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Fiesta Events Inc

EIN 86-0666998 · Scottsdale, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

FIESTA EVENTS, INC. IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SERVICE. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS AN OUTLET FOR VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION, ECONOMIC GROWTHAND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF ARIZONA CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REACH OUT AND SERVE OTHERS.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-96 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
0
Volunteers
1,500
Highest pay
$761,430, executive director/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 4196% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 76% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 29 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

    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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 March 31, 2025, 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. $4.8 million spent. FIESTA EVENTS, INC.'S MISSION IS TO BE A WORLD-CLASS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROVIDING PREMIER LOCAL EVENTS THAT SERVE AS ECONOMIC DRIVERS FOR ARIZONA AND PROVIDE CHARITABLE RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. OUR VISION IS TO BE ARIZONA'S LEADING ORGANIZATION IN CREATING UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES THROUGH WORLD-CLASS EVENTS, UNPARALLELED HOSPITALITY AND LIFE-CHANGING COMMUNITY IMPACT, FOCUSED ON PILLARS OF YOUTH, SPORTS AND EDUCATION. FIESTA EVENTS, INC., HOSTS NUMEROUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING A YEAR-ROUND WISHES FOR TEACHERS PROGRAM, A FOOTBALL KICKOFF EVENT THAT DRAWS APPROXIMATELY 1,200 ATTENDEES, A PAR 3 CHALLENGE OVER THE COURSE OF 3 DAYS, AN AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR (AED) TRAINING AND DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, A WEEKLY TELEVISED FIESTA BOWL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SHOWDOWN, SPONSORSHIP OF ARIZONA INTERSCHOLASTIC ASSOCIATION (AIA) HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS, A GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT, YOUTH FOOTBALL CLINICS, DONATIONS OF FOOTBALL FIELDS, PLAYGROUNDS AND RESOURCE ROOMS TO SCHOOLS AND PARKS IN NEED, ACTIVATION OF KINDNESS ARIZONA WEEK, A TELEVISED PARADE, ALL THE WHILE SERVING OVER 600,000 YOUTH THROUGH ITS CHARITABLE EFFORTS.AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF FOSTERING INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OF OUTREACH AND SERVICE. OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT FIESTA EVENTS, INC. AND ITS SURROUNDING EVENTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO GENERATING OVER $3 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR ARIZONA AND NEARLY $35 MILLION IN CHARITABLE GIVING TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATORS, THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE WISHES FOR TEACHERS AND SERVING OVER 600,000 YOUTH THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 March 2025.

    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 December 1991.

    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 November 4, 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.