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Babes Fest Inc

EIN 81-5349740 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE GENDER EQUITY IN CREATIVE COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS THROUGH FESTIVALS, MARKETS, EXHIBITIONS, WORKSHOPS AND ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING.

Income
$489,973
Spending
$418,616
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
4
Volunteers
112
Highest pay
$75,969, founding 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    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 (5)
  1. $143,903 spent. WE HOSTED 100+ FREE CREATIVE COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AT THE FUTURE FRONT HOUSE - FROM CRAFT WORKSHOPS AND ART SHOWS (INCLUDING MADLY INVOLVED, A PATH OF IMPERMANENCE AND BRING IT FROM THE BACK) TO PANELS AND PERFORMANCES. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO WAIVE OUR SLIDING SCALE RENTAL FEES FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS NEARLY 75% OF THE TIME. THIS IS SOMETHING WEVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS FOR 10 YEARS! WE PRESENTED 25+ COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR FREE ARTS HEALING AND CREATIVE EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, LIKE BROAD STUDIOS CLUBHOUSES CERAMICS FELLOWSHIP (WHICH PROVIDED 16 AUSTIN RESIDENTS WITH FREE SIX-WEEK CERAMICS PROGRAMS) AND BLACK GIRLS IN ART SPACES X ANGA HAUS PALETTE TO PIXEL WORKSHOP (WHICH PROVIDED FREE AUGMENTED REALITY TRAINING). (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
  2. $136,563 spent. ACROSS THE FRONT MARKETS SPRING AND FALL SEASONS, WE EXHIBITED 437 INDEPENDENT CREATIVES, DESIGNERS, MAKERS, ARTISTS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND CHEFS FROM TEXAS. WE ALSO TOOK THE FRONT MARKET TO OUR LARGEST PUBLIC VENUE YET - WATERLOO GREENWAY - IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN. THIS WAS A LANDMARK MOMENT FOR OUR TEAM AND THE FUTURE OF THE PROGRAM.
  3. $34,198 spent. THE FRONT FESTIVAL HAD ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING YEAR, SUPPORTING 65 WOMEN AND LGBTQ+ ARTISTS AND 1300 VISITORS ACROSS FOUR DAYS OF INDEPENDENT MUSIC, FILM AND ART.
  4. $5,325 spent. THROUGH THE THE WORK CONFERENCE, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER 300+ CREATIVE LEADERS IN AUSTIN TO SKILL-BUILD AND RESOURCE-SHARE AROUND COMMUNITY-BUILDING, SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATION, STORYTELLING AND ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP.
  5. LINE 4A: ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS112 VOLUNTEERS, BOARD MEMBERS, COMMUNITY CURATORS AND COLLABORATORS JOINED US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO CONTRIBUTE 1500+ HOURS OF SUPPORT TO FUTURE FRONTS PROGRAMS. (THIS IS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS IN FUTURE FRONTS 9-YEAR HISTORY.)WE WERE RECOGNIZED FOR OUR WORK BY A NUMBER OF PARTNERS, SPONSORS AND GRANT-MAKERS, INCLUDING TTHE TEXAS COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS (FOR THE FIRST TIME). WE ALSO RECEIVED THE CITY OF AUSTINS CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ELEVATE GRANT FOR A SECOND YEAR. WE CONTINUED CREATIVE COMMUNITY DESIGN PROJECTS WITH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION, THE CONTEMPORARY AUSTIN, THE LINE HOTEL AUSTIN, PEASE PARK, RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, WAYMO, WATERLOO GREENWAY AND MORE, TOO.WE DOUBLED THIS SUMMERS COMMUNITY CLUBS, WHICH SAW 23 DIFFERENT FUTURE FRONT MEMBERS CURATE AND HOST FREE CREATIVE SESSIONS FOR 500+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS.WE WORKED WITH HIGHLANDER CENTER, MUTUAL LOVE REST FEST, WATER LIT AND PROJECT FOR EMPTY SPACE TO HOST INTERACTIVE ART EXHIBITS AND COMMUNITY TEACH-INS ON THE ARTISTIC, CULTURAL AND CREATIVE IMPACT OF SOUTHERN PEOPLES STRUGGLES FOR JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY. THIS YEARS THEMES CENTERED COMMUNITY-CARE, REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND TRANS JOY.ALL IN ALL, ACROSS 50 PUBLIC MARKETS, FESTIVALS, SHOWS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN 2024, WE WELCOMED 18,000 VISITORS, OPENING UP $122,000 IN COMMISSIONS AND CONTRACTS FOR 1,550+ INDEPENDENT CREATIVES AND ARTISTS IN TEXAS.PART III, 4D PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT:THROUGH THE THE WORK CONFERENCE, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER 300+ CREATIVE LEADERS IN AUSTIN TO SKILL-BUILD AND RESOURCE-SHARE AROUND COMMUNITY-BUILDING, SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATION, STORYTELLING AND ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP.

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 November 2018.

    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.