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Ojai Festivals Ltd

EIN 95-2122508 · Ojai, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL SERVES AS A CREATIVE MUSIC LABORATORY FOR PIONEERING NEW WORKS,CHAMPIONING ADVENTUROUS PROGRAMMING, AND WORKING WITH TODAY'S EMERGING ARTISTS WITH EVENTS DURING THE YEAR AND THE OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL SERVES AS A CREATIVE MUSIC LABORATORY FOR PIONEERING NEW WORKS, CHAMPIONING ADVENTUROUS PROGRAMMING, AND WORKING WITH TODAY'S EMERGING ARTISTS WITH EVENTS DURING THE YEAR AND CULMINATING WITH A FOUR-DAY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE IN JUNE IN OJAI, CALIFORNIA. THE FESTIVAL IS KNOWN FOR ITS UNIQUE STRUCTURE OF HAVING THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR APPOINT A NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR EACH YEAR, GIVING AUDIENCES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER A MULTITUDE OF MUSIC FORMS. AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE FESTIVAL IS ITS BRAVO MUSIC EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS FREE WORKSHIPS, ARTIST RESIDENCIES, AND CONCERTS FOR OJAI'S PUBLIC-SCHOOL STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
26
Volunteers
385
Highest pay
$125,000, artistic and executive dir

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

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 August 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. $1.6 million spent. THE 79TH OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL, JUNE 5 TO 8, 2025, WELCOMED THE RETURN OF FLUTIST CLAIRE CHASE AS MUSIC DIRECTOR. UNDER CHASE'S MUSICAL LEADERSHIP, THE 2025 OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL CELEBRATED COLLABORATION AND DIALOGUE ACROSS MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF COMPOSERS. AMONG THEM WERE COMPOSERS-IN-RESIDENCE TANIA LEON, ANNEA LOCKWOOD AND MARCOS BALTER; COMPOSER-PERFORMERS CRAIG TABORN (PIANO), LEILEHUA LANZILOTTI (VIOLA) AND SUSIE IBARRA (PERCUSSION); MUSIC OF LUMINARIES INCLUDING SOFIA GUBAIDULINA AND TERRY RILEY; AND EMERGING COMPOSERS INCLUDING EDUARDO AGUILAR, VINCENT ATRIA AND BAHAR ROYAEE. TOGETHER, THEY PRESENTED NEW AND RECENT WORKS INCLUDING FOUR WORLD PREMIERES, ONE U.S. PREMIERE, AND EIGHT WEST COAST PREMIERESIN DIALOGUE WITH ONE ANOTHER, AS WELL AS WITH ERA-DEFINING ARTISTS SUCH AS J.S. BACH, JOHN COLTRANE, JULIUS EASTMAN AND PAULINE OLIVEROS. IN THE SPIRIT OF DURING THE FOUR DAYS OF THE FESTIVAL, THERE WERE SEVEN MAIN LIBBEY BOWL CONCERTS, TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH 2025 ARTISTS AND COMPOSERS, FILMS AND FREE CONCERTS OPENED TO THE OJAI COMMUNITY. TO ENSURE THE FESTIVAL REACHES A FAR WIDER AUDIENCE OUTSIDE OF LIBBEY BOWL, FREE LIVE STREAMING OF THE MAINSTAGE CONCERTS WAS MADE AVAILABLE ON THE FESTIVAL'S WEBSITE AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ALONG WITH OTHER ARCHIVED FESTIVAL SEASONS. THE FESTIVAL CONTINUED PROVIDING FREE ONLINE OFFERINGS INCLUDING THE OJAICAST PODCAST AND VIRTUAL OJAI TALKS TO FURTHER ENGAGE WITH PATRONS. THESE SESSIONS WITH 2025 FESTIVAL ARTISTS GAVE PARTICIPANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE FESTIVAL REPERTOIRE AND PROGRAMS AND ENJOY MUSIC VIA THE VIRTUAL WORLD. THE FESTIVAL'S CELEBRATED BRAVO MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM CONTINUED TO SERVE OJAI PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH FREE WORKSHOPS, INTERACTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS, AND CONCERTS. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, BRAVO SERVED CLOSE TO 3500 STUDENTS. THANKS TO CONTINUED FUNDING, BRAVO PRESENTED ITS ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM LED BY SIX LOCAL AREA MUSICIANS GOING INTO THE CLASSROOMS. SPRING PROGRAMS INCLUDED THE IMAGINE CONCERT AT LIBBEY BOWL FOR UPPER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WHO ENJOY A LIVE CONCERT WITH PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, MUSIC VAN, ORGANIZED BY BRAVO VOLUNTEERS, WHICH VISITED EIGHT SCHOOLS ALLOWING STUDENTS TO TRY DIFFERENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, AND SCORE, A HIGH SCHOOL COMPOSITION PROGRAM WITH NORDHOFF HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT. DURING THE SUMMER, BRAVO CONTINUES WITH TWO ART & MUSIC CAMPS LED BY BRAVO TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS WHERE CHILDREN LEARN IN AN INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENT OF MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND ART. ANOTHER ASPECT OF BRAVO IS BRIDGE WHERE STUDENTS VISIT LOCAL SENIOR RETIREMENT HOMES AND SHARE MUSIC THROUGH SONGS AND GAMES WITH THE RESIDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 August 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 1947.

    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.

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