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Park of East Texas Inc

EIN 75-0247290 · Tyler, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PARK OF EAST TEXAS, INC (POET) OPERATES, MAINTAINS, AND SUPPORTS AN ANNUAL FAIR PRODUCED BY THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE PARK OF EAST TEXAS, INC. THE POET PROMOTES THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH ESSAY CONTESTS, ART EXHIBITS AND DISPLAYS OF AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL ADVANCEMENTS, AND TECHNIQUES AND OTHER SUBJECTS THAT ARE USEFUL TO INDIVIDUALS AND BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PARK OF EAST TEXAS HAS ACQUIRED 240 ACRES WITH PLANS FOR A YEAR-ROUND MASTER PLANNED AREA WHICH INCLUDES EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES, EXHIBITION AND EXPO SPACE, MEETING ROOMS, OPEN DEMONSTRATION AND EDUCATIONAL SPACE, AN AMPHITHEATER, AN EVENTS CENTER, EQUESTRIAN AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS AND A HOTEL. AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTROLLED, MULTI-PURPOSE ARENA IS PLANNED FOR PHASE 1 WITH PLANNED USAGE TO INCLUDE TRADE SHOWS, COMMENCEMENT PROGRAMS, CONVENTIONS, CONCERTS, HORSE SHOWS, CAR SHOWS, AND OTHER EVENTS LEFT TO THE IMAGINATION.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
50
Volunteers
165
Highest pay
$255,239, past ceo

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 50% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 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 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. $1.4 million spent. THE PARK OF EAST TEXAS, INC. (DBA EAST TEXAS STATE FAIR ASSOCIATION) OFFERS UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH THROUGH A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED THROUGH THE POET AND THROUGH AN INTERNAL EDUCATIONAL COMPETITION, ACADEMIC RODEO. GRADUATING SENIORS ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR POET SCHOLARSHILPS TO ATTEND TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE FOR A $750 PER SEMESTER STIPEND. UP TO TEN TWO-YEAR POET SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED ANNUALLY ($30,000) TO STUDENTS ATTENDING TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE. ACADEMIC RODEO PARTICIPANTS WHO PLACE FIRST-THIRD IN ANY COMPETITION ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR ACADEMIC RODEO SCHOLARSHIPS. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SUDENTS, FOR A TOTAL OF 10 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS ANNUALLY. THE PARK OF EAST TEXAS IS ITS OWN EDUCATIONAL TOOL. STUDENT TOUR GROUPS VISIT THE FAIR ANNUALLY TO TOUR THE VARIOUS EXHIBITS. THESE TOURS ARE THE INITIAL EXPOSURE MANY STUDENTS HAVE TO THE WORLD OF AGRICULTURE, FARMING, AND LIVESTOCK. THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE TO CHILDREN HOW AGRICULTURE TOUCHES THEIR DAILY LIVES IS AN IMPORTANT LESSON. THE EAST TEXAS STATE FAIR LIVESTOCK SHOW SUPPORTS OVER 3,500 ENTRIES AND HONORS WINNERS WITH CASH PREMIUMS TOTALING OVER $20,000 PER YEAR.

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 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 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 October 1993.

    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.