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Downtown Cleveland Alliance

EIN 34-1775903 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ALLIANCE IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO BUILDING A DYNAMIC DOWNTOWN. IT IS COMMITTED TO MAKING DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND THE MOST COMPELLING PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND VISIT IN THE REGION.DCA, WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERS, CREATES FORUMS FOR COMMUNICATION AND INVOLVEMENT BY A DIVERSE GROUP OF DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, CIVIC AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, RESIDENTS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, AND BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS. BY FACILITATING THE COLLABORAITON OF THESE GROUPS, DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ALLIANCE STRIVES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE URBAN CORE BY IMPLEMENTING INITIATIVES LIKE THE CLEAN AND SAFE PROGRAM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, MARKETING AND SPECIAL EVENTS, ADVOCACY AND STRATEGIC PROJECTS.

Income
$9.0 million
Spending
$8.8 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
23
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$283,200, president and 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 51% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (2)
  1. $4.0 million spent. DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM (CLEAN & SAFE) - WORKING FROM OUR CENTRAL OPERATIONS CENTER WITH FULL COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES, DOZENS OF CROSS-TRAINED TEAM MEMBERS WORK SHIFTS SPANNING 18 HOURS A DAY TO CREATE A CLEANER, SAFER, BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE DOWNTOWN. OUR CLEAN AND SAFE AMBASSADORS SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME PROVIDING HOSPITALITY SERVICES. THEY'RE TRAINED TO HELP WITH INFORMATION ON HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, ATTRACTIONS, EVENTS, CONVENTIONS, AND PARKING LOCATIONS AND COSTS. THEY'RE ALSO KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT LOCAL ORDINANCES SUCH AS PANHANDLING, LOITERING, AND SOLICITATION AND ARE IN CONTACT WITH PEACE OFFICERS IF A SITUATION REQUIRES ACTION.
  2. $369,289 spent. HOLIDAY LIGHTING CEREMONY (WINTERLAND) - WINTERLAND IS ONE OF CLEVELAND'S MOST BELOVED TRADITIONS AND WELL ATTENDED EVENTS. THE LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS THAT ARE ACTIVATED DURING THIS HOLIDAY LIGHTING CEREMONY CREATE A FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE IN PUBLIC SQUARE AND PLAYHOUSE SQUARE TO ACCOMPANY THE FULL SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES THAT CONTINUE DOWNTOWN THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON. DCA HAS PROUDLY BEEN AT THE HELM OF WINTERLAND SINCE 1998. THE PROGRAM IS BOTH MORE ECONOMICAL FOR THE ALLIANCE AND MANAGEABLE FOR VISITORS, WHILE PROVIDING A SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE FOR THE GREATER CLEVELAND COMMUNITY. WINTERLAND ATTRACTS AN ESTIMATED 30,000 VISITORS DOWNTOWN EACH YEAR. WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AND BUILD OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIPS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR THAT MAKE THE EVENT POSSIBLE. THE WINTERLAND COMMITTEE WE ORGANIZE WORKS HARD TO COLLABORATE WITH VENUES AND VENDORS TO DESIGN A DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE THAT WILL ATTRACT LOCAL PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS VISITORS FROM THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND STATE. WINTERLAND IS A FAMILY-ORIENTED INITIATIVE THAT AIMS TO MAKE IT EASY AND APPEALING FOR FAMILIES TO SPEND AN ENTIRE DAY AND EVENING DOWNTOWN.

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

  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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 2024.

    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 November 1994.

    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 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.