAWS AN AUDIENCE FROM THE LOCAL CITY AND COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE REGION INCLUDING WASHINGTON D.C., NORTHERN VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, CARROLL COUNTY AND SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA.AVERAGE CELEBRATION ATTENDANCE - 70,000
  4. $4,971 spent. GARDEN TOUR - FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, HUNDREDS OF GARDEN ENTHUSIASTS HAVE DESCENDED UPON DOWNTOWN FREDERICK FOR THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE ELEGANT, WHIMSICAL AND INVENTIVE GARDENS NESTLED BEHIND THE GATES OF PRIVATE FREDERICK HOMES EACH SPRING. A FAVORITE OF RESIDENTS AND VISTORS ALIKE, THE TOUR HAS RAISED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR LOCAL GARDEN CLUBS AND MULTIPLE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS AROUND FREDERICK. IN ADDITION TO THE STUNNING LANDSCAPES, VISITORS ARE ALSO TREATED TO LIVE MUSICIANS AND PLEIN AIR ARTISTS IN MANY OF THE GARDENS, AS WELL AS A CHARMING HOSPITALITY CENTER WHERE GUESTS ARE INVITED TO REFRESH THEMSELVES DURING THE TOUR. THE BEYOND THE GARDEN GATES TOUR ATTRACTS A PRIMARILY FEMALE MIDDLE TO UPPER CLASS AUDIENCE 35 AND OVER. GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE TOUR DRAWS AN AUDIENCE FROM THE LOCAL CITY AND COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE REGION INCLUDING WASHINGTON D.C., NORTHERN VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, CARROLL COUNTY AND SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA. AVERAGE TOUR ATTENDANCE - 1,000
  5. $24,845 spent. THE HOLIDAYS - FROM AN OLD-FASHIONED PARADE THROUGH THE HOLIDAY LIT STREETS OF DOWNTOWN FREDERICK TO A CHARMING TOUR OF HISTORIC HOMES DECORATED IN THE FESTIVE DECOR, CELEBRATE FREDERICK PRESENTS FIVE EVENTS SURE TO PUT YOU IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO ALL AGES, THESE EVENTS CAPTURE THE CHARM AND AMBIENCE OF DOWNTOWN FREDERICK DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. INDIVIDUAL EVENTS INCLUDE: HOLIDAY ART COMPETITION, FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, CANDLELIGHT HOUSE TOUR, SCENTS & SWEETS, & KRIS KRINGLE PROCESSION. THE HOLIDAYS IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN FREDERICK ATTRACTS FAMILY ORIENTED TO ADULT AUDIENCES. DUE TO THE VARIETY OF EVENTS, AGE GROUPS OF ATTENDEES VARY OVER THE COURSE OF THE EVENT SERIES. GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE SERIES OF EVENTS DRAWS AN AUDIENCE FROM THE LOCAL CITY AND COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE REGION INCLUDING WASHINGON D.C., NORTHERN VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, CARROLL COUNTY AND SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA. AVERAGE OVERALL EVENT ATTENDANCE - 9,500
  6. $13,736 spent. SUMMERFEST FAMILY THEATRE - THIS FREE EVENT IS HELD ON THURSDAY MORNINGS AT 10:30AM IN JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST AND FEATURES LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PERFORMERS SHOWCASING LIVE MUSIC, MAGIC AND STORY-TELLING IN THE BANDSHELL. A SPECIAL CHILDRENS CARNIVAL TAKES PLACE ON THE FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON. THE SUMMERFEST FAMILY THEATRE FOCUSES ON THE ENTERTAINMENT OF CHILDREN BETWEEN PRE-SCHOOL TO EARLY ELEMENTARY. THE AUDIENCE CONSISTS PRIMARILY OF FREDERICK CITY AND COUNTY-BASED CAMP, DAYCARE PROGRAMS AND MOMS GROUPS. THE TIMING OF THE PERFORMANCES AND LOW INVESTMENT CATER PERFECTLY TO THIS DEMOGRAPHIC. AVERAGE PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE - 1,500 (8,000 PER SEASON)
  7. $19,246 spent. BOOTLEGGER'S BALL - 2ND ANNUAL EVENT THAT IS 21+ COSTUMED AFFAIR WITH LIVE MUSIC FROM A LOCAL BAND, RAFFLES, APPETIZERS, AND SPECIALTY COCKTAILS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 2000.

    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.