Overview
What is North Carolina Blueberry Festival?
The North Carolina Blueberry Festival is an annual event, organized and managed by the Association Inc. This nonprofit organization, based in Burgaw, North Carolina, aims to promote blueberries and tourism in the region. The festival features educational and local vendor booths, showcasing handmade arts and crafts, local growers, and businesses. The highlight of the event includes a blueberry recipe contest, entertainment, children's activities, and a 5K run. Proceeds from the event are used to award academic scholarships to high school seniors from blueberry-growing counties through an essay contest. Furthermore, the festival supports local civic organizations and 501(C)(3) corporations to assist people in the area. The festival's primary objective is to contribute to the economic, civic, commercial, cultural, industrial, and educational interests of the region.
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 33%
The North Carolina Blueberry Festival currently holds a Zero-Star out of Four Star rating from Charity Navigator, primarily due to its low Accountability & Finance score of 33%. This rating indicates significant deficiencies in transparency and governance practices, which are critical for donor confidence and organizational integrity.
Despite having a fully independent board and no material diversion of assets, the organization lacks essential policies and documentation, such as a conflict of interest policy and a whistleblower policy. These missing elements contributed to its poor score in the accountability category, reflecting a need for improvement in its operational standards.
Additionally, the festival's website does not provide access to important financial documents, including the tax form, which further underscores transparency issues. With a program expense ratio of only 22.41%, there are concerns about the allocation of funds, suggesting that a larger portion of resources may not be going directly towards the intended programs. Overall, while the festival benefits from having a well-structured board, its lack of financial transparency and governance policies presents significant limitations.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.
Is North Carolina Blueberry Festival legitimate?
North Carolina Blueberry Festival is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. North Carolina Blueberry Festival submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $0
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $13,336
For more financial information, click here
What is the mission statement of North Carolina Blueberry Festival?
The North Carolina Blueberry Festival's mission is centered around promoting the education and awareness of blueberries and tourism. It aims to provide various means of promotion, giving particular focus to the economic, civic, commercial, cultural, industrial, and educational interests of the area. The festival organizes a one-day event featuring educational booths, local vendors, arts and crafts, and entertainment. It also includes children's activities, a blueberry recipe contest, and a 5K run. Proceeds from the festival are used to offer academic scholarships to high school seniors from blueberry-growing counties and to provide financial aid to local civic organizations and 501(c)(3) corporations.
Who is the CEO of North Carolina Blueberry Festival?
Doug Kernicky is the President of North Carolina Blueberry Festival.
What is the revenue of North Carolina Blueberry Festival?
North Carolina Blueberry Festival's revenue in 2021 was -$105.
Who are the executives of North Carolina Blueberry Festival and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at North Carolina Blueberry Festival during 2021 was $13,336. There is 1 employee and 30 volunteers at North Carolina Blueberry Festival.
Here are 5 key members and their salaries:
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
Where can I find the form 990 for North Carolina Blueberry Festival?
North Carolina Blueberry Festival's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2021 and can be accessed here.
Mission Statement of North Carolina Blueberry Festival
The North Carolina Blueberry Festival is a nonprofit organization with a mission to promote the education and advancement of blueberries and tourism. The festival provides various means of promotion, placing a significant emphasis on the tourism, economic, civic, commercial, cultural, industrial, and educational interests of the area. The organization's primary activity is organizing and running a one-day blueberry festival, which includes educational booths, local vendors showcasing handmade arts and crafts, blueberry growers, and local businesses. The festival features a blueberry recipe contest, entertainment, children's activities, and a 5K run.
The North Carolina Blueberry Festival also contributes to the community by offering academic scholarships to high school seniors from blueberry grower counties. The scholarship program, funded by festival proceedings, awards scholarships through an essay contest, with independent judges overseeing the contest. Furthermore, the festival donates money to local civic organizations and 501(c)(3) corporations to support individuals in the community. In summary, the North Carolina Blueberry Festival is dedicated to promoting blueberries and tourism while also contributing to the education, economy, and community development of the area through scholarships and donations.
Shop smarter and support your favorite cause with the Give Freely browser extension. Save money with coupons and donate to charity with a single click. Download now!
Impact
October, 2024
The North Carolina Blueberry Festival has a significant impact on the local community by promoting education and tourism related to blueberries, while also enhancing the economic and cultural landscape of the area. The festival attracts visitors, fostering civic engagement and stimulating commerce through local vendor booths that highlight handmade arts, crafts, and products from regional growers and businesses.
In addition to its vibrant marketplace, the festival features engaging activities such as a blueberry recipe contest, entertainment, children's activities, and a 5K run, making it a family-friendly event that brings the community together. This celebration not only showcases the agricultural importance of blueberries in the region but also serves as a platform for fostering tourism, which is crucial for local economic development.
Moreover, the festival supports education through academic scholarships awarded to high school seniors from blueberry-growing counties, emphasizing the importance of academic achievement and community investment. Funds generated from the festival are also allocated to local civic organizations and charities, enhancing their ability to serve and uplift residents in the area. Overall, the North Carolina Blueberry Festival plays a vital role in promoting community spirit, supporting local economies, and providing opportunities for education and cultural exchange.
This information is meant to be a general summary of North Carolina Blueberry Festival. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2021.
- Gross Receipts: $2,655
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $94,148
- Total Liabilities: $1,662
- Net Assets: $92,486
Want to help this charity, for free? You can click here to learn more about Give Freely
Organization Details
Founding Year
2005
Principal Officer
Doug Kernicky
Main Address
PO BOX 1554, BURGAW, NC, 28425
NTEE Category
Code: N52 - Recreation
If you are a representative of North Carolina Blueberry Festival and wish to learn more about how Give Freely can help you raise funds, please click here: https://givefreely.com/nonprofits/. Our services are offered at no cost to your organization.