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Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Inc

EIN 20-1561219 · Chapel Hill, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BRING THE RESOURCES OF THE TOWN, UNIVERSITY, AND DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN, ENHANCE, AND PROMOTE THE DOWNTOWN AREA AS THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND SPIRITUAL CENTER OF CHAPEL HILL THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$720,391
Spending
$915,246
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 67%
Employees
3
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$107,122, director thru 5/25

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (2)
  1. $628,071 spent. LED AND MANAGED THE DOWNTOWN AREA THROUGH PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS; MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS IMPROVING THE VISUAL APPEAL OF DOWNTOWN; AND REBUILDING DOWNTOWN AS A MIXED USE CENTER OF RETAIL, SERVICE, PROFESSIONAL, GOVERNMENTAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND RESIDENTIAL USES. WORKED WITH BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY AND RECRUIT TENANTS AND BUSINESSES. COORDINATED AND HOSTED SEVERAL SPECIAL EVENTS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TO DOWNTOWN CHAPEL HILL. ADVOCATED FOR BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY OWNERS ON ISSUES AND CHALLENGES AFFECTING THEM. PROVIDED BUSINESSES WITH HIGH-VISIBILITY, LOW-COST MARKETING PROMOTIONS THROUGH THE WEBSITE, EVENTS CALENDARS, AND MARKETING EMAILS.
  2. $115,739 spent. THE CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY COALITION IS A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY COLLABORATION ON ISSUES RELATED TO HARMS FROM ALCOHOL. THE COALITION WAS FORMED IN 2016. IT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH REPRESENTATION AND FUNDING FROM THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, UNC-CHAPEL HILL, THE ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE ORANGE COUNTY ABC BOARD. THE COALITION IS TASKED WITH ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM OF HIGH RISK DRINKING BY IMPLEMENTING A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT APPLY TO DOWNTOWN CHAPEL HILL, UNC-CHAPEL HILL, AND THE NEAR CAMPUS NEIGHBORHOODS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 June 2006.

    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.

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