Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE PHILADELPHIA VISITOR CENTER CORPORATION (PVCC) IS TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF VISITORS TO PHILADELPHIA BY PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCESS TO ALL THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER. PVCC WILL INSPIRE VISITORS TO CREATE LASTING MEMORIES THROUGH EXPLORING THE CITY AND REGION, AND TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH OTHERS. WE ENVISION PVCC AS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN VISITOR SERVICE EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION.
- Income
- $14.8 million
- Spending
- $13.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 45%
- Employees
- 93
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $385,681, president & ceo
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
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 91% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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 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 (1)
- $11.4 million spent. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE PHILADELPHIA VISITOR CENTER CORPORATION (PVCC) LAUNCHED THE PHAMBASSADOR PROGRAM, WITH AN AMBITIOUS GOAL OF RECRUITING 10,000 PHAMBASSADORS BY THE END OF 2026 - TO DATE OVER 6,000 PASSIONATE PHAMBASSADORS HAVE JOINED THE MOVEMENT. PVCC HAS ALSO TAKEN ON LEADERSHIP OF PHL250 WHICH IS NOW A PROGRAM WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION. THE PROGRAM IS TASKED WITH UPLIFTING AND CELEBRATING PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS, CULTURES, AND SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH A COORDINATED SERIES OF ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL INVESTMENTS. PARTNERING WITH VISIT PHILLY AND MORE THAN 32 PHILADELPHIA ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, PVCC OPENED A TKTS COUNTER IN THE PHILADELPHIA VISITOR CENTER OFFERING DISCOUNTED, SAME-DAY/NEXT-DAY TICKETS FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES. PVCC CONTINUES TO STEWARD AND LEAD THE HISTORIC DISTRICT PARTNERS, COLLABORATING ON MAJOR DISTRICT WIDE EVENTS SUCH AS "UNITED FOR INDEPENDENCE"HALLOWEEN IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT". THIS YEAR, PVCC ALSO HOSTED THE ORGANIZATION'S SECOND ANNUAL PHILLY OPENER EVENT, THE EVENT SURPASSED OUR FUNDRAISING GOALS. LASTLY, PVCC IS PROUD TO BE LEADING THE EFFORT TO PRESERVE AND RELAUNCH TWO OF PHILADELPHIA'S MOST CHERISHED HOLIDAY TRADITIONS - THE WANAMAKER LIGHT SHOW AND DICKENS CHRISTMAS VILLAGE - FOR THE 2025 HOLIDAY SEASON
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 May 1998.
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.