Downtown Akron Partnership Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROMOTE AND BUILD A VIBRANT AND VALUABLE DOWNTOWN AKRON
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 57%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $99,150, president and ceo
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 54% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2536 of 36 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
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 (6)
- $691,750 spent. CLEAN, SAFE & WELCOMING:DAP PROVIDES CLEANING AND SAFETY AMBASSADORS THROUGH OUR $494,734.00 CONTRACT WITH BLOCK BY BLOCK. DAP'S CLEAN & SAFE AMBASSADORS ENHANCE THE DOWNTOWN QUALITY OF LIFE WITH FOOT AND BIKE PATROLS THROUGHOUT THE 49-BLOCK DISTRICT AND ADJACENT BUSINESS MEMBER PROPERTIES. AMBASSADORS PATROL THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO REMOVE TRASH, GRAFFITI AND SAFETY HAZARDS, REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PROVIDE HOSPITALITY ASSISTANCE INCLUDING JUMP STARTS AND LOCK OUTS. THE TEAM POWER WASHES SIDEWALKS, MAINTAINS ASH URNS, PULLS WEEDS AND CHECKS IN WITH LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS. AMBASSADORS ALSO CLEAN AND DISINFECT HIGH TOUCH AREAS AS NEEDED. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)CLEAN, SAFE & WELCOMING, CONTINUED:DAP FUNDS AN APD NIGHTTIME SHIFT SUPERVISOR THURSDAY-SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN TO COORDINATE POLICE PRESENCE AT NIGHTLIFE VENUES, COMMUNICATE CONCERNS TO DAP STAFF, AND PROVIDE DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE DISTRICT. THE TOTAL FOR CONTRACTED OFFICERS WAS $26,448.00. DAP COLLECTS CRIME DATA FROM WEEKLY APD REPORTS AND THE ONLINE LEXIS NEXIS COMMUNITY CRIME MAPPING SYSTEM TO LOOK FOR PATTERNS, REVISE THE DEPLOYMENT OF AMBASSADORS OR CONTRACTED OFFICERS, AND SEND ADVISORIES TO THE DISTRICT.WITH HELP FROM A GRANT FROM CORBIN FOUNDATION, DAP AMBASSADORS PLACED AND MAINTAINED 266 HANGING BASKETS, PLANTER BOXES AND SIDEWALK PLANTERS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. WE ALSO PLANTED THE NORTH HIGH PARKLET AND A SUSTAINABLE, POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY GREENSCAPE IN THE NORTHSIDE. THIS MORE THAN $100,000 INVESTMENT WAS DESIGNED COLLABORATIVELY WITH DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS, DAP STAFF, AND KEEP AKRON BEAUTIFUL WITH WHOM DAP CONTRACTS TO MAINTAIN 8 ADDITIONAL IN-GROUND DISPLAYS DOWNTOWN.THROUGHOUT THE 2024-25FY, DAP STRENGTHENED AND GREW OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES TO WORK TOWARD TRANSITIONING DOWNTOWN'S UNSHELTERED POPULATION TO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES EDUCATING DAP STAFF, AMBASSADORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN ENGAGING PEOPLE IN CRISIS, UNDERSTANDING ACCESS TO AVAILABLE SUPPORT SERVICES, COLLABORATIVE TOURS THROUGH THE DISTRICT, AND INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS. DAP MAINTAINS TOWPATH WAYFINDING SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR AND CREATES MAPS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO CONNECT VISITORS TO DOWNTOWN. DAP ALSO CONTRACTED WITH OHIO GEESE CONTROL TO DEPLOY A DOG PATROL TO HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF GEESE DOWNTOWN.
- $259,827 spent. KNIGHT INITIATIVES: KNIGHT FOUNDATION FUNDS WERE DEPLOYED TOWARD TACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS, PLANNING, PROGRAMMING AND CAPACITY SUPPORT WHEN AND WHERE NEEDED. THE WORK SUCCESSFULLY INSPIRED NEW PUBLIC REALM INVESTMENTS, ENHANCED INVESTMENTS IN PROGRESS, ACTIVATED PUBLIC SPACE AND CULTIVATED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP. BY CO-DECIDING WHEN AND WHERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS WORK WERE BEST SUITED FOR DAP INVOLVEMENT, WE MAXIMIZED THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF KNIGHT SUPPORT. WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH MORE INITIATIVES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND MATCHING FUNDS THAT INCREASED DAP CAPACITY TO CONVENE STAKEHOLDERS AND WORK AS AN ALLY ACROSS SECTORS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)KNIGHT INITIATIVES, CONTINUED: KEY OUTCOMES INCLUDE:1. SUPPORT SIX SIGNATURE EVENTS TO BRING PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN, INCLUDING AKRON LATIN FEST, DOWNTOWN FALL FEST, SMELLS LIKE SNOW COFFEE FESTIVAL, LUNAR NEW YEAR, SAKURA CELEBRATION, JUNETEENTH. 2. CREATE AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC SPACE PLACEMAKING IMPROVEMENTS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN CASCADE PLAZA , LOVE THE WALL AND NORTHSIDE GREEN.3. PROGRAM CASCADE PLAZA AND OTHER SPACES WITH WELLNESS, CONCERTS AND SKATE NIGHTS WITH A FOCUS ON MIXING IN PLACE.4. SUPPORT DOWNTOWN PLANNING THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN VISION AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN 2022+.5. IMPROVE DOWNTOWN PERCEPTIONS THROUGH STORYTELLING, GUIDES AND MARKETING INITIATIVES. 6. IMPROVE MAIN ST WINTERSCAPE THROUGH INSTALLATION OF HOLIDAY LIGHTING.7. SUPPORT DAP CAPACITY THROUGH INTERNS, CONSULTANTS, AND PROGRAMMING STAFF TO ACCOMPLISH THE BODY OF WORK.8. SUSTAIN THE DOWNTOWN PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE.9. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP OF DOWNTOWN AKRON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONKNIGHT SUPPORT WAS USED IN MULTIPLE INSTANCES TO GUIDE PUBLIC REALM INVESTMENT THROUGH PLANNING AND CONSULTANTS, AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT THROUGH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, DAP CAME ALONGSIDE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO INTEGRATE BEST PRINCIPLES INTO PUBLIC SPACES AND, IN SOME CASES, HELP MATERIALIZE THOSE PLANS AND PROGRAM THE RESPECTIVE SPACES. QUANTIFYING THOSE INVESTMENTS AND AUDIENCES ENGAGED HELPS US DEMONSTRATE THE BROAD IMPACT OF THE WORK. KNIGHT PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITY IS SUPPORTED BY A MULTIYEAR GRANT FROM THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION. REVENUE WAS RECEIVED THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR THIS WORK, AND CARRIED OVER FROM LAST YEAR AS WELL.
- $215,331 spent. MEMBER OUTREACH & SUPPORT: AS THE CENTER OF OUR URBAN CORE, THE SUCCESS OF DOWNTOWN PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF OUR REGION. STOREFRONT BUSINESSES SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN ECOSYSTEM THROUGH EMPLOYMENT, IMPROVING SAFETY, RETAINING TALENT, ADDING CHARACTER AND VIBRANCY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. DAP WORKS WITH MEMBERS TO CELEBRATE DOWNTOWN AS A VALUABLE PLACE. THROUGH STRATEGIC MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT OF DOWNTOWN RESOURCES, DAP PROMOTES THE DISTRICT AS THE PREMIER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN THE CENTER OF OUR CITY.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)MEMBER OUTREACH & SUPPORT, CONTINUED:DAP ALSO WORKED WITH BAKER MEDIA GROUP TO CREATE THE 2024 DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL GUIDE. DAP WORKED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS TO DEMONSTRATE IN A VIBRANT, ENGAGING WAY THAT DOWNTOWN AKRON IS A PLACE WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOME. THE GUIDE SUPPLEMENTED THE OCTOBER 2024 EDITION OF AKRON LIFE MAGAZINE, AND 2,000 3,000 ADDITIONAL COPIES WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND IN SELECT HOTELS AND REST AREAS IN NORTHEAST OHIO. WEBSITE USERS: 470KWEBSITE PAGEVIEWS: 1MFACEBOOK FOLLOWERS: 20KX FOLLOWERS: 8,986INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 12.1KLINKEDIN FOLLOWERS: 3,390TIKTOK FOLLOWERS: 1,018BLUESKY FOLLOWERS: 242DO DOWNTOWN WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS: 16,666QUARTERLY UPDATES WERE PRODUCED IN APRIL, JULY, OCTOBER AND JANUARY. ALL ISSUES ARE HOUSED ON THE DAP WEBSITE.BUSINESS OWNERS MEETINGS - THROUGH 2024-2025, DAP HOSTED IN-PERSON QUARTERLY BUSINESS OWNERS MEETINGS TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT DOWNTOWN PROJECTS AND EVENTS, FACILITATE SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES AND PROVIDE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. AVERAGE ATTENDANCE WAS 20 PEOPLE PER MEETING.AS THE CENTER OF OUR URBAN CORE, THE SUCCESS OF DOWNTOWN PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF OUR REGION. STOREFRONT BUSINESSES SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN ECOSYSTEM THROUGH EMPLOYMENT, IMPROVING SAFETY, RETAINING TALENT, ADDING CHARACTER AND VIBRANCY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
- $176,253 spent. VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:DOWNTOWN DORA - THE CITY OF AKRON LAUNCHED ITS FIRST DESIGNATED OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT AREA (DORA) IN DOWNTOWN IN OCTOBER OF 2020. THE DORA ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO TAKE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OUTSIDE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DESIGNATED AREA. DAP CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE DORA THROUGH AMBASSADOR SAFETY TOURS, PROGRAMMING, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DORA CUP PROGRAM AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO DOWNTOWN VIBRANCY. DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HAS EVOLVED AS A CRITICAL DAP SERVICE SINCE 2007. DAP MEETS WITH BUSINESSES FOR RETENTION AND EXPANSION VISITS AS A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO GROWING THE NUMBER OF JOBS DOWNTOWN, AS WELL AS ASSISTING BUSINESSES WITH DIRECT SERVICES AND CONNECTIONS TO ADDRESS ANY CHALLENGES THEY FACE. DAP STRIVES TO MEET WITH RETAILERS QUARTERLY, AND WITH PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AT LEAST BIANNUALLY. DAP ALSO CONDUCTS BRE VISITS THROUGH THE NEW BRE EFFORT WITHIN ELEVATE GREATER AKRON. DAP TRACKS STATISTICS ON THIS WORK BY CALENDAR YEAR. WITHIN THIS EFFORT IN 2024, DAP PARTICIPATED IN ALL BRE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND ATTENDED 45 EGA BRE OUTREACH VISITS. OUR INDIVIDUAL NPS SCORE IN THIS WORK IN 2024 WAS 70% (TEAM GOAL IS 50%) WITH 50% OF INTERVIEWEES RESPONDING TO THE SURVEY (TEAM GOAL IS 35%). DAP ALSO MEETS WITH PROSPECTIVE BUSINESSES TO ASSIST THEM ON THEIR PATH TO ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS. IN 2024, DAP CONDUCTED PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS MEETINGS WITH 58 SITE SELECTION SERVICES - 32% WERE RETAILERS, 12% CREATIVE INDUSTRY, 26% PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND 9% OTHER TYPES OF BUSINESS. OF THESE PROSPECTIVE BUSINESSES, 56% WERE OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND 53% WERE WOMEN OWNED. IN 2024, 88% OF EGA PORTFOLIO BUSINESSES WERE RETAINED DOWNTOWN AND 95% OF ALL GENERAL NON-RETAIL BUSINESSES WERE RETAINED. IN 2024, 20 NEW BUSINESSES OPENED IN DOWNTOWN. IN 2024, 6 NEW BUSINESSES WERE SELECTED FOR PHASE 8 OF DAP'S BURTON D. MORGAN FOUNDATION FUNDED START DOWNTOWN PROGRAM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE POP-UP RETAIL PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM MATCHES ENTREPRENEURS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS TO BRING NEW BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN AND ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE DISTRICT. IT PRIORITIZES SUPPORTING BUSINESSES OWNED BY WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE EIGHTH COHORT OF START DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES INCLUDED SIX NEW BUSINESSES. IN TOTAL, 89% OF RETAIL STOREFRONTS DOWNTOWN WERE RETAINED AND 6 NEW STOREFRONT BUSINESSES OPENED DOWNTOWN. DAP HOSTS AN ONLINE SITE SELECTION FORM TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS OF ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES LOOKING FOR SPACE IN DOWNTOWN. DAP CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN DOWNTOWN AVAILABLE COMMERCIAL LISTINGS ON THE LOIS (LOCATION ONE INFORMATION SYSTEM) DATABASE ON DOWNTOWNAKRON.COM TO ENGAGE ENTREPRENEURS INTERESTED IN LOCATING THEIR BUSINESS DOWNTOWN. SINCE THE DOWNTOWN VISION AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN OF 2018, DOWNTOWN'S PRIMARY DEVELOPMENT FOCUS HAS BEEN ON BRINGING MIXED-USE, RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS TO FRUITION. RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL TO DOWNTOWN'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY, AS WELL AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF KEEPING THE DISTRICT SOCIALLY CONNECTED, VIBRANT AND STRONG.DAP CONTINUES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH ARTISTS AND INSTRUCTORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO RETHINK TRADITIONAL PROGRAMMING WHILE REMAINING COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING AND CELEBRATING ARTS AND CULTURE AS A CRITICAL PART OF THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE. WE CONTINUE TO CONVENE DISTRICT PARTNERS IN A VIRTUAL, BI-WEEKLY DOWNTOWN PROGRAMMING CALL. NOW WITH MORE THAN 20 ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING, THE GROUP IS COLLABORATIVELY HELPING REBUILD DOWNTOWN VIBRANCY. PLACEMAKING THROUGH PROGRAMMING PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN DAP'S PORTFOLIO OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. DAP ADDS PROGRAMMING TO PUBLIC SPACES AND ASSISTS OTHERS IN BRINGING EXCELLENT PROGRAMMING TO DOWNTOWN TO CREATE A VIBRANT AND VALUABLE DOWNTOWN FOR ALL. PART OF DAP'S COMMITMENT TO PROGRAMMING ALL PEOPLE IS ILLUSTRATED BY ITS WORK WITH LOCAL CONTRACTORS, WITH A FOCUS ON WORKING WITH BUSINESSES OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR. FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO FEEL TRULY INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT DOWNTOWN HAS TO OFFER, THEY NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE VENDORS, ARTISTS, INSTRUCTORS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND PERFORMERS DAP WORKS WITH TO CREATE PROGRAMMING. IN TOTAL, ROUGHLY 22,000 PEOPLE WERE WELCOMED DOWNTOWN THROUGH DAP EVENTS AND PROGRAMS.AKRON LATIN FEST: MORE THAN 4,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE FOURTH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF LATIN AND HISPANIC CULTURES ON OCTOBER 5, 2024, FEATURING FOOD, PERFORMANCES, RETAIL VENDORS, AND FREE ACTIVITIES. FALL FEST: MORE THAN 2,000 VISITORS ATTENDED THIS OCTOBER 19, 2024 CELEBRATION SPANNING MAIN STREET THAT FEATURED 20 TRICK-OR-TREAT STATIONS; FOOD, RETAIL VENDORS AND FREE ACTIVITIES.SMELLS LIKE SNOW COFFEE FESTIVAL: DAP WELCOMED 5,000+ PEOPLE TO CASCADE PLAZA ON NOVEMBER 2, 2024, FOR THE GILMORE GIRLS INSPIRED SMELLS LIKE SNOW COFFEE FESTIVAL. LOCAL MUSICIANS, FOOD AND RETAIL VENDORS, AND SPECIAL GUESTS FROM THE SHOW MADE IT EXTRA SPECIAL. LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: AN ESTIMATED 1,000 PEOPLE GATHERED TO CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN THE AKRON CIVIC THEATRE ON FEBRUARY 15, 2025. TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PERFORMANCES INCLUDED THE LION DANCE, DRAGON DANCE, PERFORMANCES BY NIHF STEM MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, MARTIAL ARTS DEMONSTRATIONS, AND MORE. FIREWORKS FOLLOWED.SAKURA FESTIVAL: 5,500 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS EVENT THAT SPANNED THE TOWPATH FROM CASCADE LOCKS PARK THROUGH DOWNTOWN TO OHIO & ERIE CANAL PARK ON APRIL 5, 2025, TO WITNESS THE 472 BLOOMING CHERRY BLOSSOM TREES PLANTED BY THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION OF NORTHEAST OHIO (JANO) AND THE CITY OF AKRON. GUESTS ENJOYED CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, FOOD TRUCKS, RETAIL VENDORS, AND MORE.SUMMER PROGRAMS: APPROXIMATELY 2,500 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED SUMMER WELLNESS CLASSES ON CASCADE PLAZA. FREE CLASSES INCLUDED YOGA, PILATES, LINE DANCING, KICKBOXING, ZUMBA, FUNCTIONAL FITNESS, AND HIP-HOP STEP. OTHER SUMMER EVENTS INCLUDED SKATE NIGHTS ON CASCADE PLAZA AND LUNCHTIME CONCERTS IN FRONT OF LOCK 3.JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION: MORE THAN 1,000 VISITORS GATHERED AT LOCK 3 TO CELEBRATE BLACK JOY AND FREEDOM ON JUNE 1, 2025. THE CELEBRATION INCLUDED CUL
- $62,331 spent. ENGAGEMENT & STRATEGY:DAP REPRESENTS AND ADVOCATES FOR DOWNTOWN ACROSS A NUMBER OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS DESIGNED TO DRIVE EQUITY, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PLACEMAKING.ELEVATE GREATER AKRON - ELEVATE GREATER AKRON (EGA) IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE GREATER AKRON AREA DESIGNED TO CREATE A TRANSFORMATIVE, HIGH FUNCTIONING AND COLLABORATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM FOR GREATER AKRON. DAP SERVES THE PARTNERSHIP AS A MEMBER OF STRONG DOWNTOWN STRONG REGION, NEW FUNDAMENTALS (BRE & SPARK), OPPORTUNITY AKRON, AND EGA CORE WORKING GROUP. EGA'S WORK IS BASED ON A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THAT IS BOTH NECESSARY AND FUNDAMENTAL TO BUILDING LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AKRON. FOR MORE ON ELEVATE GREATER AKRON, VISIT ELEVATEGREATERAKRON.ORG.CONSENSUS AND STRATEGY ARE IMPERATIVE TO SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY BUILDING. DAP ROUTINELY ENGAGES BOARD MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DESIGN, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR WORK. ESTABLISHED AND AD HOC COMMITTEES MET IN 2024 TO GUIDE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, BOARD NOMINATIONS, RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, BEAUTIFICATION, FINANCE, PROGRAMMING AND GOVERNANCE. DAP IS HONORED TO ATTEND THE MONTHLY DOWNTOWN OPERATIONS GROUP MEETINGS CONVENED BY THE CITY OF AKRON'S OFFICE OF INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT. DURING THESE MEETINGS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM CITY DEPARTMENTS WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS ISSUES AND DETERMINE DOWNTOWN'S BEST AND MOST EFFICIENT PATH FORWARD THROUGH SHARED INFORMATION AND COLLABORATION.SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC TRANSIT IS A CRITICAL PART OF AN EXCELLENT, ATTRACTIVE, EQUITABLE DOWNTOWN. AS PART OF THEIR EFFORTS TO DRAW OPPORTUNITY TO AKRON, METRO IS PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT AROUND ROBUST TRANSIT SERVICE IN AKRON.THE HUB FOR ARTS, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT IN SUMMIT COUNTY, DOWNTOWN SERVES AS A PLACEMAKER FOR THE REGION. COORDINATION AND PROMOTION OF THE MORE THAN 25 ARTS, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND EVENTS DOWNTOWN IS FACILITATED BY DAP THROUGH BIMONTHLY CALLS AMONG PROGRAMMING PARTNERS.THE RECONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY INITIATIVE IS A MULTIYEAR, INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY PREFERENCES FOR THE FUTURE OF A PORTION OF THE INNERBELT. DAP SERVES ON THE ADVISORY GROUP FOR THIS PROCESS TO UPLIFT THE RECONNECTION OF AKRON'S NEIGHBORHOODS WITH DOWNTOWN, AND THE SHARED WORK WITH AKRON'S COMMUNITIES TO IMAGINE A HEALED FUTURE OF OPPORTUNITY AND SOLIDARITY. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: AKRONINNERBELT.COM.
- $4,547 spent. CIVIC COMMONS:REIMAGINING THE CIVIC COMMONS DEMONSTRATES THAT TRANSFORMATIVE PUBLIC SPACES CAN CONNECT PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, CULTIVATE TRUST, AND CREATE MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. DAP CONTINUES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS NATIONAL, MULTI-YEAR INITIATIVE FUNDED BY THE ROCKEFELLER, KRESGE, KNIGHT AND JPB FOUNDATIONS. NOTABLE DOWNTOWN PROJECTS INCLUDE PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING OF LOCK 2, LOCK 3, LOCK 4, THE SAKURA/ CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN APRIL, THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DORA, AND ROLLER SKATING ON CASCADE PLAZA. NEWLY RENOVATED LOCK 3 OPENED IN NOVEMBER 2024. VISIT OHIOERIECANAL.ORG/AKRON-CIVIC-COMMONS FOR MORE ON THE COMING TRANSFORMATION OF LOCK 3.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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