Applesauce Group
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE AND HARNESS JOY FOR BUILDING BETTER FUTURES.
- Income
- $56,612
- Spending
- $96,219
- Reserves
- 31.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- $47,929 spent. WE ARE PROUD TO HIGHLIGHT THE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF APPLESAUCE GROUP'S FESTIVALS, WHICH HAVE EVOLVED TO BECOME CRUCIAL COMMUNITY TOUCHPOINTS FOR CULTURAL CELEBRATION, EDUCATION, AND EMPOWERMENT. THROUGH OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS-THE GREAT WESTSIDE FISH FRY AND A VIBE CALLED FRESH-WE HAVE CREATED VIBRANT SPACES THAT NOT ONLY BRING JOY TO OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO PROVIDE ACCESS TO VITAL LIFE AND TRAJECTORY-ENHANCING RESOURCES. THE GREAT WESTSIDE FISH FRY: CELEBRATING COMMUNITY AND CULTURE THE GREAT WESTSIDE FISH FRY MARKS A PIVOTAL SHIFT IN OUR PROGRAMMING, MOVING FROM OUR EARLIER "A VIBE OUTSIDE" FESTIVAL TO A LARGER, MORE IMPACTFUL EVENT FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CELEBRATION, AND EMPOWERMENT. THIS EVENT UNITES THOUSANDS IN THE HEART OF OUR HISTORIC WEST END, FOSTERING CONNECTIONS AMONG DIVERSE INDIVIDUALS THROUGH FOOD, MUSIC, AND CULTURE. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: - CELEBRATING BLACK CULTURE WITH LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES, LOCAL FOOD VENDORS, AND CULTURAL EXHIBITS, CREATING A JOYFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR ATTENDEES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. - OFFERING A PLATFORM FOR LOCAL ARTISTS AND CREATIVES TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, SHOWCASING THEIR WORK AND CONNECTING WITH POTENTIAL SUPPORTERS. - STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE OUR FESTIVAL INCLUDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATTENDEES, FROM FINANCIAL LITERACY TO HOMEOWNERSHIP RESOURCES. O DATE: APRIL 26, 2024 O LOCATION: WEST COMPLEX, CHARLOTTE, NC O ATTENDANCE: APPROXIMATELY 5,000-7,000 ATTENDEES O PROGRAM SUMMARY: THIS EVENT SERVED AS A LARGE-SCALE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY CULTURAL GATHERING THAT CELEBRATED WEST CHARLOTTE'S HISTORIC CULTURE. THE FISH FRY FEATURED LIVE PERFORMANCES, FOOD VENDORS, A BLACK CULINARY SHOWCASE, AND ON-SITE RESOURCE PARTNERS OFFERING ACCESS TO FINANCIAL LITERACY, HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELING, VOTER REGISTRATION, AND HEALTH SERVICES. A VIBE CALLED FRESH: EMPOWERING THROUGH RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITY BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF PAST FESTIVALS, A VIBE CALLED FRESH CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A DYNAMIC PLATFORM FOR PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS EVENT BLENDS ENTERTAINMENT HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES, MAKING IT A ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE FOCUSED ON CAREER AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: - PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER ACCESS TO RESOURCES, PRIORITIZING THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY. - PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH BY SPOTLIGHTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS, ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL VENTURES. O DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 O LOCATION: WEST COMPLEX, CHARLOTTE, NC O ATTENDANCE: OVER 3,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY O PROGRAM SUMMARY: A VIBE CALLED FRESH IS APPLESAUCE GROUP'S FLAGSHIP FESTIVAL, DESIGNED TO FUSE ART, MUSIC, WELLNESS, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN A JOYFUL, CULTURALLY AFFIRMING SPACE. THIS YEAR'S EVENT EXPANDED ITS FOOTPRINT FOR A COLLABORATION WITH CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO CREATE A GROUNDBREAKING CONCERT MERGING THE WORLDS OF CLASSICAL AND HIP-HOP MUSIC. WE ALSO FEATURED A WELLNESS SPACE FOR SENIORS, A YOUTH ACTIVITY ZONE, AND A MARKETPLACE FEATURING BLACK CREATIVES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS. COLLABORATIVE IMPACT OF APPLESAUCE GROUP'S FESTIVALS: THROUGH OUR FESTIVALS, APPLESAUCE GROUP HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: O ENGAGEMENT: THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED, STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS AND FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING. O EMPOWERMENT: THE RESOURCES PROVIDED AT BOTH FESTIVALS HAVE EQUIPPED INDIVIDUALS WITH SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES. O CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: BY CELEBRATING DIVERSE CULTURES AND TRADITIONS, WE DEEPENED UNDERSTANDING AND PROMOTED SOCIAL COHESION. O ECONOMIC GROWTH: LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS RECEIVED MUCH-NEEDED EXPOSURE, STIMULATING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY. O IN CONCLUSION, THE GREAT WESTSIDE FISH FRY AND A VIBE CALLED FRESH REFLECT APPLESAUCE GROUP'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO CREATING MEANINGFUL, JOYOUS EXPERIENCES WHILE OFFERING VITAL RESOURCES TO THOSE IN NEED. THESE FESTIVALS HAVE CREATED LASTING IMPACTS, UPLIFTING INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, AND REINFORCING OUR MISSION TO DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND IMMERSIVE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. O WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS, AND PARTNERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE REMAIN DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY AND FOSTERING LONG-TERM GROWTH AND UNITY. APPLESAUCE GROUP'S 2024 PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO DIRECTLY ADVANCE OUR MISSION OF USING ARTS, CULTURE, AND JOYFUL GATHERING AS VEHICLES FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND SOCIAL EQUITY. THROUGH INTENTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND CULTURALLY GROUNDED EVENT DESIGN, WE HAVE HELPED BRIDGE ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES FOR HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED POPULATIONS IN CHARLOTTE'S WEST END.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.