Festa Italiana
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION ORGANIZES AND CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL ITALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL KNOWN AS FESTA ITALIANA. THE 3-DAY FESTIVAL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND WELL-LOVED ITALIAN AMERICAN TRADITIONS IN METRO DETROIT. THE FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED BY THE ITALIAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF MICHIGAN AND BY THE JOE VICARI RESTAURANT GROUP AND FEATURES VENDORS OF ITALIAN CUISINE/FOODS, ITALIAN ACTIVITIES, MUSIC AND NUMEROUS OTHER ITALIAN HERITAGE RELATED ACTIVITIES. THE EVENT IS CONDUCTED AT THE FREEDOM HILL COUNTY PARK LOCATED IN STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN. CURRENTLY, 100% OF THE ORGANIZATION'S TIME IS DEVOTED TO THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL WHICH IS FUNDED BY VENDOR AND SPONSOR CONTRIBUTIONS, PARKING FEES AND RELATED DONATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC. THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL IS INTENDED TO FOSTER AND PRESERVE THE TRADITIONS OF THE ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE.
- Income
- $383,137
- Spending
- $359,213
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 58%
- 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% 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
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $355,783 spent. 3-DAY FESTIVAL IN METRO DETROIT WHICH HOSTS MORE THAN 40,000 GUESTS AND MORE THAN 30 FOOD VENDORS TO FOSTER AND PRESERVE THE TRADITIONS OF THE ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE.
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
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 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 February 2022.
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.