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Southbound Food Festival

EIN 88-3547404 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF SOUTHBOUND FOOD FEST IS TO EDUCATE LOCAL AND NON-LOCAL ATTENDEES ABOUT BIRMINGHAM'S AND ALABAMA'S DYNAMIC CULINARY CULTURE AND TRADITIONS. THIS FESTIVAL WILL PROMOTE EDUCATION ABOUT THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF ALABAMA'S FOOD AND CULTURE, AS WELL AS ISSUES OF DEEPER CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW FOOD IS WOVEN INTO EVERY ASPECT OF DAILY LIFE, AND HOW FOOD PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

Income
$541,251
Spending
$596,092
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 51%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10

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

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 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. $579,729 spent. ONE OF SOUTHBOUND'S KEY PURPOSES IS TO SUPPORT THE ANNUAL BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL. THE MISSION IS TO CELEBRATE BIRMINGHAM'S DYNAMIC CULINARY INDUSTRY WITH EVENTS, PRESENTATIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, MUSIC, POETRY AND OTHER COMMUNITY GATHERINGS. THROUGH THIS ANNUAL FOOD EVENT, SOUTHBOUND PROVIDES A PLATFORM WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER TO LEARN ABOUT THE REGION'S RICH CULTURE, EXPERIENCE ALL BIRMINGHAM HAS TO OFFER, AND DISCUSS ISSUES OF DEEPER CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE.THE SOUTHBOUND FOOD FESTIVAL IS DEDICATED TO EQUITY, THE ARTS, SUSTAINABILITY, AND COMMUNITY GROWTH. SOUTHBOUND IS COMMITTED TO ALL FORMS OF THE CULINARY ARTS, WITH PASSION, REVERENCE FOR TRADITION AND EXCITEMENT FOR INNOVATION.THE SOUTHBOUND FOOD FESTIVAL HAS NOW GROWN FROM THE INAUGURAL FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL TO A 10-DAY EVENT HOSTING CHEFS, MIXOLOGISTS, BREWERS, ARTISTS, ARTISANS AND FOOD AMBASSADORS FROM ACROSS THE US TO COLLABORATE WITH THE ACCLAIMED FOOD COMMUNITY IN ALABAMA. THE FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS THE DIVERSE FLAVORS, HISTORY AND CULTURE OF ALABAMA, FEATURES CHEFS AND BEVERAGE PROFESSIONALS, AND ENTERTAINED GUESTS FROM ACROSS SEVERAL STATES AND CANADA. ADDITIONALLY, SOUTHBOUND FOOD FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE ALABAMA HUMANITIES ALLIANCE, LES DAMES D'ESCOFFIER AMONG OTHER ART AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS IN ALABAMA. IN ADDITION, THE SOUTHBOUND FOOD FESTIVAL SUPPORTED SUSTAINABILITY IN THE COMMUNITY BY UTILIZING ALL COMPOSTABLE MATERIALS, WHICH RESULTED IN KEEPING POUNDS OF WASTE FROM AREA LANDFILLS AND ALSO DELIVERED POUNDS OF COMPOST TO AREA FARMS. THE FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION LAID IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WITH A STRONGER FOCUS ON WOMEN AND MINORITY CHEFS AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS, FARMERS, AND ARTISTS, WITH A MORE URGENT GOAL OF BUILDING COMMUNITY AND PROMOTING COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT GROUPS, WHICH HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING OF LATE. THE ATTENDANCE CONTINUES TO GROW, CREATING MORE AWARENESS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND PURPOSE AND GROWING INTEREST IN INCREASING ITS IMPACT IN THE YEARS TO COME.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 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 November 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.