Festival of Light Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO CONDUCT, MANAGE AND PROMOTE A HOLIDAY LIGHTING PROGRAM ANNUALLY IN THE CITY OF CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA
- Income
- $421,269
- Spending
- $546,586
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 335
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 116% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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 (5)
- $324,461 spent. PROVIDE A HOLIDAY LIGHTING PROGRAM FROM THANKSGIVING TO NEW YEAR'S EVE. THE PROGRAM RUNS NIGHTLY FROM 6:00 PM TO 10:00 PM ON WEEKNIGHTS AND 6:00 PM TO 11:00 PM ON WEEKENDS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION LIGHTS ILLUMINATING VARIOUS STRUCTURES WITHIN SHANNON SPRINGS PARK AS WELL AS VARIOUS DISPLAYS PLACED THROUGHOUT THE PARK AND INCLUDES COMPUTER ANIMATED SHOWS SET TO MUSIC. 40,000 VEHICLES AND OVER 250,000 VISITORS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PARK EACH SEASON.
- PROVIDE A GIFT SHOP AND CONCESSION TO ATTRACT VISITORS TO THE HOLIDAY LIGHTING PROGRAM. THE GIFT SHOP AND CONCESSION FEATURES UNIQUE GIFTS, HOMEMADE CINNAMON ROLLS, AND HOT CHOCOLATE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THOSE ATTENDING THE PROGRAM. IT ALSO PROVIDES SHELTER FROM THE OUTSIDE AS VISITORS WALK THROUGH THE PARK. THE GIFT SHOP MAINTAINS THE SAME HOURS AS THE HOLIDAY LIGHTING PROGRAM IT SUPPORTS. NOTE: ALL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED FOR THIS ACHIEVEMENT ARE CAPTURED IN COST OF GOODS SOLD ON THE STATEMENT OF REVENUE
- $4,240 spent. MARKET AND ATTRACT VISITORS TO THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW. THE ORGANIZATION ADVERTISED WITH VARIOUS MEDIA INCLUDING 4 MAGAZINES, 4 NEWSPAPERS WITH 1 ONLINE PUBLICATION, AND ON THE RADIO. THE VARIOUS MEDIA OUTLETS REACHED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND NORTH TEXAS.
- $72,045 spent. PROVIDE ATTRACTIONS OTHER THAN LIGHTS TO DRAW VISITORS (I.E. NATIVITY EVENT AND HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES)
- PROVIDE ATTRACTIONS OTHER THAN LIGHTS TO DRAW VISITORS (I.E. NATIVITY EVENT AND HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 February 2026.
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 August 1993.
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.