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BIG EARS FESTIVAL

EIN 81-0862420 KNOXVILLE, TN

Revenue 2023
$4,227,182
Expenses 2023
$4,274,729

Program services were 89.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
A68
Classification
1000
Street
900 S GAY ST STE 1601

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2023

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.

  • 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 $3,817,281 · Revenue $2,664,702

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2023

As listed in Part VII of the 2023 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • ASHLEY CAPPS

    EXECUTIVE DI

    Total calculated
    $133,333
    From this org
    $133,333
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

  • CHRIS BALLOU

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LAUREN BOWMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ANTHONY CREAMER

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • AMY ELIAS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARK GRAYSON

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SALLY JOHNSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JEANETTE KELLEHER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JAMIE LEWIS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CYNTHIA MOXLEY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CHUCK PARRISH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MADELINE ROGERO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TOMMIE RUSH

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOHN SANDERS

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • GREG TARDY

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOHN WINEMILLER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2023
    Revenue
    $4,227,182
    Expenses
    $4,274,729
    Contributions
    $1,456,312
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $4,603,329
    Expenses
    $4,004,786
    Contributions
    $1,866,114
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,839,104
    Expenses
    $2,546,246
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,920,584

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $424,577
    Expenses
    $395,812
    Assets (EOY)
    $624,695

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $808,229
    Expenses
    $283,801
    Assets (EOY)
    $597,831

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,932,280
    Expenses
    $1,708,874
    Assets (EOY)
    $138,547

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,065,918
    Expenses
    $1,185,047
    Assets (EOY)
    $231,855

  • 2016 · 990-EZ

    Revenue
    $14,296
    Expenses
    $26,192
    Assets (EOY)
    $221,274

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Form 990-N e-Postcard, tax year 2015

Tax period
1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015
Principal officer
ASHLEY CAPPS
Mailing address
507 S GAY ST STE 1100KNOXVILLE TN 37902

As filed, from the IRS e-Postcard file of 26 October 2026. The IRS publishes only each organization's most recent postcard, so earlier years are not shown. A 990-N carries no financial detail. The postcard also gives the principal officer's address, which is not shown here.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2023, the newest we have parsed for this organization.