Camden Special Services District Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE THE REVITALIZATION OF THE CITY OF CAMDEN THROUGH A JOINT PUBLIC/PRIVATE VENTURE
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 71%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $132,000, exeutive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2513 of 13 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, 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 (1)
- $2.9 million spent. ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY THE CAMDEN SPECIAL SERVICES DISTRICT ARE INTENDED TO SUPPLEMENT AND ENHANCE EXISTING CITY SERVICES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS, VISITORS, EMPLOYEES, AND BUSINESSES WHO RELY ON A STRONG AND VIBRANT DOWNTOWN CAMDEN. CSSD ALSO PROVIDES SIMILAR SERVICES UNDER CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, THE CITY OF CAMDEN, AND CAMDEN COUNTY.CORE TO THE ORGANIZATION'S FUNCTION IS A CLEAN AND SAFE PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES THE DAILY REMOVAL OF DEBRIS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS FROM PUBLIC STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, POWER WASHING, CURB LINE PAINTING ALONG COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS BY A TEAM OF AMBASSADORS CALLED THE YELLOWJACKETS. AS NOTED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S PUBLISHED ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2025, THE YELLOWJACKETS REMOVED MORE THAN 25,000 BAGS OR 503,000 POUNDS - OF TRASH FROM 153 CITY BLOCKS, PARKING LOTS, AND PARKS. SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR PARK MAINTENANCE FOR 2025 WAS PROVIDED BY THE REIMAGINING CIVIC COMMONS PROGRAM. THE TEAM ALSO REMOVED OVER A THOUSAND BAGS OF LEAVES.CSSD PROVIDES ENHANCED LANDSCAPING THROUGH THIRD-PARTY VENDORS THAT INCLUDES HANGING PLANTERS, SIDEWALK PLANTERS, LAWN MOWING, TREE PLANTING, AND THE GREENING OF MEDIANS. IN 2025 ACTIVITIES INCLUDED THREE SEASONS OF PLANTINGS, TEN NEW STREET TREES, AND SIX HAZARDOUS TREES REMOVED. IN 2025, CSSD DEPLOYED HOLIDAY DECORATIONS ALONG KEY CORRIDORS AND WITHIN ROOSEVELT PLAZA PARK IN FRONT OF CITY HALL. CSSD'S TWO HOSPITALITY AMBASSADORS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 160 COMMUNITY EVENTS, SEVENTY PLACEMAKING TABLING SET UPS, AND ASSISTED OVER 650 VISITORS WITH WAYFINDING OR INFORMATION REQUESTS. CSSD ALSO HOSTED NUMEROUS EVENTS, INCLUDING THE DOWNTOWN CAMDEN ART CRAWL AND A PICNIC THAT COINCIDED WITH THE NAVY/MARINES 250.TO ADMINISTER THESE PROGRAMS, CSSD EMPLOYS THREE FULL-TIME STAFF, UTILIZES AN OUTSIDE CONTROLLER, AND COMMISSIONS ANNUAL REQUIRED AUDITS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 June 2002.
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.