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Ish Festival

EIN 83-2433747 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ISH IS A CINCINNATI-BASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATION CENTERING JEWISH ARTS AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS AS A PLATFORM FOR CONNECTING ARTISTS WITH COMMUNITIES TO CREATE NEW EXPERIENCES, INSPIRE PRIDE IN JEWISH AND INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITY, AND FOSTER APPRECIATION OF CINCINNATI HISTORY AND JEWISH PEOPLEHOOD. ISH IS A DISRUPTOR, ADAPTER, AND INSTIGATOR OF SOCIAL-CULTURAL CHANGE. WE ARE A MOVEMENT FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION, INCLUSION, HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN, AND CROSS-CULTURAL COLLABORATION, TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. WHETHER JEWISH, JEW-ISH, (OR JUST HERE FOR THE MATZAH!), ISH BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER IN ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL EXPLORATION, AND THROUGH THAT EXPLORATION, BUILDS UNDERSTANDING.

Income
$336,380
Spending
$473,417
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$80,000, exec dir

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: 56 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 101% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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: 81 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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 (4)
  1. $156,221 spent. BLINK- CURATED AND PRODUCED LIGHT ART PARADE FOR BLINK CITY WIDE LIGHT ART EVENT. WORKED WITH SCHOOLS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS TO CREATE COSTUMES, FLOATS AND PERFORMANCES FOR OPENING NIGHT OF BLINK
  2. $146,556 spent. TEEN ENGAGEMENT - ENGAGING YOUTH, BOTH RELIGIOUS, SECULAR AND NON-JEWISH WITH TRADTIONAL CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
  3. $16,735 spent. BLINK COMMUNITY LANTERN PROGRAM- ENGAGED OVER 3000 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO CREATE LANTERNS FOR A CITY-WIDE LIGHT ART EVENT. INSTALLED FOR 4 DAYS OVER THE BLINK EVENT.
  4. $59,718 spent. FISCAL SPONSOREE OF SMALL ARTISITIC PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CO-SHARING SPACE

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 2019.

    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.

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.