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Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show

EIN 75-0575065 · Fort Worth, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED AND IS TO BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED TO HOLD AGRICULTURAL FAIRS AND ENCOURAGE AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS. PARTICULARLY, THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED AND OPERATED TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE BREEDING, RAISING AND MARKETING OF BETTER CATTLE, SWINE, SHEEP, HORSES, MULES, POULTRY AND OTHER LIVESTOCK AND FARM PRODUCTS BY THE EXHIBITION OF SAID STOCK AND FARM PRODUCTS AT PUBLIC FAIRS, AND MAY PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS IN CONNECTION WITH THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY. THE CORPORATION IS ADDITIONALLY FORMED TO ENCOURAGE, INSTRUCT, AND PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF YOUTHS IN FORT WORTH, TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS, AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS.

Income
$35.0 million
Spending
$32.0 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
792
Volunteers
1,800
Highest pay
$511,578, president/general manager

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    139 of 149 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 March 31, 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 (3)
  1. $27.1 million spent. FOR PURPOSES OF STIMULATING INTEREST AND PARTICIPATION IN THE PRODUCTION, CARE AND WELFARE OF LIVESTOCK THE CORPORATION FACILITATES VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS AND COMPETITIONS FEATURING SAID ANIMALS. LIVESTOCK RAISED FOR FOOD PRODUCTION ARE EVALUATED ON THEIR GENETIC AND PHENOTYPIC POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE AFFORDABLE, NUTRITIOUS AND SAFE MEAT PROTEIN AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. EQUINE COMPETITIONS TEST THE SKILLS OF EQUINE AND EQUESTRIAN PARTNERS IN PERFORMANCE COMPETITIONS WHILE OTHER CONTESTS EVALUATE EQUINE PEERS BASED ON AGE, SEX AND BREED FOR DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS RELATED TO PHYSICAL CONFORMATION. CONTESTS AND COMPETITIONS FOR YOUTH TEST AN INDIVIDUAL OR A TEAM ON KNOWLEDGE OF A SPECIFIC SUBJECT (E.G. CARCASS AND RETAIL MEAT CUT EVALUATION, LIVE ANIMAL EVALUATION, BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION OR EQUINE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES). ADDITIONAL YOUTH CONTESTS INCLUDE SHOOTING SPORTS, AGRICULTURAL ROBOTICS, AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS (FARM AND RANCH EQUIPMENT), HORTICULTURE AND RANGELAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION TO NAME A FEW. FINALLY, OUR INDUSTRY'S WESTERN HERITAGE IS CELEBRATED DURING 25 PERFORMANCES OF WORLD-CLASS RODEO IN DICKIES ARENA. SPECIALTY RODEOS CELEBRATE LOCAL HERITAGE (E.G. HISPANIC AND AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE) WHILE OTHER PERFORMANCES FEATURE THE NATION'S MOST ELITE MALE AND FEMALE ATHLETES IN PROFESSIONAL RODEO THAT COMPETE FOR EQUAL PURSES IN ALL OF THE TRADITIONAL RODEO EVENTS.
  2. $1.7 million spent. THE CORPORATION COLLABORATES WITH THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THE CITY-OWNED WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL CENTER (WRMC). THE CORPORATION LEASES WRMC FOR PURPOSES HOSTING THE LIVESTOCK EXHIBITION AND OTHER VARIOUS EVENTS AND COMPETITIONS HELD DURING THE ANNUAL FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO. TO MAINTAIN WRMC'S LONG-TERM VIABILITY, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES BOTH FINANCIAL AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS RENOVATIONS AND EXPANSIONS. IN LINE WITH THE CORPORATION'S MISSION, SUCH SUPPORT ENSURES WRMC REMAINS A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY FOR NOT ONLY THE FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO'S NEEDS, BUT THE NUMEROUS OTHER EQUESTRIAN ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS HELD THERE THROUGHOUT THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR. THIS ASSISTANCE ALSO ENSURES WRMC CONTINUES TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF FORT WORTH BY PRESERVING ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT AS A MAJOR INCOME PRODUCING ASSET FOR THE CITY. ALL PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO WRMC BY THE CORPORATION ARE TO THE BENEFIT OF, AND TRANSFERRED TO, THE CITY OF FORT WORTH. SINCE MOVING TO WRMC IN 1944, THE CORPORATION HAS MADE AND TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY IN EXCESS OF $89.292 MILLION IN INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS.
  3. $935,533 spent. AS THE POPULATION BECOMES MORE URBAN, THE ORGANIZATION'S AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION MISSION BECOMES INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT. FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO PARTNERS ARE EXPOSED TO VARIOUS EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBITS THAT ENLIGHTEN THEM ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY SERVES IN MEETING THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF THE NATION'S GROWING POPULATION. FURTHER, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO EXPLORE AND DISCOVER POTENTIAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE IS PRIMARY OBJECTIVE TO WHICH THE ORGANIZATION DEVOTES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT AND RESOURCES. IN ADDITION TO YOUTH LIVESTOCK EXHIBITIONS, THE ORGANIZATION FACILITATES NUMEROUS CONTESTS AND COMPETITIONS THAT REQUIRE THEM TO HONE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN FIELDS SUCH AS ROBOTICS, WILDLIFE HABITAT CONSERVATION, HORTICULTURE, MEAT QUALITY EVALUATION AS WELL AS CULINARY AND FOOD SAFETY SKILLS TO NAME A FEW. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS ADMINISTERED BY THE ORGANIZATION EXCEEDED $.876 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2026. AUCTION RECEIPTS FOR YOUTH LIVESTOCK ENTRIES THAT EXCELLED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS ARE ALSO USED BY YOUNG AGRARIANS TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE-MENTIONED EFFORTS, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS THAT SHARE ITS MISSION AND VALUES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.

    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 1916.

    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.

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