Nonprofit · EIN 26-0883148
THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49684
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $5,245,917 | $5,431,647 | -$185,730 | $1,091,169 | $290,195 | $800,974 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $4,788,308 | $5,098,959 | -$310,651 | $1,485,704 | $581,558 | $904,146 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $5,362,646 | $5,338,700 | $23,946 | $1,390,242 | $259,525 | $1,130,717 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $362,327
- Program service revenue
- $3,919,203
- Investment income
- $34,553
- Net income from gaming
- $112,134
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $750,837
- Other revenue
- $929,834
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $7,500
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $132,846
- Other salaries and wages
- $464,942
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $715,661
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Occupancy
- $271,997
- Travel
- $28,999
- Depreciation
- $66,557
- Program services (functional)
- $4,489,139
- Management and general (functional)
- $942,508
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,485,704
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,091,169
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $290,195
- Net assets, end of year
- $800,974
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $96,725
- Publicly traded securities
- $407,610
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $800,974
- Gross receipts
- $6,085,345
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 0
- Year formed
- 2007
- State of legal domicile
- MI
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KATHLEEN PAYE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $132,846 | $6,091 |
| MAX ANDERSON | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KELLI MENGEBIER | PRESIDENT ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE MEINDERTSMA | IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| IAN HOLLANDS | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NICOLETTE SCHWEITZER | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSICA ALPERS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| PEG JONKHOFF | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KEVIN SEVERT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG DOWDY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KANDACE CHAPPLE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN BEAUCHAMP | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LYNCH | EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KATHLEEN PAYE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $132,508 | $5,955 |
| MIKE MEINDERTSMA | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| STACEY ISLES | IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KELLI MENGEBIER | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSICA ALPERS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| IAN HOLLANDS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NICOLETTE SCHWEITZER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KEVIN SEVERT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG DOWDY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KANDACE CHAPPLE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN BEAUCHAMP | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LYNCH | EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KATHLEEN PAYE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $128,712 | $7,088 |
| STACEY ISLES | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF NEEDHAM | PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KELLI MENGEBIER | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MAX ANDERSON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSICA ALPERS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE MEINDERTSMA | PRESIDENT ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| IAN HOLLANDS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NICOLETTE SCHWEITZER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KIM WHITE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KEVIN SEVERT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN BEAUCHAMP | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KANDACE CHAPPLE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG DOWDY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN LYNCH | EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 521 S UNION ST, TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49684-3246
- In care of
- % KATHLEEN PAYNE
- Mailing address (990-N for 2009)
- 250 East Front Street, Suite 301, Traverse City MI 49684
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- MAX ANDERSON, 521 S UNION STREET, TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49684
- Principal officer (990-N for 2009)
- Timothy Hinkley, 250 East Front Street, Suite 301, Traverse City MI 49684
- Signed the 990
- MAX ANDERSON, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (231) 947-4230
- Website
- WWW.CHERRYFESTIVAL.ORG
- Return prepared by
- DGN LLC
Mission
SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT CELEBRATE, PROMOTE AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT CHERRIES AND AGRICULTURE AND THEIR IMPORTANCE TO THE GRAND TRAVERSE REGION, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, VOLUNTEERISM, PATRIOTISM, AND THE HISTORY, ART AND CULTURE OF THE GRAND TRAVERSE REGION.
Program accomplishments
- THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION, D/B/A THE NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL ANNUALLY HOSTS AN EIGHT DAY FESTIVAL OF EVENTS TO PROMOTE THE CHERRY AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IN THE GRAND TRAVERSE REGION. EVENTS INCLUDE NIGHTLY LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, THREE PARADES, FOOT RACES, CULINARY AND WINE EVENTS, AIR SHOWS, HORTICULTURAL TOURS, FIREWORKS, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING AND HERITAGE RELATED ACTIVITIES. THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTS THE ICEMAN COMETH MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE ANNUALLY, AS WELL AS OTHER EVENTS WHICH SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THE GRAND TRAVERSE REGION.Expenses $4,489,139 · grants $7,500 · revenue $3,918,612
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 26-0883148
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2007
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Human services (P20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,091,169
- Income (IRS master file)
- $6,085,345
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $5,245,917 | $5,431,647 | $1,091,169 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $4,788,308 | $5,098,959 | $1,485,704 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $5,362,646 | $5,338,700 | $1,390,242 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $4,565,069 | $4,338,645 | $1,466,611 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2009 Officer: Timothy Hinkley | December 31, 2009 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 26-0883148).
Questions about THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION is 26-0883148.
- Is THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2007.
- Are donations to THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names MAX ANDERSON.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 13 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $132,846 (KATHLEEN PAYE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,245,917, expenses of $5,431,647 and total assets of $1,091,169 at year end.
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