Institute for Economic Development Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 30% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DBA RIVERFRONT ALLIANCE OF DELAWARE COUNTY (RADC), IS A CONSORTIUM OF PRIVATE SECTOR CORPORATIONS AND NON-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO COUNTER THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THAT RESULT FROM DISINVESTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY. WITHIN THIS BROAD CONTEXT, RADC IS SPECIFICALLY COMMITTED TO UNDERTAKING A TARGETED MIX OF INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON THE PHYSICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REVITALIZATION OF THE CITY OF CHESTER.
- Income
- $272,889
- Spending
- $207,587
- Spent on programs
- 30%
- Reserves
- 13.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 86
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 63% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1530% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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.
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 (3)
- $21,773 spent. HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATIONIN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHESTER COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (CCIP), RADC IS FOCUSING ON PROVIDING QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ELIMINATING BLIGHT AND REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODS. IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, THE EMPHASIS HAS BEEN ON DEVELOPING THE GRACE MANOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORTING CCIP IN ITS EFFORTS TO UNDERTAKE A RESIDENT DRIVEN PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING THE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. -GRACE MANOR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECTTHE GRACE MANOR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECT CONSISTS OF DEVELOPING TEN UNITS OF AFFORDABLE FOR SALE HOUSING AND ADDRESSING NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING CONCERNS. RADC IS WORKING WITH CCIP TO IMPROVE HOUSING CONDITIONS THROUGH ITS FAADE AND CAMERA INITIATIVES IN THE BLOCKS SURROUNDING THE NEW HOUSING. A DEMONSTRATION HOME REPAIR PROGRAM WILL BE DEVELOPED TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME OWNER OCCUPANTS WITHIN THE TARGET AREA AS WELL.THE GOAL OF THE GRACE MANOR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECT IS TO PROMOTE QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CHESTER. THIS PROJECT WILL MEET THIS GOAL BY CONSTRUCTING NEW HOMES FOR FIRST TIME, LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. INTERESTED BUYERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING AND, IF ELIGIBLE, WILL RECEIVE DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE THROUGH CHESTER'S HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THE GRACE MANOR NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT CONSISTS OF ADDRESSING HOUSING AND OTHER RESIDENT NEEDS IN A TARGET AREA SURROUNDING THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. CCIP IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROCESS THAT INCLUDES A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS. HOUSING HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE MENTIONED BY RESIDENTS AND SUPPORTED BY DATA. AS SUCH, FAADE IMPROVEMENTS, SIMILAR TO THE PROGRAM RADC HAS UNDERTAKEN IN SEVERAL OTHER CHESTER NEIGHBORHOODS, MAY BE A PART OF THE INVESTMENT NEEDED TO STRENGTHEN THIS COMMUNITY. THERE IS ALSO A PENT-UP DEMAND FOR HOUSING REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE.
- $35,475 spent. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTIN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, RADC MADE A GOOD DEAL OF PROGRESS ON IMPROVING STREETSCAPES AND TRAILS ALONG THE CHESTER WATERFRONT AND ENHANCING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND THE DELAWARE RIVER. THIS PROGRESS INCLUDES COMPLETING THE REMAINING CONCRETE WORK ON THE UNIT AND 100 BLOCKS OF REANEY STREET NOW THAT THE UTILITY POLES HAVE BEEN RELOCATED, FINISHING THE DESIGN OF THE COMPLETE STREETS ON HIGHLAND AVENUE AND SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETING THE DESIGN WORK FOR THE NORRIS STREET CONNECTOR TO THE EAST COAST GREENWAY. NOW THAT THE DESIGN OF THE HIGHLAND AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS IS FINISHED, THE IMPROVEMENTS AND TRAIL INSTALLATION HAS BEEN PUT OUT TO BID AND WILL SOON BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. -WEST 2ND STREET (ROUTE 291) IMPROVEMENTS CHESTER WATERFRONT TRAILRADC IS WORKING ON DESIGN AND FINANCING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI-USE, OFF-ROAD PATH AND GREEN STORMWATER LANDSCAPED STRIP ALONG ROUTE 291 (WEST 2ND STREET) FROM HIGHLAND AVE TO NORRIS ST TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY AND CONNECT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE DELAWARE RIVER WATERFRONT. THE CURRENT LAND, LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF ROUTE 291, WILL BE RECLAIMED TO COMPLETE A FULLY CONSTRUCTED 2.9-MILE LOOP OF PUBLIC RECREATION SPACE. THE NEW TRAIL LOOP SEGMENT, THE ROUTE 291 CONNECTIVITY CORRIDOR, WILL CONNECT WITH THE EXISTING TRAIL SEGMENTS ALONG HIGHLAND AVENUE AND NORRIS STREET THAT CONNECT WITH THE EAST COAST GREENWAY TRAIL ALONG THE DELAWARE RIVER WATERFRONT TO CREATE THIS LOOP.THE PROJECT WILL ADD A TRAIL ALONG THE EXISTING 4-LANE CORRIDOR WITH CENTER TURNING LANE, TRANSFORMING IT FROM A HIGH-SPEED, BARE CONCRETE ROADWAY TO A MULTI-USE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR WITH OPTIONS WHICH WILL FUEL THE GROWTH OF THE CHESTER WATERFRONT AREA WHILE ALSO IMPROVING THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK, LIVE, AND VISIT THE CITY.USING WATERFRONT TAX CREDITS AND OTHER SOURCES OF FINANCING, RADC IS FUNDING THE LAND ACQUISITION PIECE AS WELL AS MANAGING THE DESIGN PROCESS. -WATERFRONT PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY WORKDAYS & EVENTSIN THE SPRING OF 2025, RADC IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DELAWARE ESTUARY (PDE) AND OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS PLANNED ITS THIRD DELAWARE RIVER FESTIVAL. THIS FESTIVAL HAS BEEN HELD IN PHILADELPHIA AND IN CAMDEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND PDE DECIDED TO EXPAND IT TO THE CHESTER WATERFRONT. RADC PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ORGANIZING AND PROMOTING THE EVENT THAT WAS HELD THIS YEAR IN THE UNION YARDS LOCATION NEAR THE SUBARU PARK SOCCER STADIUM. WHILE THE EVENT HAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS, IT ALSO INCLUDES FOOD TRUCKS, LOCAL DANCE TROUPES AND A D.J. THE GOAL IS TO BRING LOCAL RESIDENTS TO THE WATERFRONT.IN ADDITION TO THE CHESTER RIVER FESTIVAL, RADC SUPPORTED VOLUNTEER TREE PLANTING ACTIVITIES WITH THE CHESTER SHADE TREE COMMISSION. THIS YEAR, THE CHESTER SHADE TREE COMMISSION WORKED WITH A CONTRACTOR TO INSTALL SIDEWALK TREE PITS. BARE ROOT TREES, PROVIDED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (PHS), WERE PLANTED BY VOLUNTEERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WILLING PROPERTY OWNERS.
- $5,869 spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTWORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMPLEMENTS THE STRONG EMPLOYER BASE OF RADC BOARD MEMBERS AND PROVIDES A MECHANISM TO ENHANCE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CHESTER RESIDENTS AND LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. IN ADDITION TO ESTABLISHING A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, RADC HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN LAUNCHING THE JUMPSTART CHESTER PROGRAM TO ASSIST EMERGING DEVELOPERS AS FOLLOWS:-JUMPSTART CHESTERTHE JUMPSTART PROGRAM, FOUNDED BY KEN WEINSTEIN IN 2015 IN THE GERMANTOWN SECTION OF PHILADELPHIA, REDUCES BLIGHT AND INCREASES INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. THE MODEL INCLUDES A REAL ESTATE TRAINING PROGRAM, A DEVELOPER'S NETWORK AND ACCESS TO FINANCING OPTIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION AND RENOVATION OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. THE JUMPSTART CHESTER PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAINING AND MENTORING TO LOCAL RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT. AT PRESENT, THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET IN CHESTER IS DEPRESSED WITH INSUFFICIENT INVESTMENT IN THE HOUSING STOCK, LIMITING THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE UNITS. SUPPORTING INTERESTED BUT INEXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FINANCING WILL REDUCE GENTRIFICATION BY BUILDING LOCALLY AND FOCUSING ON SLOW, STEADY GROWTH. THESE EMERGING DEVELOPERS UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF LOCAL PROPERTIES AND THE WIDER IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY OF ADDRESSING PROPERTY CONDITIONS BUT LACK THE TECHNICAL SKILLS, BUSINESS CONNECTIONS AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL THAT THE JUMPSTART PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE. JUMPSTART CHESTER WILL ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY. MOREOVER, IT WILL IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE DISINVESTMENT. CHESTER RESIDENTS, WHO WANT TO STAY IN THE CITY, WILL HAVE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY OFFERED ON THE MARKET. THE TRAINING PROGRAM OFFERS AT LEAST 9 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING PROPERTY SOURCING, FINANCING AND OBTAINING PERMITS, VISITING A RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION SITE AND ASSIGNING A MENTOR TO ASSIST WITH THE DEVELOPER'S INITIAL PROJECT. THE DEVELOPERS' NETWORK CONSISTS OF PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND GUEST SPEAKERS CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPERS TO CONNECT WITH STAKEHOLDERS. THE LOAN PROGRAM OFFERS ACCESS TO DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN FINANCING FOR BOTH ACQUISITION AND RENOVATION OR POSSIBLY NEW CONSTRUCTION. RADC IS CONTINUING TO WORK ON DEVELOPING A FINANCING PROGRAM SPECIFIC TO JUMPSTART CHESTER.
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 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 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 May 1996.
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.