Detroit 300 Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION IS A MICHIGAN NON-PROFIT CORPORATION DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN AND PROGRAM THE DETROIT 300 LEGACY GIFT TO THE CITY OF DETROIT AND CAMPUS MARTIUS PARK, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE CONTINUED BEAUTIFICATION OF PUBLIC SPACES IN THE CITY OF DETROIT.
- Income
- $7.1 million
- Spending
- $7.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 65%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $518,863, 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
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 88% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (3)
- $1.5 million spent. PARK OPERATIONS INCLUDING MOST SIGNIFICANTLY CAMPUS MARTIUS PARK, A 2.4 ACRE PUBLIC SQUARE AND YEAR-ROUND ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, ANCHORS A TWO-SQUARE-BLOCK DISTRICT THAT IS THE COMMERCIAL CENTER AND HEART OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT. SURROUNDED BY OVER 6.5 = MILLION SQUARE FEET OF MIXED USE SPACE, THE CAMPUS MARTIUS DISTRICT IS A 24-HOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMPRISED OF OFFICE EMPLOYEES, RESIDENTS, DINING OPTIONS, RETAIL OUTLETS, AND OVER TWO MILLION ANNUAL VISITORS.
- $564,821 spent. BEACON PARK - BEACON PARK OPENED JULY 20, 2017. THE PARK INFUSES LIGHT, ENERGY, AND MOTION TO CREATE A DISTINCTIVE GATHERING PLACE, AND AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS OF ALL AGES. THE CIRCULAR, OPEN LAWN IS THE LARGEST OF ANY DOWNTOWN DETROIT PARK AND GIVES VISITORS ROOM TO RUN, PLAY, RELAX AND RECHARGE. THE PARK PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMMING, INTERACTIVE LIGHT INSTALLATIONS AND A CONTEMPORARY RESTAURANT WITH A ROOFTOP GARDEN AND DINING SPACE FOR PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE PARK AND CITY SKYLINE. THE PARK HAS ACTIVATED 1.2 ACRES, IMPROVED WALKABILITY, AND CREATED A CATALYST FOR CULTURAL VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
- $4.5 million spent. PLACEMAKING/PARK EVENTS - BEGINNING IN 2013 AND WORKING WITH THE CITY OF DETROIT AND KEY DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS, THE CONSERVANCY PROVIDES ACTIVATION, IMPROVEMENTS AND PROGRAMMING FOR THREE ADDITIONAL DOWNTOWN HISTORIC PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES INCLUDING GRAND CIRCUS PARK, AND CAPITOL PARK. THE CONSERVANCY PRODUCED OVER 2,000 FREE EVENTS IN DOWNTOWN PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.