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Arcadia Improvement Association

EIN 32-0424242 · Arcadia, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BRING REVITALIZATION TO ARCADIA'S COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AREA.

Income
$160,121
Spending
$168,067
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
1
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$107,191, executive director

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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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

Governance

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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

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. $114,554 spent. COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE'S PURPOSE IS TO OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY AND MARKET THE DOWNTOWN ARCADIA DISTRICT. THESE ARE THE ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED DURING 2025.THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL CELEBRATION INCLUDED A TRADITIONAL LION DANCE, CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, FOOD TRUCKS AND GIVEAWAYS. IT PROVIDED A CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AND FREE CELEBRATION FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY. OVER 15,000 ATTENDEES SHOPPED, DINED AND DISCOVERED THE DOWNTOWN ARCADIA BUSINESSES.PATRIOTIC FESTIVAL AND DRONE SHOWE WITH ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD TRUCKS AND GIVEAWAYS. THIS EVENT WAS FREE AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. OVER 20,000 ATTENDEES SHOPPED AND DISCOVERED THE DOWNTOWN AREA. 100 VOLUNTEERS HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS.HELD A TRICK OR TREAT EVENT, HALLOWEEN HAUNTING, WITH A TRUNK OR TREAT PARKING LOT FOR THE COMMUNITY. OVER 6,500 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS COMPLETELY FREE EVENT THAT BENEFITED THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. MANY ATTENDEES DISCOVERD AND SHOPPED AT DISTRICT BUSINESSES WHILE ATTENDING THE EVENT. 65 VOLUNTEERS HELPED MAKE THE EVENT A SUCCESS.CONDUCTED A HOLIDAY FAIR WITH ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD TRUCKS, GIVEAWAYS AND A TOY DRIVE. THE TOY DRIVE BENEFITTED FOOTHILL UNITY CENTER, A LOCAL FOOD BANK. OVER 8,500 ATTENDEES SHOPPED AND DISCOVERED THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS.HELD BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION WHICH RESULTED IN 10 VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING GOALS OF THE ASSOCIATION.SPECIAL GUESTS PRESENTED INFORMATION TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AT THE BOARD MEETINGS TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY, THE ARCADIA POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED EDUCATION REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AND PRESENTED THEIR BATTLE OF THE BADGES. THEY ALSO PRESENTED THEIR NATIONAL LIGHTS OUT DAY. THE TRAMMEL CROW COMPANY PRESENTED THE LATEST UPDATE ON THE DERBY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. ARCADIA CITY COUNCILMEMBER DAVID FU REPRESENTS THE DOWNTOWN ARCADIA DISTRICT AND SHARED DISTRICT UPDATES.RENEWED MEMBERSHIP IN THE ARCADIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. SUPPORTED VARIOUS EVENTS, SUCH AS TASTE OF ARCADIA, MOON FESTIVAL, PURCHASED AN AD IN THE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY AND ATTENDED THE ANNUAL ACE AWARDS GALA.THE ASSOCATION'S WEBSITE HAS BEEN CONTINOUSLY UPDATED.PARTICIPATED IN THE CITY OF ARCADIA'S TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY.LOCAL HEROES AWARDS HELD TO HONOR VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK THE DOWNTOWN ARCADIA EVENTSSUPPORTED THE ARCADIA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WITH A BOOTH AND GIVEAWAYS.ATTENDED THE ARCADIA COMMUNITY COORDINATING COUNCIL MEETINGS TO SHARE INFORMATION AND RECRUIT NEW EVENT PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $20,362 spent. LIGHTS IN DISTRICT TREES AND SIDEWALK OPERATIONSLIGHTS WERE INSTALLED IN 20 TREES ON FIRST AVENUE DURING 2021. THIS CAPITAL PROJECT HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING. THE PROGRAMMING OF THE LIGHTS HAS BEEN UPDATED. THE LIGHT FIXTURES HAVE CONTINUED TO BE SERVICED AND REPAIRED. THE BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT ARE THE RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS TO THE AREA. THE COMMITTEE IS ALSO WORKING WITH CITY OFFICIALS WITH UPDATING THE NEW DOWNTOWN LIGHTING PLANS

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

  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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2016 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2016.

    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 2025.

    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 January 2018.

    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.