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Merchants Association of Columbia County Inc

EIN 58-1762742 · Martinez, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 39% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, WE LOOK AT OUR ORGANIZATION AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE WITH ONE OF OUR MAIN FUNCTIONS BEING TO PROVIDE A QUALITY COUNTY FAIR FOR OUR GUESTS. THE FAIR ENHANCES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BY FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND ALLOWING AREA YOUTH TO DISPLAY AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITS. OVERALL, THE FAIR UNITES THE URBAN AND RURAL PORTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND STRIVES TO ENTERTAIN AND PROMOTE THE COMMUNITY'S TRADITIONS, TALENTS, AND DIVERSITY. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE WHOLESOME FAMILY ACTIVITIES THAT EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN, AND STIMULATE THOSE WHO ATTEND THE FAIR.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$828,319
Spent on programs
39%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
0
Volunteers
90

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    39% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    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 December 31, 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 (1)
  1. $319,666 spent. THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES THE MOST VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCE THAT ITS RESOURCES WILL ALLOW. OUR GOAL IS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT GUIDELINES TO ASSIST IN DESIGNING WHOLESOME FAMILY ACTIVITIES TO EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN, STIMULATE AND CHALLENGE THE COMMUNITY. WE SPONSOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS OUR ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT AND SEMIANNUAL FAIR. THE FAIR GENERATES MOST OF OUR INCOME, WHICH ALLOWS US TO DONATE TO MANY WORTHWHILE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. YEAR-ROUND OPERATIONS OF THE FAIRGROUND FACILIITES SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING MULTI-PURPOSE FACILITIES FOR BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS IN ORDER TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 1998.

    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 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.