Nonprofit · EIN 81-0862420
BIG EARS FESTIVAL
Tax-exempt · KNOXVILLE, TN 37902
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $5,038,198 | $4,743,986 | $294,212 | $3,032,638 | $284,176 | $2,748,462 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $4,227,182 | $4,274,729 | -$47,547 | $2,676,982 | $212,332 | $2,464,650 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $4,603,329 | $4,004,786 | $598,543 | $2,762,130 | $249,933 | $2,512,197 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,693,229
- of which government grants
- $170,500
- Program service revenue
- $3,216,389
- Investment income
- $128,580
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $5,619
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Other salaries and wages
- $511,902
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $593,114
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $53,875
- Occupancy
- $3,647
- Travel
- $33,687
- Depreciation
- $35,695
- Program services (functional)
- $4,248,946
- Management and general (functional)
- $257,529
- Fundraising (functional)
- $237,511
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $2,676,982
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,032,638
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $284,176
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,748,462
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,453,298
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $295,164
- Gross receipts
- $20,998,238
- Employees
- 96
- Year formed
- 2015
- State of legal domicile
- TN
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 June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASHLEY CAPPS | EXECUTIVE DI Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $169,166 |
| CHRIS BALLOU | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JANET COWPERTHWAITE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANTHONY CREAMER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| AMY ELIAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARK GRAYSON | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| SALLY JOHNSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JEANETTE KELLEHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JAMIE LEWIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVEN MATIJCIO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CYNTHIA MOXLEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHUCK PARRISH | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| BRIAN PHILLIPS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ALEX RIGOPULOS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TOMMIE RUSH | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GREG TARDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN WINEMILLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASHLEY CAPPS | EXECUTIVE DI Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $133,333 |
| CHRIS BALLOU | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LAUREN BOWMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANTHONY CREAMER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| AMY ELIAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MARK GRAYSON | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| SALLY JOHNSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JEANETTE KELLEHER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JAMIE LEWIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CYNTHIA MOXLEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHUCK PARRISH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MADELINE ROGERO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TOMMIE RUSH | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN SANDERS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| GREG TARDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN WINEMILLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAUREN BOWMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| ASHLEY CAPPS | EXECUTIVE DI Trustee or director, Officer | – | $0 |
| ANTHONY CREAMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| KATHARINE PEARSON CRISS | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | – | $0 |
| AMY ELIAS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| MARK GRAYSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| SALLY JOHNSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| CYNTHIA MOXLEY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| PAUL PARRIS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | – | $0 |
| CLARA PRINSTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| HASEEB QURESHI | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| MADELINE ROGERO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| TOMMIE RUSH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| JOHN SANDERS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | – | $0 |
| RICHARD STAIR | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | – | $0 |
| JOHN WINEMILLER | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | – | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 900 S GAY ST STE 1601, KNOXVILLE, TN 37902-1860
- Mailing address (990-N for 2015)
- 507 S GAY ST STE 1100, KNOXVILLE TN 37902
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- ASHLEY CAPPS, 900 S GAY ST STE 1001, KNOXVILLE, TN 37902
- Principal officer (990-N for 2015)
- ASHLEY CAPPS, 507 S GAY ST, SUITE 1100, KNOXVILLE TN 37902
- Signed the 990
- ASHLEY CAPPS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (865) 607-9405
- Website
- HTTP://BIGEARSFESTIVAL.ORG
- Return prepared by
- ADRIENNE WEBSTER EA
Mission
THE MISSION OF THE BIG EARS FESTIVAL IS TO CREATE, NURTURE, AND SUPPORT ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND CULTURAL EDUCATION THAT TRANSCENDS TRADITIONAL BOUNDARIES, STRENGTHENS AND BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS, AND CONNECTS ACROSS KNOXVILLE THROUGH GENRE-DEFYING MUSIC, FILM AND ARTS PROGRAMMING, AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES.
Program accomplishments
- THE BIG EARS FESTIVAL IS A DYNAMIC, INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT EXPLORES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS, CROSSING ALL MUSICAL GENRES WHILE INTERFACING WITH FILM, PERFORMANCE AND THE VISUAL ARTS. THE FESTIVAL IS THE MAIN EVENT BY WHICH THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO STIMULATE INTEREST IN A RICH VARIETY OF MUSIC AND ITS INTERACTION WITH OTHER ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES IS FULLFILLED.Expenses $4,248,946 · revenue $3,216,389
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 June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 81-0862420
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2016
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A68)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $3,032,638
- Income (IRS master file)
- $20,998,238
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $5,038,198 | $4,743,986 | $3,032,638 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $4,227,182 | $4,274,729 | $2,676,982 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $4,603,329 | $4,004,786 | $2,762,130 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $3,839,104 | $2,546,246 | $1,920,584 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2015 Officer: ASHLEY CAPPS | December 31, 2015 | ≤ $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 81-0862420).
Questions about BIG EARS FESTIVAL
- What is the EIN of BIG EARS FESTIVAL?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of BIG EARS FESTIVAL is 81-0862420.
- Is BIG EARS FESTIVAL tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2016.
- Are donations to BIG EARS FESTIVAL tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does BIG EARS FESTIVAL 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 BIG EARS FESTIVAL due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did BIG EARS FESTIVAL last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of BIG EARS FESTIVAL?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names ASHLEY CAPPS.
- Who are the officers and directors of BIG EARS FESTIVAL?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 17 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $169,166 (ASHLEY CAPPS, EXECUTIVE DI).
- How much revenue does BIG EARS FESTIVAL have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,038,198, expenses of $4,743,986 and total assets of $3,032,638 at year end.
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