The Delaware State Fair
The Delaware State Fair reported $12.6 million in revenue and $10.1 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $95.90 went to program services, $4.10 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 55.9% of the total. Government grants made up 8.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $210,586 (GEN MANAGER/SECRETARY). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 39% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $10MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 95.9% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.1% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 13.8% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 8.5% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 55.9% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $210,586 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.08% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 53.6 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 69 of 75 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseHighest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEN MANAGER/SECRETARY Director/trustee, officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $202,487 | $0 | $8,099 | $210,586 |
| TREASURER Director/trustee, officer, 5.00 hrs/week | $2,000 | $0 | $0 | $2,000 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Delaware State Fair (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $204K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b75 · 69 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5529
- Volunteers Part I, line 6150
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| COLLINS MECHANICAL INC Construction | $908,329 |
| MID SOUTH AUDIO LLC Construction | $679,949 |
| BACK 40 TOURING INC Entertainment | $485,074 |
| KB COLDIRON INC Construction | $291,345 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 19 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to The Delaware State Fair totaling $540 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Delaware State Fair's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Delaware State Fair, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Delaware State Fair spent in 2025, $95.90 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- American Royal AssociationKansas City, MO · revenue $12M · programs 81.2% · 2024
- Arkansas State University Red Wolves FoundationState University, AR · revenue $13M · programs 88.2% · FY2026
- The Aloha FoundationFairlee, VT · revenue $12M · programs 74.3% · 2024
- Philadelphia Soccer 2026Philadelphia, PA · revenue $13M · programs 57.7% · FY2025
- Austin Parks FoundationAustin, TX · revenue $12M · programs 80.8% · 2024
All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in Delaware
Questions people ask
How much of The Delaware State Fair's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Delaware State Fair reported that 95.9% of its $10.1 million in expenses went to program services, 4.1% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Delaware State Fair pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Delaware State Fair reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $210,586, for the role of GEN MANAGER/SECRETARY (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Delaware State Fair get its money?
Of $12.6 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 13.8% came from contributions and grants (including 8.5% from government grants) and 55.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Delaware State Fair a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 51-0072431 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202631639349301478 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202541639349300009 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202401949349300510 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202331709349300208 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202212009349300211 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202141829349300304 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202011979349304266 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 51-0072431: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.