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Pro Portsmouth Inc

EIN 02-0341731 · Portsmouth, NH

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak19 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.
  • Only 48% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 176 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

PRO PORTSMOUTH, INC. IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING AND SUSTAINING THE VITALITY OF PORTSMOUTH'S ARTS, CULTURE AND HISTORY THROUGH EVENTS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION.

Income
$160,374
Spending
$173,366
Spent on programs
48%
Reserves
-6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
2
Volunteers
75

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 19 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 644% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    48% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 176 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $54,526 spent. MARKET SQUARE DAY, TRADITIONALLY HELD ON THE SECOND SATURDAY IN JUNE EACH YEAR, WAS FIRST CELEBRATED IN 1978. CREATED TO MARK THE RENOVATION AND BEAUTIFICATION OF DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH AND IN PARTICULAR MARKET SQUARE, THE FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO GROW IN POPULARITY AND IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER ON THE SEACOAST, ENTICING AN ESTIMATED 50,000 TO ENJOY THIS DESTINATION FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH.THE EVENT FEATURES REGIONAL ARTISTS, MUSIC AND DANCE, THE HISTORY OF THE CITY AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS TRANSFORMED INTO A PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY SPACE AS STREETS ARE CLOSED FROM 9:00AM THROUGH 4:00PM. ENTERTAINMENT STAGES, CRAFTSPEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND FOOD VENDORS GREET THE THOUSANDS OF SEACOAST RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE AREA.THE DAY BEGINS WITH THE MARKET SQUARE DAY 10K ROAD RACE, WHICH WINDS ITS WAY THROUGH THE STREETS OF PORTSMOUTH. PRO PORTSMOUTH, INC. HAS PRODUCED THE FESTIVAL FOR 48 YEARS AND LIKE THE EVENT ITSELF, CELEBRATES THEIR ANNIVERSARY EACH YEAR ON THIS MOST FESTIVE OF OCCASIONS.EACH YEAR, THE 10K ROAD RACE GETS THE MARKET SQUARE DAY CELEBRATION OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT. WITH A STARTING LINE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH, THE RACE TYPICALLY DRAWS 1,000 RUNNERS WHO WIND THEIR WAY THROUGH THE STREETS OF PORTSMOUTH ENDING WITH THE FINISH LINE AT HISTORIC STRAWBERRY BANKE.
  2. $12,571 spent. FIRST NIGHT PORTSMOUTH - SINCE 1986, PORTSMOUTH HAS COME ALIVE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION FEATURING FIREWORKS AND ICE SCULPTURE KNOWN AS FIRST NIGHT PORTSMOUTH.FIRST NIGHT PORTSMOUTH AFFORDS OUR COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE, REFLECTING ON THE YEAR THAT HAS PASSED AND LOOKING FORWARD WITH HOPE AND GREAT ANTICIPATION TO THE YEAR AHEAD.
  3. $8,224 spent. CHILDREN'S DAY - WHO SAYS CHILDREN AREN'T IN CHARGE? EACH YEAR ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF MAY, DOWNTOWN PORTSMOUTH BECOMES HEADQUARTERS FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES WITH THE CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN'S DAY. AN ESTIMATED 5,000+ "CHILDREN" VISIT PORTSMOUTH TO TAKE PART IN AN AFTERNOON OF FUN ON THE SEACOAST.THIS FESTIVAL COMBINES FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES, ENTERTAINMENT AND USUALLY, AN ICE CREAM SUNDAE ALL SPONSORED, HOSTED AND SUPPORTED BY THE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS, AREA COMPANIES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE SEACOAST. THE DAY IS FILLED WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
  4. $7,347 spent. "SUMMER IN THE STREET" IS THE RESULT OF AN INITIATIVE TO IDENTIFY/CREATE PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY AREAS DOWNTOWN WHERE MUSICIANS, DANCE AND THEATRE COMPANIES CAN ENTERTAIN FOLKS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. ACTIVITIES HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER NON-PROFITS ARE PART OF THE MISSION OF OUR "STREET" SESSIONS.PLEASANT STREET FROM PORTER STREET TO MARKET SQUARE CLOSES FROM 4:00PM TO 9:30PM SATURDAYS ON DESIGNATED WEEKENDS DURING THE SUMMER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1979.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.