Festival Fairbanks 84
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Festival Fairbanks coordinated numerous programs and events this year, including beautification and development planning, 26 concerts in the Plaza, Women Veterans Day, Veterans Day, and the Downtown Fairbanks bridge of flags project. Festival Fairbanks also participated in community committees such as the Chena Riverfront Commission and the Clay Street Cemetery Commission. As part of the ongoing project, Chena Riverwalk phase III, we collaborated with the City of Fairbanks, FAST planning, and the Alaska Department of Transportation to coordinate and support the continued planning efforts for completing the project and restoring the riverbank. The organization planted and maintained acres of flowers in Golden Heart Plaza and throughout downtown Fairbanks. Every visitor to the area, as well as more than 100,000 residents, were touched by one or more of the projects presented by Festival Fairbanks.
- Income
- $289,452
- Spending
- $207,668
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 7.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 61%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 47
- Highest pay
- $67,164, executive director
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: 86 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% 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
Good: 83 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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)
- $129,381 spent. Festival Fairbanks coordinated many programs and events this year, which included beautification and development planning, 26 Concerts in the Plaza, Vendors at the Plaza, two live Veterans Day events, 120 year Anniversary of the City of Fairbanks Banner Project, and Downtown Fairbanks Bridge of Flags projects. Festival Fairbanks also participated in community committees, including the Chena Riverfront Commission and Clay Street Cemetery Commission. As part of the Chena Riverwalk Phase III project, we worked with the Department of Transportation, and City of Fairbanks FAST Planning to plan and facilitate the continued efforts to complete the project and riverbank restoration. The organization planted and maintained acres of flowers in Golden Heart Plaza and throughout downtown Fairbanks. Every visitor to the area and more than 100,000 residents were touched by one or more of the projects presented by Festival Fairbanks.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.