Valley of the Sun Bowl Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
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
VALLEY OF THE SUN BOWL FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND GIVING THROUGH THE ANNUAL RATE BOWL AND RELATED EVENTS. WE SERVE AS WELCOMING HOSTS, CREATE LIFELONG MEMORIES, PROMOTE ARIZONA, AND ENABLE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY.
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $4.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -38.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 1654% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs.
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 2528 of 29 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $4.0 million spent. THE VALLEY OF THE SUN BOWL FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO BE A WORLD-CLASS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A PREMIER COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL EXPERIENCE AND RELATED GAME DAY 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 SPORTING EVENTS, UNPARALLELED HOSPITALITY AND LIFE-CHANGING COMMUNITY IMPACT, FOCUSED ON PILLARS OF YOUTH, SPORTS AND EDUCATION. THE VALLEY OF THE SUN BOWL FOUNDATION ANNUALLY STAGES THE RATE BOWL, WHICH MATCHES TEAMS FROM THE BIG TEN AND THE BIG 12 CONFERENCES (OR MOUNTAIN WEST IF EITHER CONFERENCE CANNOT PROVIDE A TEAM). THE GAME IS PLAYED AT CHASE FIELD IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. THE 35TH ANNUAL GAME WAS PLAYED ON DECEMBER 26, 2024. RUTGERS DEFEATED KANSAS STATE 44-41 IN FRONT OF ALMOST 22,000 ATTENDEES. AN ESTIMATED 500 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY 2,500 HOURS OF THEIR TIME AS COMMUNITY SERVICE TO HELP PUT ON THE BOWL AND RELATED GAME DAY EVENTS.AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF FOSTERING A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SERVICE. OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE VALLEY OF THE SUN BOWL AND ITS SURROUNDING EVENTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO GENERATING OVER $3 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR ARIZONA AND NEARLY $35 MILLION IN CHARITABLE GIVING THROUGH ITS CORPORATE AFFILIATE FIESTA EVENTS, INC. TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATORS, THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE WISHES FOR TEACHERS.
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
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 November 6, 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 March 2025.
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 2000.
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 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.