SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVALINC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVALINC

EIN 58-1401616 · Arts, Culture & Humanities (A600)

What they do

THE SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL is DEDICATED to PRESENTING A WORLD-CLASS CELEBRATION of THE MUSICAL ARTS BY CREATING TIMELESS and ADVENTUROUS PRODUCTIONS THAT STIMULATE ARTS EDUCATION, FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH, and UNITE ARTISTS and AUDIENCES IN GEORGIAS FIRST CITY.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $78.90 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders34 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

90.83%of revenue went to mission work78.9% of expenses · Program services

14.47%of revenue went to fundraising12.6% of expenses

$115.15spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

9.85%of revenue went to management and office costs8.6% of expenses

$0.70in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

61.9%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $542,970 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $198,367 for GENE DOBBS BRADFORD (EXECUTIVE DI). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$3,583,296

Mission workProgram services$3,254,84690.83% of revenue78.9% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$353,0239.85% of revenue8.6% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$518,39714.47% of revenue12.6% of expenses

Total expenses$4,126,266115.15% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 78.9% mission · 8.6% management · 12.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 115.15% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 78.1% mission · 9.4% management · 12.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.65% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 79.7% mission · 16.0% management · 4.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 118.61% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 80.1% mission · 16.0% management · 3.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 82.93% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 70.7% mission · 21.7% management · 7.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 71.08% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 59.0% mission · 35.9% management · 5.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 70.86% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 87.6% mission · 10.5% management · 1.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.43% of revenue

2016Expense mix: 76.0% mission · 17.3% management · 6.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.78% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$3,583,296

Expenses$4,126,266

Annual shortfall $542,970 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$3,254,846 · 78.9% of expenses

Management and office costs$353,023 · 8.6% of expenses

Fundraising$518,397 · 12.6% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$3,583,296

Expenses$4,126,266

Assets$2,897,650

Income$3,675,422

Contributions$2,218,171

Mission work (program services)$3,254,846

Fundraising$518,397

Management and general$353,023

Stocks and bonds$1,660,409

Accounting fees$9,354

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

GENE DOBBS BRADFORDEXECUTIVE DI · 40 hrs/week $198,367

RYAN MCMAKENARTISTIC DIR · 40 hrs/week $143,607

STEVE BIRRELLCONTROLLER · 40 hrs/week $100,826

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (34)

GENE DOBBS BRADFORDEXECUTIVE DI

RYAN MCMAKENARTISTIC DIR

STEVE BIRRELLCONTROLLER

LARRY PIKEBOARD MEMBER

KACEY KENNICKELL RAYBOARD MEMBER

MARIO HILLIARDBOARD MEMBER

MARY DUGASBOARD CHAIR

MELISSA BOUCHILLONBOARD MEMBER

MONTY JONES JRBOARD MEMBER

OLIVIA PARKERBOARD MEMBER

RHEGAN WHITE-CLEMMBOARD MEMBER

RON WHITAKERVICE CHAIR

STEVE EAGLEBOARD MEMBER

TIM COYBOARD MEMBER

TOM REILLYBOARD MEMBER

TRIPP TOLLISONBOARD MEMBER

VICKI MCELREATHPAST BOARD C

ZACH THOMASBOARD MEMBER

BH LEVYBOARD MEMBER

JOY ROCHEBOARD MEMBER

JOSEPH MARINELLIBOARD MEMBER

JOHN HASLAMBOARD MEMBER

JESSICA CARTERBOARD MEMBER

JEFF KOLEBOARD MEMBER

HOLDEN HAYESBOARD MEMBER

HAROLD YELLINBOARD SECRET

GLEN DARBYSHIREBOARD MEMBER

FARINA KINGSLEYBOARD MEMBER

DR CHRISTOPHER WALLSBOARD MEMBER

DAVID JOHNSON JRBOARD MEMBER

DAVID SNEEDBOARD MEMBER

BOB FAIRCLOTHCHAIR EMERIT

BILL KEIGHTLEYBOARD TREASU

BILL JACQUESBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1980
Location: 120 E 42ND ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31401-9104
County: Chatham
In care of: DAVID JOHNSON JR
Primary officer: DAVID JOHNSON JR, BOARD MEMBER

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(912) 234-3378

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CAINES HODGES & COMPANY PC
NTEE classification: Arts, Culture & Humanities (A600)