Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing and promoting the waterfront district, parks, and public spaces. We create welcoming programs, events, and recreational experiences while working toward a healthy harbor. We are committed to fostering connections among diverse communities to ensure equitable access to our blue and green spaces.
- Income
- $11.5 million
- Spending
- $7.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $317,814, executive vice president and director of finance
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 88% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 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 (7)
- $1.7 million spent. Healthy Harbor. As of FY2025, the trash wheels have collected 7.4M tons of litter and debris. We engaged 714 volunteers in raising 341,246 spat-on shells (i.e., baby oysters), which were grown in the Harbor and then transplanted by boat to the Fort Carroll Oyster Sanctuary Reef. Our Harbor Scholars program provided 445 Baltimore City students with no-cost field trips.
- $1.4 million spent. Maintenance. Our clean teams are committed to keeping our parks, public spaces, and promenades clean, welcoming, and attractive. The Clean Team emptied 13,000 trash cans, removed over 575,000 pounds of trash, and removed 4,562 pieces of graffiti. 100% of mystery shoppers stated our parks are clean and inviting to visit.
- $1.4 million spent. Hospitality and Safety. Hospitality guides greet visitors and provide information. During Fiscal Year 2025, the hospitality team helped 32,583 guests with information, directions, and accommodations, assisted 1,110 visitors and employees in reaching their destinations, and took 5,384 photos. Approximately 16 million people visit Baltimore's Inner Harbor attractions each year, and our teams of Safety Guides work on bikes, on foot, and on Segways to keep these visitors safe and ensure they have a wonderful visit.
- $1.2 million spent. Rash Field. Rash Field Park serves as a place of both respite in nature and a hub of community activity. Passive play and seating, the Skate Park, and natural areas are kept clean and well-lit, and we program a variety of intentional events, including Wildlife Gardening, Jake's Skate Day, Boards and Breakfast, and Sunset Jams, an all-local concert series. Adding 4 more acres, Phase 2 construction began in the Summer of 2025, with an anticipated opening date of August 2026.
- $723,799 spent. Community Events. We use social media and traditional media to reach and activate our waterfront public spaces and tell the story of who calls the Waterfront and Baltimore home. From the iconic Inner Harbor Amphitheater to the discovery of the new Point Park and Rash Field, we celebrate homegrown talent and community-driven organizations and provide the marketing expertise and infrastructure they can plug into. Our Baltimore-by-Baltimore and Makers Market series saw over 60,000 attendees and engaged over 200 small businesses and artists. In addition to large citywide events, smaller-scale, more consistent programming, like Waterfront Wellness (which draws over 1,000 participants), offers something for everyone to enjoy at the Waterfront.
- $490,876 spent. Landscaping. Our Green Team guarantees that the grass is always lush and the flowers are in bloom. They work daily to maintain the waterfront's lawns, flower beds, and other natural features. Every year, they plant and care for new trees to provide shade during the summer months, and they're returning native Chesapeake Bay vegetation to the area. 98% of mystery shoppers reported that the flower beds looked neat and orderly, with no weeds present. We are also audited once a month by a third-party landscape auditing company, and our landscaping team averaged 93% score on those visits.
- $487,246 spent. Other. Public Activations, such as the Inner Harbor Ice Rink, a popular winter recreational hub that attracts locals, employees of nearby stakeholders, and tourists. This past season, the rink welcomed more than 20,000 skaters, 4,000 students, and 11 community nights showcasing live music and performances. As well as Point Park Activation, which focused on Indigenous Inclusion through landscaping and the installation of Indigenous artwork.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 October 2006.
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 November 4, 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.