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Newark Downtown District Management Corporation

EIN 22-3646316 · Newark, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The corporation's purpose is to revitalize downtown Newark by improving the economic viability of the central business district and enhance the quality of life for residents, workers, students and visitors.

Income
$8.5 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
18
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$356,489, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 68% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs.

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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $3.2 million spent. CLEAN TEAM - MEMBERS OF THE NEWARK DOWNTOWN DISTRICT GET TO WITNESS THE EXCEPTIONAL WORK OF OUR NDD AMBASSADORS. THEY WORK HARD TO PROVIDE THE CLEAN, GREEN, AND SAFE SERVICES THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS, COMMUTERS AND VISITORS. NOW YOU CAN HIRE THE NDD AMBASSADORS AND RECEIVE THE SAME HIGH-QUALITY MAINTENANCE AND BEAUTIFICATION TO YOUR PROPERTY OR BUSINESS. -SNOW REMOVAL: PRE-TREATMENT AND POST-EVENT SERVICES TO REMOVE SNOW AND ICE FROM SIDEWALKS, DRIVEWAYS AND PARKING LOTS. -POWER WASHING/GRAFFITI REMOVAL: NDD AMBASSADORS CAN BRIGHTEN AND CLEAN YOUR PROPERTY WITH POWER WASHING AND OUT GRAFFITI REMOVAL REHABILITATION SYSTEM. -HORTICULTURE AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE: GREEN UP! LET NDD AMBASSADORS ADD AND MAINTAIN PLANTERS AND HANGING BASKETS TO YOUR PROPERTY. WE OFFER FULL-SERVICE MAINTENANCE TO INCLUDE GRASS CUTTING, WEEDING, AND LEAF REMOVAL. -EVENT SUPPORT: NDD AMBASSADORS CAN PROVIDE CLEANING SERVICES DURING AND AFTER YOUR EVENT. WE ALSO CAN ACT AS WELCOME HOSTS, HOSPITALITY AND CROWD CONTROL. -PARKLETS: LET US ADD TO YOUR SIDEWALK SPACE BY INSTALLING A PARKLET. THIS PEDESTRIAN OASIS COMES WITH A SEATING AREA AND DECORATIVE PLANTING. -SEASONAL OUTDOOR CAFE-STYLE SEATING SPACE: ADD THE AMENITY OF OUTDOOR SEATING TO YOUR SPACE. NDD AMBASSADORS SET UP, CLEAN AND BREAK DOWN THE BISTRO SETS ON YOUR SITE.
  2. $1.3 million spent. AMBASSADORS - THE AMBASSADORS ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR ORGANIZATION. HIGHLY RECOGNIZABLE IN THEIR BRIGHT YELLOW AND BLACK UNIFORMS THEY ARE SPLIT UP INTO TEAMS WHICH ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DOWNTOWN. DURING OUR PEAK SEASON, THERE ARE UP TO 60 AMBASSADORS EMPLOYED BY NDD, MORE THAN 95% ARE NEWARK RESIDENTS. -THE CLEAN TEAM AMBASSADORS CLEAN EVERY BLOCK THE SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOUNDARIES SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. -THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMBASSADORS WORK WITH MEMBERS OF THE NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ARE STATIONED AT OUR NEW COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER AT 60 PARK PLACE. THEY CANVAS OUR DISTRICT ON FOOT, BICYCLES AND SEGWAYS, TO IDENTIFY ISSUES THAT CAN POTENTIALLY NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUT BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN. QOL AMBASSADORS ALSO PROACTIVELY ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH WELCOMING, SMILING FACES, AND PROVIDE INFORMATION TO VISITORS. -SPECIAL PROJECT AMBASSADORS TACKLE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN THAT REQUIRES SPECIAL SKILLS SUCH AS GRAFFITI REMOVAL, PAINTING, AND POWER WASHING SIDEWALKS AND BUILDINGS. -THE HORTICULTURE AMBASSADORS, KNOWN AS THE "GREEN TEAM,A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT IN DOWNTOWN NEWARK THROUGH BEAUTIFICATION. THEY INSTALL AND MAINTAIN THE THOUSANDS OF SEASONAL PLANTS AND FLOWERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND MAINTAIN WASHINTGTON PARK AND DOANE TRIANGLE. THEY ALSO PROVIDE CONTRACTED HORTICULTURE SERVICES TO PRIVATE PROPERTIES. THIS ENSURES THAT OUR ENTIRE DOWNTOWN HAS A UNIFORM LOOK. HORTICULTURE SERVICES TO PRIVATE PROPERTIES. THIS ENSURES THAT OUR ENTIRE DOWNTOWN HAS A UNIFORM LOOK.
  3. $381,384 spent. DOWNTOWN MARKETING - THE DISTRICT'S MARKETING PROGRAM INTRODUCES PEOPLE TO AN INVIGORATED NEWARK. THE PROGRAM PROMOTES THE CITY'S DIVERSE ARTS AND CULTURAL OFFERINGS, ITS UNIQUE RESTAURANTS AND INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER. MARKETING AT THE NEWARK DOWNTOWN DISTRICT IS TWOFOLD, PROMOTING OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS AS WELL AS PROMOTING OUR STAKEHOLDERS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. BY CONNECTING WITH AS MANY BUSINESSES AS POSSIBLE IN NEWARK, THE NDD PUSHES OUT THE GOOD WORD ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.
  4. $444,117 spent. quality of life

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 February 2000.

    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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