Overview
What is The Festival Foundation?
The Festival Foundation, doing business as the National Cherry Festival, is a nonprofit organization situated in Traverse City, Michigan. With a mission to serve its community, the foundation annually hosts an eight-day festival filled with events to promote the cherry and agriculture industry in the Grand Traverse region. This celebration encompasses nightly live entertainment, parades, races, culinary and wine events, air shows, horticultural tours, fireworks, children's programming, and heritage-related activities. The organization also hosts the Icmep MTB Race annually and other events that support and promote the Grand Traverse region. Their activities aim to educate the community about cherries and agriculture, fostering a sense of patriotism, community involvement, volunteerism, and preserving the history, art, and culture of the region. The foundation employs a team of 9 individuals to carry out these initiatives.
Official website here: www.cherryfestival.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator rating: 85% (Three-Star out of Four Stars)
The Festival Foundation D/B/A National Cherry Festival has earned a Three-Star rating, reflecting a solid overall score of 85%. This rating is primarily based on the organization's accountability and finance practices, which received a full score in key areas such as independent board member composition and the absence of asset diversion. The foundation demonstrates transparency by listing all necessary documents, including tax forms and meeting minutes, on its website.
Strengths of the organization include a well-structured governance model with a fully independent board and a significant program expense ratio of 78.48%, indicating a strong commitment to its mission-related activities. The absence of liabilities relative to its assets further underscores the financial prudence of the organization, making it a trustworthy entity for potential donors and stakeholders.
However, while there are no noted limitations in governance or financial management, the reliance on a single beacon score could imply a lack of broader evaluation across different performance metrics. This focus may limit insights into other critical operational aspects that could affect the foundation's long-term sustainability and impact.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator.
What do the Facebook reviews say about The Festival Foundation?
92% of the 812 reviewers on Facebook recommend The Festival Foundation. Here is a summary of their reviews:
Many patrons express a sense of disappointment regarding recent events, specifically citing a lack of clear direction and limited offerings at the arts and crafts show. Concerns were raised about the scarcity of shopping options at the "cherry market" and insufficient food availability, particularly for families with children. Some reviewers noted a feeling of monotony, describing the event as primarily a carnival with little else to engage attendees, which contrasted sharply with their experiences from past years.
Despite these criticisms, a significant portion of attendees remains hopeful for future improvements, attributing some of the shortcomings to the lingering effects of the pandemic. Overall, while there are valid concerns, the foundation still enjoys a solid level of support from the community, with many eager for a more vibrant experience in the coming year.
This AI summary has been generated from reviews found on Facebook.
Is The Festival Foundation legitimate?
The Festival Foundation is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. The Festival Foundation 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: $128,712
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $473,676
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.cherryfestival.org
What is the mission statement of The Festival Foundation?
The Festival Foundation, known as the National Cherry Festival, serves the community by organizing programs and events to celebrate, promote, and educate about cherries and agriculture. Their mission extends beyond cherries, also emphasizing community involvement, volunteerism, patriotism, and preserving the history, art, and culture of the region. They annually host an eight-day festival filled with entertainment, parades, races, culinary events, air shows, heritage activities, and children's programs. The organization also supports the community by hosting events such as the Iceman Cometh mountain bike race.
Official website here: www.cherryfestival.org
What is the revenue of The Festival Foundation?
The Festival Foundation's revenue in 2023 was $5,362,646.
Official website here: www.cherryfestival.org
Who are the executives of The Festival Foundation and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at The Festival Foundation during 2023 was $37,649. There are 16 employees at The Festival Foundation.
Here are 15 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
- 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
- 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: $128,712
- Related: $0
- Other: $7,088
Official website here: www.cherryfestival.org
Where can I find the form 990 for The Festival Foundation?
The Festival Foundation's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2023 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.cherryfestival.org
Learn more at the official website: www.cherryfestival.org
Mission Statement of The Festival Foundation
The Festival Foundation D/B/A National Cherry Festival serves its community by organizing programs and events that celebrate, promote, and educate people about cherries and agriculture. This nonprofit is committed to honoring the significance of these elements to the Grand Traverse region, fostering community involvement, encouraging volunteerism, and upholding patriotism and the region's history, art, and culture.
Annually, The Festival Foundation hosts an eight-day festival filled with events to promote the cherry and agriculture industry in the Grand Traverse region. These activities include nightly live entertainment, parades, foot races, culinary and wine events, air shows, horticultural tours, fireworks, children's programming, and heritage-related activities. The organization also hosts the Iceman Cometh mountain bike race annually, along with other events that support and promote the Grand Traverse region.
In essence, The Festival Foundation D/B/A National Cherry Festival aims to preserve and celebrate the cultural heritage of the Grand Traverse region while promoting the importance of cherries and agriculture within the community. Through various events and initiatives, the organization seeks to engage the community, foster a sense of patriotism, and educate people about the region's history and art.
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 Festival Foundation significantly impacts the community by hosting a vibrant array of programs and events dedicated to celebrating and educating the public about cherries and agriculture in the Grand Traverse region. Through its annual eight-day National Cherry Festival, the Foundation fosters local pride and economic growth by highlighting the agricultural heritage of the area.
The festival features a diverse lineup of activities, including nightly live entertainment, parades, foot races, culinary experiences, air shows, and children's programming, all aimed at engaging community members and visitors alike. Additionally, the Foundation organizes events like the Iceman Cometh Mountain Bike Race, further promoting outdoor activities and tourism in the region.
By prioritizing community involvement, volunteerism, and patriotic spirit, The Festival Foundation plays a vital role in preserving the rich history and culture of the Grand Traverse area. Overall, its efforts not only celebrate the local cherry industry but also enhance social connections and economic vitality within the community.
This information is meant to be a general summary of The Festival Foundation. 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 2023.
- Investment Income: $33,429
- Program Service Revenue: $4,331,910
- Gross Receipts: $6,248,539
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $1,466,611
- Total Liabilities: $401,630
- Net Assets: $1,064,981
Want to help this charity, for free? You can click here to learn more about Give Freely
Programs
Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.
EVENT REGISTRATION & TICKETS
Revenue
$3,035,128
SPONSORSHIPS
Revenue
$907,213
VENDING FEE
Revenue
$389,569
Organization Details
Founding Year
2007
Principal Officer
Stacey Isles
Website
www.cherryfestival.orgNTEE Category
Code: P20 - Human services
If you are a representative of The Festival Foundation 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.