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American Communities Trust Inc

EIN 26-2998289 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BUILD STRONG, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES BY PARTNERING WITH NONPROFIT AND FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES THAT HAVE LASTING SOCIAL IMPACT AND CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
75.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
7
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$204,570, outgoing 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 46% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 75.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (2)
  1. $1.0 million spent. BALTIMORE PUMPHOUSE:THE BALTIMORE PUMPHOUSE IS A MULTI-PHASED, $27M INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH A SMALL BUSINESS TOWN CENTER IN THE HEART OF A SEVERELY DISTRESSED COMMUNITY THAT WAS ONCE AN EPICENTER OF BUSINESS AND RETAIL. THE BALTIMORE PUMPHOUSE HAS EXPANDED TO EIGHT BUILDINGS (SIX OF WHICH ARE HISTORIC) (THE "PROJECT") LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF N. WOLFE ANDN. GAY STREETS, IN BALTIMORE'S BROADWAY EAST COMMUNITY (THE "PROPERTY").THE PROJECT SPONSOR, AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TRUST ("ACT"), IS A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNER SPECIALIZING IN CREATING INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT BRING GROWTH AND PROSPERITY TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS. THE FIVE BUILDINGS THAT CONSTITUTE THE BALTIMORE PUMPHOUSE WERE BUILT 125 YEARS AGO AS THE WATER PUMPING STATION FOR EAST BALTIMORE.VACANT SINCE THE 1990'S, THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDINGS WAS SO DERELICT THAT THEY BECAME THE PERFECT FILMING LOCATION FOR THE WIRE. KEY OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE ELIMINATING FOUR ACRES OF BLIGHT FROM A SEVERELY DISTRESSED COMMUNITY, SUPPORTING MINORITY AND LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES; LOCAL JOB CREATION; INCREASING OPPORTUNITIESFOR COMMERCE AND THE CIRCULATION OF THE DOLLAR WITHIN THE COMMUNITY; RELIEVING PRESSURE ON AND UTILIZATION OF SOCIAL SERVICES; INCREASING DIRECT ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD; AND RESTORING HISTORICAL TREASURES.THIS MULTI-PHASE STRATEGY IS CURRENTLY IN ITS FINAL PHASE FOR COMPLETION.THE WORK DONE TO DATE INCLUDES:CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED IN AUGUST 2017: ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, SITE WORK AND REPAIR OF ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, WHILE BUILDING NEW 8,000 SF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION AND TEACHING KITCHENS (BUILDING 7-NEW CONSTRUCTION).CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED IN OCTOBER 2019: REHABILITATED THE HISTORIC STOREHOUSE (BUILDING 3). TODAY, THE 9,890 SF STOREHOUSE SERVES CREATIVE, HOUSING A PHOTOGRAPHY AND MOTION STUDIO AND FASHION RETAILERS.CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER 2022: REHABILITATED 6,830 SF HISTORIC STABLES (BUILDINGS 5 AND 6) AND CONSTRUCTING A NEW CONNECTOR BETWEEN BUILDINGS 5 AND 6 TO FORM ONE SINGLE BUILDING. THE HISTORIC STABLES WILL BE LEASED FOR NONPROFIT OFFICE/ FLEX SPACE.CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED IN JULY 2025: REHABILITATED 10,000 SF OF THE HISTORIC GARAGE (BUILDING 1). THE HISTORIC GARAGE WILL BE LEASED FOR NONPROFIT OFFICE/ FLEX SPACE.THE KITCHENS BUILDING AT 1731 LLEWELYN IS FULLY LEASED 5 SMALL BUSINESS USERS, AND ONE NONPROFIT TENANT.ACQUIRING A 10,000 SF WAREHOUSE ADJACENT TO THE CAMPUS THAT WAS GOING TO BECOME VACANT IN JANUARY 2024. THE WAREHOUSE IS HOME TO A NONPROFIT USER AS A FIELD HOUSE FOR GARDENING MATERIALS AND HAS A PRELEASE TO A GYM THAT FOCUSES ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
  2. $53,182 spent. LAST MILE PARK:LAST MILE PARK IS A $6.3 MILLION, ONE-MILE PUBLIC ART AND HERITAGE ECO-TRAIL THAT WILL LOOP THROUGH AMTRAK'S EIGHT OVERPASSES. LYING ADJACENT TO THE BALTIMORE PUMPHOUSE, THE TRAIL LIES BETWEEN THE NORTH-OF-THE-TRACKS NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE NORTH AND EBDI, EAGER PARK, AND JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY TO THE SOUTH. THE TRAIL WILL TAKE PEDESTRIANS ON A TOUR OF SCULPTURAL ART, PERMANENT ARTISTIC LIGHT INSTALLATIONS, AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE PROVIDING ENGAGING INFORMATION ON THE NARRATIVES AND CULTURE OF EAST BALTIMORE AND ITS RESIDENTS. LAST MILE PARK STITCHES TOGETHER THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE RAILROAD TRACK, PROMOTING ONE UNIFIED COMMUNITY. THE PILOT SITE OF LAST MILE PARK OPENED IN MAY 2022. ACT RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL AWARD OF $904,000 FOR THE NEXT SITE IN 2024.

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 November 6, 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 November 2008.

    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 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.