Downtown Bellingham Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM PARTNERSHIP CHAMPIONS THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF COMMERCE, CULTURE AND CELEBRATION.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 121
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
- $350,214 spent. ONGOING DBP EVENTS ARE MEANT TO DRIVE TRAFFIC AND CREATE A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN. THESE INCLUDE AN ART WALK AND MONTHLY FIRST FRIDAYS, A CONCERT SERIES CALLED DOWNTOWN SOUNDS, TWO WINE WALKS PER YEAR, TRICK-OR-TREAT AND HOLIDAY SEASON EVENTS AND DISPLAYS.
- $245,633 spent. BEAUTIFICATION & CLEANING: THE DBP IS CONTRACTED BY THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPING SERVICES TO DOWNTOWN. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO CREATE A SAFER AND CLEANER CITY CENTER, INCLUDING SEASONAL PLANTING, WEEDING AND LEAF REMOVAL. THE CLEAN TEAM IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR LITTER CLEAN UP FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY, AND ORGANIZES 1-2 VOLUNTEER EVENTS A YEAR FOR LARGE SCALE CLEAN UP EFFORTS. THE DBP MANAGES A GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROGRAM WHERE GRAFFITI IS REMOVED FROM PRIVATE BUILDINGS, AND IS FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY OF BELLINGHAMS PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, BELLINGHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS.
- $139,522 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: THE DBP ADMINISTERS SEVERAL PROGRAMS FOR THE PROMOTION OF DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM AND AS A MEANS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE QUARTERLY DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, SAFETY, AND OTHER RELATED RESOURCE SHARING. THE CITY BLOCK PROGRAM ALLOWS STAFF AND BUSINESS OWNERS MORE DIRECT ACCESS TO EACH OTHER, HELPING TO SHAPE THE DBP FOCAL POINTS. THE DBP ALSO SUPPORTS ADDRESSING SAFETY CONCERNS THAT HAVE ARISEN IN DOWNTOWN BY CONTRACTING WITH THE CITY FOR THE SAFETY AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, ALLOWING A TEAM OF AMBASSADORS TO WALK DOWNTOWN AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH FOLKS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES. THESE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED IN PART BY CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY OF BELLINGHAMS PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THROUGH CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 September 2014.
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.
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