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Baton Rouge Blues Foundation

EIN 81-0594076 · Baton Rouge, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BATON ROUGE BLUES FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION STRIVING TO PROMOTE, PRESERVE AND CELEBRATE THE BATON ROUGE BLUES CULTURE AND BRING THE BEST OF LOUISIANA SWAMP BLUES MUSIC TO THE WORLD.

Income
$313,533
Spending
$386,012
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$72,000, executive director

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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. $310,768 spent. ORIGINATING IN 1981, THE BATON ROUGE BLUES FESTIVAL IS ONE OF THE OLDEST BLUES FESTIVALS IN AMERICA, FIRST HELD ON THE CAMPUS OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.THE FESTIVAL HONORS THE LEGEND OF HOME-GROWN BLUES ARTIST LIKE SLIM HARPO, RUDY RICHARD, SILAS HOGAN, WHISPERIN' SMITH, GUITAR KELLY, SCHOOLBOY CLEVE, CHEWIN' GUM JOHNSON AND RAFUL NEAL. EXPANDING OUTSIDE OUR BACKYARD, THE FESTIVAL HAS BROUGHT IN NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY RECONIZED NAMES LIKE BOBBY BLUE BLAND, MARICA BALL, PHIL GUY, LARRY GARNER AND CHARLIE MUSSLEWHITE - INCLUDING RECENT GRAMMY-NOMINEE RUTHIE FOSTER, WHO WON THE HEARTS OF THE FESTIVAL GOERS IN 2009. VISITORS AND LOCALS ALIKE ARE ENCOURAGED TO FURTHER THEIR BATON ROUGE BLUES EXPERIENCE BEYOND THE FESTIVAL AT HANGOUTS LIKE PHIL BRADY'S (WITH THE LONGEST-RUNNING 21-YEAR THURSDAY NIGHT BLUES JAM AROUND) AND THE INIMITABLE TEDDY'S JUKE JOINT IN ZACHARY, LOUISIANA.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Baton Rouge Area Foundation (Baton Rouge, LA), EIN 72-6030391. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.