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Sjc Cultural Events Inc

EIN 92-3558059 · St Augustine, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SJC CULTURAL EVENTS INC., (SJCCE) IS THE LOCALLY LED, COMMUNITY FOCUSED, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ENRICHES ST. JOHNS COUNTY AND LIVE MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE THROUGH AUTHENTIC CULTURAL PROGRAMMING. SJCCE STRIVES TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY-TAILORED EVENTS TO SUPPORT, ENHANCE, AND EXPAND APPRECIATION FOR THE ARTS. WE FOLLOW THE CORE GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF BEING "COMMUNITY OWNED, COMMUNITY OPERATED, COMMUNITY LED". SJCCE MANAGES AND OPERATES THE ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE, PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL, SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL AND FORT MOSE JAZZ & BLUES SERIES.

Income
$39.9 million
Spending
$39.6 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
41
Volunteers
264
Highest pay
$374,179, ceo & president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 September 30, 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. $37.1 million spent. SJCCE PRODUCES YEAR-ROUND LIVE MUSIC AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING SERVING RESIDENTS AND VISITORS THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST FLORIDA. THE ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE, A 4,800-CAPACITY OUTDOOR VENUE, HOSTED 74 CONCERTS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR FEATURING NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY TOURING ARTISTS. THE AMPHITHEATRE ALSO SERVED AS A YEAR-ROUND COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE, HOSTING APPROXIMATELY 70 COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING NONPROFIT GATHERINGS AND THE WEEKLY FARMERS MARKET, WHICH SUPPORTS LOCAL FARMERS, ARTISANS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES WHILE PROVIDING REGULAR PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE SITE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN AUGUST 2025, PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL REOPENED FOLLOWING A 14-MONTH RENOVATION DESIGNED TO EXPAND AUDIENCE CAPACITY, ENHANCE PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES, AND IMPROVE GUEST AMENITIES. FOLLOWING REOPENING, THE VENUE RESUMED LIVE MUSIC PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. SJCCE ALSO PRODUCES SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL, A MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION OF LIVE MUSIC HELD ACROSS MULTIPLE VENUES THROUGHOUT ST. AUGUSTINE. THE FESTIVAL INCLUDES FREE AND TICKETED PERFORMANCES FEATURING LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ARTISTS. THE FESTIVAL WELCOMED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES AND CONTRIBUTED TO CULTURAL TOURISM WHILE MAINTAINING STRONG PARTICIPATION FROM LOCAL MUSICIANS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. SJCCE ALSO PRESENTS THE FORT MOSE JAZZ & BLUES SERIES, AN ANNUAL CONCERT SERIES HELD AT FORT MOSE HISTORIC STATE PARK. THE SERIES CELEBRATES THE CULTURAL LEGACY OF FORT MOSE, THE FIRST LEGALLY SANCTIONED FREE AFRICAN SETTLEMENT IN WHAT IS NOW THE UNITED STATES. THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT, THE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SITE WHILE PROVIDING CULTURAL PROGRAMMING THAT CONNECTS MUSIC, HISTORY, AND COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 June 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 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.