Carson Valley Balloon Festival
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ORGANIZE AND OPERATE THE ANNUAL CARSON VALLEY BALLOON FESTIVAL. THE FESTIVAL PROMOTES DOUGLAS COUNTY, NEVADA BY AFFORDING THE COMMUNITY WITH RECREATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNTIES AND MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO WORTHY CHARITIES DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
- Income
- $106,333
- Spending
- $91,638
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 50
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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)
- $91,638 spent. THE PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE CARSON VALLEY BALLOON FESTIVAL IS TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL 3-DAY HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL, HELD ON MAY 17, 18, & 19, 2025 AT LAMPE PARKE IN GARDNERVILLE, NV. THIS FESTIVAL PROVIDES FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH INCREASED TOURIST VISITATION. IN 2025 PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT FACILITATED A CHARITABLE DONATION OF 20,000, MADE TO THE CENTER FOR HOME AND HEALING HTTPS://DOUGLASCENTERFORHOPEANDHEALING.ORG, WHICH PROVIDES FREE GRIEF COUNSELING. THE PROCEEDS ALSO PROVIDED 10 FREE SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES, INCLUDING 1 FOR HOME-SCHOOLED CHILDREN, TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF HOT AIR BALLOONS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CREATED TWO FLOATS TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY WIDE HOLIDAY PARADE ON DEC 7, 2024. THE PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE CARSON VALLEY BALLOON FESTIVAL IS TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL 3-DAY HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL, HELD ON MAY 17, 18, & 19, 2025 AT LAMPE PARKE IN GARDNERVILLE, NV. THIS FESTIVAL PROVIDES FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH INCREASED TOURIST VISITATION. IN 2025 PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT FACILITATED A CHARITABLE DONATION OF 20,000, MADE TO THE CENTER FOR HOME AND HEALING HTTPS://DOUGLASCENTERFORHOPEANDHEALING.ORG, WHICH PROVIDES FREE GRIEF COUNSELING. THE PROCEEDS ALSO PROVIDED 10 FREE SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES, INCLUDING 1 FOR HOME-SCHOOLED CHILDREN, TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF HOT AIR BALLOONS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CREATED TWO FLOATS TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY WIDE HOLIDAY PARADE ON DEC 7, 2024.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 December 2023.
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 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.