Passes our checks

Northern Lights Music Festival

EIN 56-2527875 · Gilbert, MN

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

What it says it does

GREAT MUSIC, THEATRE AND OPERA ON THE IRON RANGE IN HISTORIC AURORA, MINNESOTA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
0 of 35
Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20
It owes 73% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15
Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
12 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no 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
6 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 November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$427,815 spent. NORTHERN LIGHTS IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE ACCESS TO AN ARRAY OF HISTORIC PERFORMANCE VENUES FOR ITS CONCERTS AND OPERAS.BY PERFORMING IN THESE UNIQUE VENUES, NORTHERN LIGHTS IS NOT ONLY ABLE TO BRING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CLASSICAL MUSIC TO IRON RANGE COMMUNITIES BUT TO CELEBRATE AND SHOWCASE THE ARCHITECTURAL GEMS FOUND IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.OUR VENUES INCLUDE; MESABI EAST SCHOOL AND HOLY ROSARY RC CHURCH IN AURORA, CHISHOLM HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, WASHINGTON AUDITORIUM IN ELY, THE COPPER TOP CHURCH IN DULUTH, B'NAI ABRAHAM IN VIRGINIA AND QUEEN OF PEACE RC IN HOYT LAKES AND OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH IN HIBBING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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.
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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending November 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.