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Nonprofit · EIN 46-3158287

TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION

Tax-exempt · AUSTIN, TX 78731

Financials

$2.7M$2.4M2022$2.2M$2.2M2023$2.3M$2.3M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
February 28, 2025990$2,251,376$2,321,079-$69,703$925,340$622,666$302,674
February 29, 2024990$2,238,734$2,163,894$74,840$729,058$356,681$372,377
February 28, 2023990$2,674,325$2,376,788$297,537$734,129$436,592$297,537
Financial details: 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,361,191
Program service revenue
$889,587
Investment income
$598
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$25,000
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$117,700
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$126,704
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$1,372
Accounting fees
$12,473
Occupancy
$392,727
Travel
$139,010
Program services (functional)
$2,173,082
Management and general (functional)
$122,656
Fundraising (functional)
$25,341

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$729,058
Total assets, end of year
$925,340
Total liabilities, end of year
$622,666
Net assets, end of year
$302,674
Net assets without donor restrictions
$302,674
Gross receipts
$2,251,376
Employees
0
Volunteers
1,000
Year formed
2013
State of legal domicile
TX

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 February 28, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JAMES RUSSELLEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
20$117,699
AJ BINGHAMPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
ENRIQUE DURANTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
NICHOLAS MILLERSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
RACHEL GREENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
LEAH DAVIESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MARK WILLIAMSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended February 29, 2024: 7 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JAMES RUSSELLEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
20$104,548
NICHOLAS MILLERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
ENRIQUE DURANTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
AJ BINGHAMSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
RACHEL GREENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
LEAH DAVIESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MARK WILLIAMSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended February 28, 2023: 7 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JAMES RUSSELLEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
20$85,000
NICHOLAS MILLERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
ENRIQUE DURANTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
AJ BINGHAMSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
RACHEL GREENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
LEAH DAVIESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MARK WILLIAMSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
6836 AUSTIN CENTER BLVD STE 190, AUSTIN, TX 78731-3185
In care of
% STEVE SPINN
Mailing address (990-N for 2020)
PO Box 302615, Austin TX 78703
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
JAMES RUSSELL, 6836 AUSTIN CENTER BLVD STE 190, AUSTIN, TX 78731
Principal officer (990-N for 2020)
James Russell, PO Box 302615, Austin TX 78703
Signed the 990
JAMES RUSSELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(512) 206-3141
Return prepared by
REYNOLDS & FRANKE PC

Mission

ORGANIZE THE ANNUAL TRAIL OF LIGHTS CELEBRATION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS AND TO ENGAGE IN AND PROMOTE OTHER CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

990 for the year ended February 28, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • THE FOUNDATION, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, PLANS, DESIGNS, MARKETS, AND SOLICITS SPONSORS AND OTHER DONORS FOR THE ANNUAL TRAIL OF LIGHTS EVENT HELD IN ZILKER AND REPUBLIC PARKS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. THE EVENT IS AN ANNUAL MULTI-NIGHT EVENT THAT INCLUDES LOCAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, FOOD VENDORS, CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES, AND APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS OVER A ONE AND A HALF MILE PARK ROAD.
    Expenses $2,173,082 · grants $25,000 · revenue $889,587

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 February, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025February 28, 2026July 15, 2026Not on file
2024February 28, 2025July 15, 2025990 on file
2023February 29, 2024July 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
46-3158287
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
2015
Accounting year ends
February
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$925,340
Income (IRS master file)
$2,251,376

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990February 2025$2,251,376$2,321,079$925,340XML
990February 2024$2,238,734$2,163,894$729,058XML
990February 2023$2,674,325$2,376,788$734,129XML
990-N for 2020
Officer: James Russell
February 28, 2021≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-N for 2019
Officer: James Russell
February 29, 2020≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-EZFebruary 2018–––IRS

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 46-3158287).

Questions about TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION

What is the EIN of TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION is 46-3158287.
Is TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2015.
Are donations to TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does TRAIL OF LIGHTS 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 TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending February 28, 2026) is due July 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended February 2025.
Who is the principal officer of TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025 names JAMES RUSSELL.
Who are the officers and directors of TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025 lists 7 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $117,699 (JAMES RUSSELL, EXECUTIVE DI).
How much revenue does TRAIL OF LIGHTS FOUNDATION have?
On its 990 for the year ended February 28, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,251,376, expenses of $2,321,079 and total assets of $925,340 at year end.

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