Westown Community Development Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE SERVICES TO ITS RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT ENHANCE AND MAINTAIN THE WESTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES. WCDC'S SERVICE AREA KNOWN AS WESTOWN IS A VIBRANT, HISTORIC AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT INCLUDES A RANGE OF HOUSING CHOICES.
- Income
- $433,267
- Spending
- $458,812
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $88,282, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
10 of 10Gave 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 June 30, 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 (5)
- $338,658 spent. WESTOWN CDC'S SERVICE HAS A GROWING LATINO POPULATION COMPRISED OF 23%, 25% AFRICAN AMERICAN AND 52% WHITE. THE SERVICE AREA IS PRIMARILY WORKING CLASS. ITS BORDERS STRETCH NORTH TO NEAR LAKE ERIE'S SHORE TO SOUTH OF I- 71. THERE ARE 10,000 HOUSEHOLDS OF WHICH 61% ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME. 48% OF OUR HOUSING UNITS ARE OCCUPIED BY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN & OF THOSE 19.5% OF THE FAMILIES LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
- GENERAL/DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES INCLUDING RELOCATION, EXPANSION, PERMITS; CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY; GRANT & LOAN ASSISTANCE & PACKAGING; MARKETING, ZONING REVIEW AND OR ZONING VARIANCES; DESIGN REVIEW, NEW SIGNAGE, STOREFRONT RENOVATION PROJECTS; WCDC HAS ADMINISTRATED OVER 54 STOREFRONT RENOVATION PROJECT AGREEMENTS LEVERAGING OVER 3.1 MM IN PRIVATE/PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN SMALL BUSINESS RENOVATION STABILIZING AND GROWING JOBS ALONG THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.
- HOUSING STABILIZATION: WCDC PROVIDES DIRECT ASSISTANCE IN GRANTS TO TENANTS AND HOMEOWNERS FOR EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR HOME REPAIRS THROUGH ITS OWNED PUBLICLY FUNDED GRANT /REBATE PROGRAM AND ITS PARTNERSHIPS WITH SEVERAL NEO HOUSING REPAIR ORGANIZATIONS
- NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION & ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: VACANT PROPERTY CUT/CLEAN UPS GRAFFITI ABATEMENT COMMERCIAL DISTRICT CLEAN UPS: COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS PERFORMED - IN 2024 - 1200 PRESERVING & GROWING THE TREE CANOPY: WCDC MAINTAINS OVER 35 STREET TREES; SEVERAL STREET PLANTERS AND STREETSCAPE FURNITURE AND PUBLIC ART ALONG THE MAIN COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR; WCDC CURRENTLY PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN ITS SERVICE AREA. STAFF HAS COMPLETED TRAINING THROUGH NORTH EAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE TRAINING PROGRAM. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE MAINTENANCE OF (2) GIG /BIO RETENTION GARDEN & PARKING FACILITY PROJECTS; IN 2024 THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY COURT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM, WCDC IS THE 8TH HIGHEST PERFORMING AGENCY IN THE COUNTY BASED ON TOTAL ANNUAL VOLUNTEER HOURS PERFORMED IN 2023-24. THIS IMPORTANT WORK PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFER FINES, COURT COSTS AND OTHER EXPENSES WHILE PERFORMING IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICE INCLUDING AREA CLEAN UPS, LANDSCAPING AND LITTER CONTROL. WCDC ALSO MAINTAINS (2) LARGE FORMER VACANT AND BLIGHTED CITY OF CLEVELAND LAND BANK LOTS AS "REIMAGINED" GARDENS ON MORTIMER & JOAN AVENUE; BOTH ARE SEEDED WITH TREES. ARBORVITAE, DECORATIVE FENCING, NATIVE PLANTINGS; IN 2024 A PURPLE MARTIN NESTING AND FEEDING STATION AND DECORATIVE FENCING WAS INSTALLED ON THE JOAN AVENUE GARDEN. PLANNING: WCDC HAS (3) HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN ITS SERVICE AREA AND WCDC CURRENTLY SERVES AS AN ADVISORY MEMBER FOR THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR PERMIT APPROVAL PROCESS FOR LARGE AND SMALL SCALE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. DIGITAL LEARNING PARTNERSHIP WITH ASC3: IN 2024 (WCDC) PARTNERED WITH ASHBURY SENIOR COMPUTER COMMUNITY CENTER (ASC3) AND PCS FOR PEOPLE AND ESTABLISHED A NEW DIGITAL LEARNING CENTER (RUN BY ASC3 WEST) AND AN AFFORDABLE COMPUTER RETAIL STORE (RUN BY PCS FOR PEOPLE) TO CONNECT CLEVELAND RESIDENTS TO COMPUTERS, INTERNET, AND DIGITAL SKILLS AT 9926 LORAIN AVENUE-CLEVELAND OH. THE CENTER WAS OPENED TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN CLEVELAND WITH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES FACING LIMITED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE COMPUTERS, INTERNET, AND DIGITAL SKILLS, HINDERING THEIR ABILITY TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE DIGITAL AGE AND ACCESS ESSENTIAL ONLINE SERVICES. WCDC ACQUIRED THE FORMERLY VACANT AND BLIGHTED HISTORIC BUILDING AND WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF CLEVELAND'S DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT HAS BEEN RESTORED AND REDEVELOPED FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE. THIS AREA HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE AS A PRIORITY AREA TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH A FOCUS ON OVERCOMING BARRIERS THAT LIMIT RESIDENTS FROM FULLY ENGAGING IN OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY. ASC3 HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 9,000 STUDENTS, CONNECTED OVER 2,800 NEW BROADBAND ADOPTERS, PROVIDED 2,200 NEW AND REFURBISHED DEVICES FOR RESIDENTS IN GREATER CLEVELAND, AND ALSO FORMED 60+ COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, WHILE CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE DELIVERING EMPOWERING TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES. TRAINING INCLUDES BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DIGITAL LITERACY CLASSES FROM BASIC TO ADVANCED SKILLS IN AREAS INCLUDING EMAIL, INTERNET NAVIGATION AND ONLINE SAFETY, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL LITERACY. SINCE 1998, PCS FOR PEOPLE HAS BECOME A NATIONAL LEADER IN DIGITAL INCLUSION BY SERVING OVER 520,000 INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDING 190,000 HOME COMPUTERS, CONNECTING 77,000 HOUSEHOLDS TO THE INTERNET, AND RESPONSIBLY RECYCLING OVER 9 MILLION POUNDS OF ELECTRONIC WASTE THROUGH THE SECURE E-WASTE RECYCLING SERVICE.
- NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION & ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: VACANT PROPERTY CUT/CLEAN UPS GRAFFITI ABATEMENT COMMERCIAL DISTRICT CLEAN UPS: COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS PERFORMED - IN 2024 - 1200 PRESERVING & GROWING THE TREE CANOPY: WCDC MAINTAINS OVER 35 STREET TREES; SEVERAL STREET PLANTERS AND STREETSCAPE FURNITURE AND PUBLIC ART ALONG THE MAIN COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR; WCDC CURRENTLY PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN ITS SERVICE AREA. STAFF HAS COMPLETED TRAINING THROUGH NORTH EAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE TRAINING PROGRAM. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE MAINTENANCE OF (2) GIG /BIO RETENTION GARDEN & PARKING FACILITY PROJECTS; IN 2024 THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY COURT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM, WCDC IS THE 8TH HIGHEST PERFORMING AGENCY IN THE COUNTY BASED ON TOTAL ANNUAL VOLUNTEER HOURS PERFORMED IN 2023-24. THIS IMPORTANT WORK PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFER FINES, COURT COSTS AND OTHER EXPENSES WHILE PERFORMING IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICE INCLUDING AREA CLEAN UPS, LANDSCAPING AND LITTER CONTROL. WCDC ALSO MAINTAINS (2) LARGE FORMER VACANT AND BLIGHTED CITY OF CLEVELAND LAND BANK LOTS AS "REIMAGINED" GARDENS ON MORTIMER & JOAN AVENUE; BOTH ARE SEEDED WITH TREES. ARBORVITAE, DECORATIVE FENCING, NATIVE PLANTINGS; IN 2024 A PURPLE MARTIN NESTING AND FEEDING STATION AND DECORATIVE FENCING WAS INSTALLED ON THE JOAN AVENUE GARDEN. PLANNING: WCDC HAS (3) HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN ITS SERVICE AREA AND WCDC CURRENTLY SERVES AS AN ADVISORY MEMBER FOR THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR PERMIT APPROVAL PROCESS FOR LARGE AND SMALL SCALE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. DIGITAL LEARNING PARTNERSHIP WITH ASC3: IN 2024 (WCDC) PARTNERED WITH ASHBURY SENIOR COMPUTER COMMUNITY CENTER (ASC3) AND PCS FOR PEOPLE AND ESTABLISHED A NEW DIGITAL LEARNING CENTER (RUN BY ASC3 WEST) AND AN AFFORDABLE COMPUTER RETAIL STORE (RUN BY PCS FOR PEOPLE) TO CONNECT CLEVELAND RESIDENTS TO COMPUTERS, INTERNET, AND DIGITAL SKILLS AT 9926 LORAIN AVENUE-CLEVELAND OH. THE CENTER WAS OPENED TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN CLEVELAND WITH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES FACING LIMITED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE COMPUTERS, INTERNET, AND DIGITAL SKILLS, HINDERING THEIR ABILITY TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE DIGITAL AGE AND ACCESS ESSENTIAL ONLINE SERVICES. WCDC ACQUIRED THE FORMERLY VACANT AND BLIGHTED HISTORIC BUILDING AND WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF CLEVELAND'S DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT HAS BEEN RESTORED AND REDEVELOPED FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE. THIS AREA HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE AS A PRIORITY AREA TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH A FOCUS ON OVERCOMING BARRIERS THAT LIMIT RESIDENTS FROM FULLY ENGAGING IN OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY. ASC3 HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 9,000 STUDENTS, CONNECTED OVER 2,800 NEW BROADBAND ADOPTERS, PROVIDED 2,200 NEW AND REFURBISHED DEVICES FOR RESIDENTS IN GREATER CLEVELAND, AND ALSO FORMED 60+ COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, WHILE CELEBRATING 21 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE DELIVERING EMPOWERING TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES. TRAINING INCLUDES BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DIGITAL LITERACY CLASSES FROM BASIC TO ADVANCED SKILLS IN AREAS INCLUDING EMAIL, INTERNET NAVIGATION AND ONLINE SAFETY, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL LITERACY. SINCE 1998, PCS FOR PEOPLE HAS BECOME A NATIONAL LEADER IN DIGITAL INCLUSION BY SERVING OVER 520,000 INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDING 190,000 HOME COMPUTERS, CONNECTING 77,000 HOUSEHOLDS TO THE INTERNET, AND RESPONSIBLY RECYCLING OVER 9 MILLION POUNDS OF ELECTRONIC WASTE THROUGH THE SECURE E-WASTE RECYCLING SERVICE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 June 1995.
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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