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Downtown Detroit Partnership Inc

EIN 38-3436456 · Detroit, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ADVANCE DETROIT BY DRIVING ENGAGEMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN'S URBAN CORE. WE STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT DOWNTOWN DETROIT THROUGH STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS THAT EVOLVE WITH THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. DDP CONVENES BUSINESS, PHILANTHROPIC AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT EFFORTS IN THE CREATION OF A VIBRANT URBAN CORE FOR DETROIT ARE BALANCED AND ALL PERSPECTIVES ARE CONSIDERED.

Income
$21.8 million
Spending
$22.7 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 44%
Employees
0
Volunteers
51
Highest pay
$518,863, 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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 117% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 22% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    51 of 53 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 (5)
  1. $1.7 million spent. CLEAN DOWNTOWN - THE PROJECT AIMS TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD OF CLEANLINESS FOR DOWNTOWN DETROIT BY PROVIDING DAILY CLEANUP IN THE AREA WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN FREEWAY SYSTEM AND NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS. UNIFORMED GOODWILL INDUSTRIES WORKERS SWEEP STREETS AND POWER-WASH SIDEWALKS, CLEAR TRASH, AND REMOVE GRAFFITI TO KEEP THE CITY CLEAN AND INVITING.
  2. $168,932 spent. HOLIDAY LIGHTING - DDP ILLUMINATES DOWNTOWN DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE DOWNTOWN LIGHTING PROGRAM ENHANCES THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DOWNTOWN BY BRIGHTENING THE STREETSCAPE FOR THE ENTIRE DETROIT COMMUNITY. THE DDP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INSTALLING DISTINCTIVE LIGHTING ON STREET POLES AND IN TREES, AS WELL AS FOR DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING DAZZLING HOLIDAY LIGHT DISPLAYS IN BEACON PARK, CAMPUS MARTIUS PARK AND OTHER FAVORITE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SPACES.
  3. $5.0 million spent. MICHIGAN STRATEGIC FUND REVITALIZATION AND PLACEMAKING PROGRAMIN JANUARY 2023, DDP RECEIVED A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT AWARD FROM THE MICHIGAN STRATEGIC FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,740,000 TO SUPPORT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF EIGHT (8) PROJECTS THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN DETROIT. THE PROJECTS INCLUDE TWO (2) REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS AND SIX (6) PUBLIC SPACE PROJECTS. DDP IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THESE PROJECTS AND HAS, SEPARATELY, ENTER INTO SUB-GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH SUB-GRANTEES. THE GRANT IS A MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENT WHICH WILL BE FULLY EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 31, 2026.
  4. $5.0 million spent. RAP- MEDC RAP 1.0 TO SUPPORT PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN.
  5. $7.9 million spent. MAJOR EVENTS- - TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAMMING OF THE 2024 NFL DRAFT EVENT

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 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 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 December 1998.

    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.