Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $65.5 million
- Spending
- $66.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -37.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 75%
- Employees
- 501
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $723,959, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 103% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2530 of 31 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (6)
- $22.9 million spent. COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE: 3CDC COMMERCIAL REVENUES INCREASED FROM $16.7 MILLION IN 2023 TO $18.9 MILLION IN 2024. OF THIS GROWTH, $2 MILLION WAS DRIVEN BY THE ASSETS THAT ARE STILL REACHING STABILIZATION AFTER A RECENT DEVELOPMENT, PRIMARILY THE FOUNDRY PROJECT IN THE HEART OF THE FOUNTAIN DISTRICT AND THE OPENING OF COMMERCIAL SPACES ON COURT STREET. THREE NEW ASSETS CAME ONLINE DURING THE YEAR AND REPRESENTED $770,000 OF NEW REVENUE.
- $19.4 million spent. PARKING: 3CDC'S IN-HOUSE PARKING SERVICE OVERSEES THE MANAGEMENT OF 10 GARAGES AND SEVEN SURFACE LOTS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S PORTFOLIO. 3CDC IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CLEAN, SAFE, WELL-LIT GARAGES, AND OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES A TOTAL OF 5,839 PARKING SPACES IN CINCINNATI'S URBAN CORE, SETTING ITS PRICES AT OR BELOW MARKET RATES TO ENSURE PARKING IS ACCESSIBLE TO VISITORS, RESIDENTS AND WORKERS IN DOWNTOWN. ADDITIONALLY, PARKING SERVES AS AN AMENITY THAT SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE URBAN CORE, MAKING IT EASIER FOR PATRONS TO VISIT RETAIL, FOOD & BEVERAGE, AND SERVICE-BASED ESTABLISHMENTS. 3CDC HAS ON-SITE MANAGEMENT AT ITS GARAGES 24/7 AND FOCUSES ON MAKING FAIR CHANCE HIRES AND EMPLOYING INDIVIDUALS IN RECOVERY FOR MANY OF THE GARAGE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL POSITIONS, WORKING WITH VARIOUS JOB READINESS PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES.
- $10.4 million spent. CIVIC SPACE EVENT MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAMMING: IN 2024, 3CDC HOSTED OVER 1,100 FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS ACROSS THE SIX CIVIC SPACES IT MANAGES IN CINCINNATI'S URBAN CORE - FOUNTAIN SQUARE, WASHINGTON PARK, ZIEGLER PARK, MEMORIAL HALL, COURT STREET PLAZA AND IMAGINATION ALLEY. THIS INCLUDED NEARLY 34,000 VISITORS TO THE ZIEGLER PARK POOL, FREE SWIM LESSSONS FOR NEARLY 600 ADULTS AND CHIDREN, A LOW-COST SUMMER CAMP CATERING TO NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH - PRIMARILY UTILIZED BY FAMILIES LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE - AND A FREE SWIM TEAM. ADDITIONALLY, SEVERAL DOZEN AMBASSADORS WORKED TO KEEP THE SPACES CLEAN AND SAFE. THESE ACTIVITIES ALL SUPPORT CREATING VIBRANT, DYNAMIC CIVIC SPACES THAT RESULT IN SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS, DUE TO POSITIVE ACTIVITY. ADDITIONALLY, PATRONS WHO VISIT THE PARK OFTEN SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY BY PARKING AT NEARBY GARAGES AND VISITING SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.
- $5.2 million spent. BUSINESS DISTRICT MANAGEMENT: 3CDC EMPLOYED OVER 40 FULL-TIME AMBASSADORS IN 2024, AS WELL AS 40 ADDITIONAL PART-TIME EMPLOYEES. AMBASSADORS ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SIX CIVIC SPACES 3CDC OVERSEES, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING CLEAN, SAFE, AND BEAUTIFICATION SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE TWO SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES - THE DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND OVER-THE-RHINE (OTR) SOUTH SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. AMBASSADORS PATROL THE STREETS ON FOOT, CLEANING SIDEWALKS AND ALLEYS AND PROVIDING GUIDES, MAPS AND FRIENDLY ASSISTANCE TO VISITORS. SIMILAR TO ITS GARAGE MANAGEMENT STAFF, 3CDC FOCUSES ON MAKING FAIR CHANCE HIRES AND EMPLOYING INDIVIDUALS IN RECOVERY FOR MANY OF THESE AMBASSADOR POSITIONS, WORKING WITH VARIOUS JOB READINESS PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES.
- $898,573 spent. RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE: IN 2024, 3CDC'S PORTFOLIO OF MANAGED RESIDENTIAL UNITS CONTINUED TO GROW, REACHING 125 APARTMENTS (37 OF WHICH ARE AFFORDABLE) WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE ANNIE LOFTS PROJECT. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, 98% OF THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS WERE LEASED, AS RESIDENTIAL DEMAND IN THE OTR REMAINS STRONG.
- $377,647 spent. DEVELOPMENT: THE MAJORITY OF 2024 WAS FOCUSED ON TWO POCKETS OF THE URBAN CORE THE CONVENTION DISTRICT AND NORTH OVER-THE-RHINE. WHILE PRIORITIZING THESE AREAS, 3CDC COMPLETED THE ANNIE PROJECT WHICH RESULTED IN 29 NEW HOUSING UNITS, SIX HAVING AFFORDABILITY RESTRICTIONS. OTHER PRE-DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WERE DONE ON PROJECTS LIKE THE CAPITOL AT 7TH & VINE AND WHEX GARAGE. ALL OF THIS WORK CONTRIBUTES TO 3CDC'S OVERALL MISSION OF STRENGTHENING AND REVITALIZING CINCINNATI'S URBAN CORE, AS THE PROJECTS INVOLVE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS AND ACTIVATING STREET LEVEL COMMERICAL SPACES TO CREATE JOBS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.