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Edison Festival of Light Inc

EIN 65-0118122 · Fort Myers, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THOMAS ALVA EDISON THROUGH COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND SHOWCASING HIS MANY INVENTIONS.

Income
$175,849
Spending
$165,794
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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, 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. CHILDREN'S EVENTS - THESE EVENTS INCLUDE A SCIENCE AND INVENTORS FAIR FOR OVER 500 ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A FIVE COUNTY AREA. THE FAIRS EMPHASIZE EDISON'S HISTORY OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE THROUGH HIS MANY INVENTIONS. WINNERS OF THE SCIENCE FAIRS QUALIFTY FOR A STATE COMPETITION. THERE IS A JUNIOR PARADE THAT DRAWS MORE THAN 6,000 PARTICIPANTS AND PARENTS AND CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO DESIGN AND BUILD THEIR OWN FLOATS FOR THE JUNIOR PARADE. NO ENTRANCE FEES ARE CHARGED FOR CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES OR THE PUBLIC. THERE IS ALSO A JUNIOR CORONATION OF THE JUNIOR PARADE WINNER.
  2. GRAND PARADE PARTY - PRESENTED IN HONOR OF THOMAS ALVA EDISON AND HIS MANY ACHIEVEMENTS. THEY HIGHLIGHT LOCAL AS WELL AS NATIONAL TALENT, BANDS AND FLOAT ENTRIES. IT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST NIGHTTIME PARADES IN THE COUNTRY. IT SHOWCASES EDISON'S GREATEST INVENTION, THE LIGHT BULB, BY REQUIRING ALL FLOAT ENTRIES TO BE ILLUMINATED. IT IS KNOWN AS THE GRAND PARADE OF LIGHT AND TAKES PLACE ANNUALLY ON OR AROUND HIS BIRTHDAY. OVER TEN CHARITIES AND NON-PROFIT GROUPS RAISED FUNDS FOR THEIR ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THE GRAND PARADE STREET SEATING PROGRAM.
  3. EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 5K RUN - THE 3.1 MILE RACE AROUND DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS IS THE KICK OFF EVENT FOR THE EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS GRAND PARADE. THE EVENT HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS TO THE POINT OF INTERNATIONAL NOTORIETY. IT BOASTS WELL OVER 1,400 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND SEPECTATORS. THE EVENT IS COORDINATED FROM START TO FINISH BY THE FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB AND INCLUDES CHIP TIMING AND AN AFTER EVENT AWARDS PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2022.

    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 June 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 September 2023.

    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.