Passes our checks

Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District Inc

EIN 31-1549493 · Cincinnati, OH

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

What it says it does

Creating a clean, safe, and welcoming environment downtown.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

Independent board
25 of 25
9 of 9 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
10 of 10
Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)

$3.1 million spent. DCID has entered into a Service Agreement with Downtown Cincinnati, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company (DC) exempt from federal income tax under Code Section 501(c)(3), to perform the services related to the revitalization of Cincinnati. Downtown Cincinnati, LLC provides services by: 1. Maintaining and enhancing a clean, safe, and welcoming environment downtown, including the recognized Downtown Ambassador program. 2. Maintaining and enhancing the image, awareness and usage of downtown as a vibrant hub of activity through strategic marketing and communications, including proactive media relations, engaging social media messaging and email marketing, and the production of free Downtown events to drive traffic and increase vibrancy. 3. Advocate for and support business and residential growth downtown through stakeholder services programs and serving as the primary source of downtown data collection and distribution to stakeholders by providing the State of Downtown report.
$100,000 spent. Money provided to Fountain Square Management Group for operating support in 2025. Supporting FSMG is key to assisting in revitalizing downtown Cincinnati as the company puts on numerous programs and events that bring people downtown and improve the overall quality of the social reputation of the city.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 April 2022.
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.