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Illumination Events Inc

EIN 84-3585118 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceWeak19 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ILLUMINATION LIGHT ART FESTIVAL PRODUCES LARGE SCALE PUBLIC ART FESTIVALS IN NEW YORK CITY THAT HAND OUT FREE TICKETS TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR FIRST ART FESTIVAL WAS IN 2021 IN BROOKLYN AND WE HANDED OUT 15,000 FREE TICKETS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WE ARE NOW SET TO PRODUCE A PUBLIC NO TICKET ART FESTIVAL IN BATTERY PARK IN NEW YORK IN 2023. COVID HAS DELAYED A LOT.THE EVENTS ARE CONDUCTED BY THE ILLUMINATION NYC TEAM WHICH CONSISTS CURRENTLY OF RON FISHER, FLO TONG, ETHAN POPE, ROBERT MONTENEGRO, AND SAM SKALBECK WHO CO-PRODUCE THE EVENTS. EACH OF US DEDICATES 20% OF OUR TIME AND WE DO NOT TAKE A SALARY FOR OUR EFFORTS. ACTIVITIES ARE FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS, VIP TICKETS, AND MERCHANDISE & CONCESSION SALES. OUR ACTIVITIES FURTHER OUR PURPOSE BY PROVIDING NEW YORK FAMILIES A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE LIGHT-BASED ART IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER LOCAL ARTISTS TO BUILD THESE WORKS AND GIVE FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THEM.

Income
$92,776
Spending
$95,261
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 62 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 104% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% 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

Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 0 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $91,923 spent. ONLY ONE ACTIVITY IN 2024
  2. NONE
  3. NONE

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    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 May 2023.

    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.