Festival Denied Exempt Status
Published September 19, 2025
GiftLaw Note: Organization applied for exempt status under Sec. 501(c)(3). Its primary activity is hosting an annual three-day community festival featuring entertainment, craft and food vendors, rides, games, contests, a car show and a parade. In addition, Organization holds a one-day chili cook-off in the fall and provides a scholarship for high school students planning to attend a trade school. Organization has expressed interest in conducting further events in the future tied to calendar holidays like the Fourth of July, Halloween, Easter and Christmas. Organization’s revenue is generated from the fees charged to vendors and competition entry fees at the main festival.
To be exempt under Sec. 501(c)(3), an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes and no part of the earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. Regulation 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) states that an organization that fails to meet either the organizational or operational test is not exempt. Under Reg. 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1), an organization is operated exclusively for an exempt purpose only if it engages primarily in activities which accomplish an exempt purpose. An organization will not qualify if a significant portion of its activities does not support an exempt purpose. Here, the Service determined that the organization failed the operational test under Reg. 1.501(c)(3)-(1)(a)(1) because its annual festival, while serving the community, exceeds the allowable amount of social and recreational activities that an organization seeking exemption under Section 501(c)(3) may conduct. Therefore, tax-exempt status was denied.
PLR 202537005 Festival Denied Exempt Status
9/12/25 (4/29/25)
Dear Applicant:
We considered your application for recognition of exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(a). We determined that you don't qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(03). This letter explains the reasons for our conclusion. Please keep it for your records.
Issues
Do you qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3)? No, for the reasons stated below.
Facts
You submitted Form 1023-EZ, Streamline Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
You attest that you were formed on B in the state of C. You attest that you have the necessary organizing document, that your organizing document limits your purposes to one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of the IRC Section 501(c)(3), that your organizing document does not expressly empower you to engage in activities, other than an insubstantial part, that are not in furtherance of one or more exempt purposes.
You attest that you are organized and operated exclusively to further charitable purposes. You attest that you have not conducted and will not conduct prohibited activities under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Specifically, you attest you will:
Refrain from supporting or opposing candidates in political campaigns in any way
Ensure that your net earnings do not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of private shareholders or Individuals.
Not further non-exempt purposes (such as purposes that benefit private interests) more than Insubstantially.
Not be organized or operated for the primary purpose of conducting a trade or business that is not related to your exempt purpose(s)
Not devote more than an insubstantial part of your activities attempting to influence legislation or, if you made a Section 501(h) election, not normally make expenditures in excess of expenditure limitations outlined in Section 501(h)
Not provide commercial-type insurance as a substantial part of your activities
You described your primary activities as “Festival, community activities and scholarships.”
During a review of your 1023-EZ, detailed information was requested supplemental to the above attestations.
You further described your activities as an annual festival that entails three days of community togetherness with entertainment, craft vendors, food vendors, rides, games, contests, a car show, and a parade. You also have a free one day chili cook-off in the fall. You said you're interested in conducting other events in the future, such as activities to celebrate the Fourth of July, an Easter egg hunt, trick-or-treat and a Christmas event.
You also provide a scholarship for high school students who plan to attend a trade school. The candidates must be sophomores planning on attending D next school year, current juniors attending D, or graduating seniors who plan on attending a trade school or working in trades.
Your revenue comes from fees charged to food vendors, crafters, and those that enter competitions, such as raffles, contests, etc. during the main festival. The majority of your expenses are related the festival, such as raffle and contest payouts, portable restroom rentals, trophies, other supplies for the festival, etc.
Law
IRC Section 501(c)(3) provides for the recognition of exemption of organizations that are organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, or other purposes as specified in the statute. No part of the net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
Treasury Regulation Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) provides that in order to be exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(3) an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the exempt purposes specified in that section. If an organization fails to meet either the organizational test or the operational test, it does not qualify for exemption.
Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) provides that an organization will be regarded as "operated exclusively" for one or more exempt purposes only if it engages primarily in activities that accomplish one or more exempt purposes specified in IRC Section 501(c)(3). An organization will not be so regarded if more than an insubstantial part of its activities is not in furtherance of an exempt purpose.
Revenue Ruling 67-216, 1967-2 C.B. 180, describes a nonprofit organization that was formed and operated exclusively to instruct the public on agricultural matters by conducting annual public fairs and exhibitions of livestock, poultry, and farm products. It qualified for exemption from federal income tax under IRC Section 501(c)(3). The organization's activities and exhibits were planned and managed by or in collaboration with persons whose business it was to inform and instruct farmers and the general public on agricultural, and the resulting displays were designed to be instructive. The presence at the fair of recreational features such as midway shows, refreshment stands, and a rodeo were incidental to the fair's overall educational purpose.
In Rev. Rul. 77-366, 1977-2 C.B. 192, a nonprofit organization that arranged and conducted wintertime ocean cruises during which activities to further religious and educational purposes were provided in addition to extensive social and recreational activities was not operated exclusively for exempt purposes and does not qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3).
In Better Business Bureau of Washington, D.C., Inc. v. United States, 326 U.S. 279 (1945), the Supreme Court determined the activities of that organization were aimed at promoting the prosperity and standing of the business community and therefore, served a substantial private purpose. It concluded that the presence of a single nonexempt purpose, if substantial in nature, will preclude exemption regardless of the number or importance of statutorily exempt purposes.
In St. Louis Science Fiction Limited v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1985-162 (1985), the Tax Court held that a science fiction society failed to qualify for tax-exempt status under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Although many of the organization's functions at its annual conventions (the organization's principal activity) were educational, its overall agenda was not exclusively educational. A substantial portion of convention affairs were social and recreational in nature.
In Spanish American Cultural Association of Bergenfield v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1994-510 (1994), an organization was created to foster the cultural heritage of the local Spanish-American residents. Except for the charitable donations and scholarships, the organization primarily engaged in social activities designed to provide Spanish-American residents with a sense of community. They were granted exempt status under IRC Section 501(c)(4), but then applied for exempt status as a charitable organization described in Section 501(c)(3). It was found that they did not qualify under Section 501(c)(3) because their social activities were more than insubstantial in comparison to its charitable activities.
Application of law
You are operated to provide an annual festival for the community. This does not further an exclusive IRC Section 501(c)(3) purpose. To be recognized under Section 501(c)(3) you must be serving an exclusive charitable or educational purpose. Your activity of an annual festival, while serving the community, exceeds the allowable amount of social and recreational activities that an organization seeking exemption under Section 501(c)(3) may conduct. Thus, you are not operated exclusively for an exempt purpose and cannot be granted exemption under Section 501(c)(3) as required by Treas. Reg. Sections 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) and 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1).
You are not like the organization granted exemption in Rev. Rul. 67-216 because you have not demonstrated any significant charitable or educational programs associated with your festival. Rather, you are more similar to the organization denied exemption in Rev. Rul. 77-366. Your extensive social and recreational activities demonstrate you are not operated exclusively for exempt purposes that would qualify under IRC Section 501(c)(3).
You are not like the organization that qualified for exemption in Rev. Rul. 67-216. In that ruling, the recreational features of the organization's events were incidental to their overall educational purpose. There is no evidence that you are operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes within the meaning of As noted in Better Business Bureau of Washington, D.C., Inc., the presence of a single non-exempt purpose, if substantial, will preclude exemption regardless of other qualifying purposes. While your activities serve the general public and community at large, and certain activities may convey educational purposes, ultimately the festival is for entertainment. Substantial recreational and social purposes preclude you from exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3). This characteristic is further demonstrated in St. Louis. Science Fiction Limited and Spanish American Cultural Association of Bergenfield, where the social and recreational aspects of the organizations' operations prevented their recognition under Section 501(c)(3).
Conclusion
You are operated for substantial social and recreational purposes. Any educational or charitable aspects of your operations are incidental. Thus, you are not operated exclusively for IRC Section 501(c)(3) purposes and do not meet the operational test. Therefore, we cannot grant your request for recognition under Section 501(c)(3) and donations to you are not deductible to the donor.
If you agree
If you agree with our proposed adverse determination, you don't need to do anything. If we don't hear from you within 30 days, we'll issue a final adverse determination letter. That letter will provide information on your income tax filing requirements.
If you don't agree
You have a right to protest if you don't agree with our proposed adverse determination. To do so, send us a protest within 30 days of the date of this letter. You must include:
Your name, address, employer identification number (EIN), and a daytime phone number
A statement of the facts, law, and arguments supporting your position
A statement indicating whether you are requesting an Appeals Office conference
The signature of an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization or your authorized representative
The following declaration:
For an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization: Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this request, or this modification to the request, including accompanying documents, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the request or the modification contains all relevant facts relating to the request, and such facts are true, correct, and complete.
Your representative (attorney, certified public accountant, or other individual enrolled to practice before the IRS) must file a Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, with us if they haven't already done so. You can find more information about representation in Publication 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney.
We'll review your protest statement and decide if you gave us a basis to reconsider our determination. If so, we'll continue to process your case considering the information you provided. If you haven't given us a basis for reconsideration, we'll send your case to the Appeals Office and notify you. You can find more information in Publication 892, How to Appeal an IRS Determination on Tax-Exempt Status.
If you don't file a protest within 30 days, you can't seek a declaratory judgment in court later because the law requires that you use the IRC administrative process first (IRC Section 7428(b)(2)).
Where to send your protest
Send your protest, Form 2848, if applicable, and any supporting documents to the applicable address:
U.S. mail:
Internal Revenue Service
EO Determinations Quality Assurance
Mail Stop 6403
PO Box 2508
Cincinnati, OH 45201
Street address for delivery service:
Internal Revenue Service
EO Determinations Quality Assurance
550 Main Street, Mail Stop 6403
Cincinnati, OH 45202
You can also fax your protest and supporting documents to the fax number listed at the top of this letter. If you fax your statement, please contact the person listed at the top of this letter to confirm that they received it.
You can get the forms and publications mentioned in this letter by visiting our website at www.irs.gov/forms-pubs or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). If you have questions, you can contact the person listed at the top of this letter.
Contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service
The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that can help protect your taxpayer rights. TAS can offer you help if your tax problem is causing a hardship, or if you've tried but haven't been able to resolve your problem with the IRS. If you qualify for TAS assistance, which is always free, TAS will do everything possible to help you. Visit www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov or call 877-777-4778.
Sincerely,
Stephen A. Martin
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements
