Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
VISIT PHILADELPHIA IS OUR NAME AND OUR MISSION. AS THE REGION'S OFFICIAL TOURISM MARKETING AGENCY, WE BUILD GREATER PHILADELPHIA'S IMAGE, DRIVE VISITATION AND BOOST THE ECONOMY.
- Income
- $4.6 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 34.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 95%
- Employees
- 46
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $508,985, president & ceo
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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 34.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 76% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
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 2515 of 16 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, 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 (1)
- $3.5 million spent. VISIT PHILADELPHIA, THE REGION'S OFFICIAL TOURISM MARKETING AGENCY, BUILDS GREATER PHILADELPHIA'S IMAGE, DRIVES VISITATION AND BOOSTS THE ECONOMY. IN 2024, OUR "COME FOR PHILADELPHIA. STAY FOR PHILLY." CAMPAIGN DELIVERED ON DRIVING DAY AND OVERNIGHT VISITATION. IN FACT, THIS EFFORT EXCEEDED A 59:1 RETURN ON ADVERTISING SPENT IN KEY PLACEMENTS. WE REMAINED AS COMMITTED AS EVER TO DIVERSITY MARKETING WITH OUR "IN PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION" SERIES, FOCUSED ON HISTORY AND HERITAGE MONTHS. IN ADDITION, WE ENTERED A FLY MARKET (ATLANTA) TO HELP SPUR LONGER STAYS; LAUNCHED TED DEMOCRACY, WHICH WILL CONTINUE INTO 2026 WHEN THE NATION CELEBRATES ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY; AND EARNED HIGH-PROFILE ACCOLADES THAT HELPED BUILD PHILADELPHIA'S IMAGE NATIONALLY AND DRIVE CIVIC PRIDE LOCALLY. WHAT'S MORE, WE CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO TOUT GREATER PHILADELPHIA AS A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT--ALL THE WHILE REMAINING A MAJOR PRESENCE ONLINE, ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN THE PRESS. OUR MOST POPULAR WEB ARTICLE GARNERED 1 MILLION+ PAGE VIEWS; WE EARNED 1 MILLION VIEWS ON TWO INSTAGRAM POSTS - A VISIT PHILLY, FIRST; AND WE PLACED/TRACKED 1,650+ PHILADELPHIA STORIES IN THE PRESS. IN ADDITION, WE DEBUTED A NEW HOTEL BOOKING WIDGET TO ENSURE ENHANCED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND HOSTED OUR INAUGURAL PHILADELPHIA HOSPITALITY SYMPOSIUM. ALL THIS WORK LED TO IMPRESSIVE END RESULTS: IN 2024, GREATER PHILADELPHIA WELCOMED 42.9 MILLION VISITORS, GENERATING $12.4 BILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT AND MEETING 2019 BENCHMARKS IN FOUR OUT OF FIVE KEY INDUSTRY METRICS.
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
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 October 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.