Downtown Boulder Community Initiatives
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DOWNTOWN BOULDER COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IS A CHARITABLE 501 (C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING DOWNTOWN BOULDER AS THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITY. OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PRODUCE OVER TWO DOZEN ANNUAL EVENTS FOCUSED ON ARTS, CULTURE, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS. FROM FINE ARTS TO FREE CONCERTS ON THE PEARL STREET MALL, DBCI EVENTS DRAW NEARLY 250,000 PEOPLE DOWNTOWN EVERY YEAR. WE ALSO SUPPORT OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT ENHANCE DOWNTOWN INCLUDING THE BOULDER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND THE PEARL STREET STAMPEDES.
- Income
- $486,318
- Spending
- $481,074
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 55%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 350
- Highest pay
- $161,825, ceo (thru nov)
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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 (4)
- $75,810 spent. FALL FEST - 3-DAY AUTUMN FESTIVAL FEATURING FOOD, BREWS, MUSIC, CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES AND FIREFLY HANDMADE MARKET.
- $62,535 spent. BAND ON THE BRICKS - FROM OLDIES TO ALTERNATIVE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, BANDS ON THE BRICKS IS BOULDER COUNTY'S PREMIER OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES TAKING PLACE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY ON THE BRICKS OF THE ONE-AND-ONLY PEARL STREET MALL. A SUMMER TRADITION WITH 10 WEEKS OF FREE CONCERTS. ENJOY PERFORMANCES FROM THE BEST LOCAL MUSICIANS ALONG THE FRONT RANGE WHILE DANCING UNDER THE STARS.
- $24,506 spent. PEARL STREET ART FAIR - FROM WHIMSICAL AND MODERN SCULPTURES TO TRADITIONAL WATERCOLORS, OILS & MORE, PEARL STREET ARTS FEST IS A BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR GALLERY NESTLED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN BOULDER ON THE RENOWNED PEARL STREET MALL.
- $305,969 spent. OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PRODUCE OVER TWO DOZEN ANNUAL EVENTS FOCUSED ON ARTS, CULTURE, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS. FROM FINE ARTS TO FREE CONCERTS ON THE PEARL STREET MALL, DBCI EVENTS DRAW NEARLY 250,000 PEOPLE DOWNTOWN EVERY YEAR. WE ALSO SUPPORT OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT ENHANCE DOWNTOWN INCLUDING THE BOULDER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND PEARL STREET STAMPEDES.WORLD SINGING DAY-A COMMUNITY SING-ALONG WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS AND SINGING ABILITIES ARE INVITED.
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 May 2017.
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.
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.