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Downtown Janesville Inc

EIN 38-3672455 · Janesville, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 22% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

DOWNTOWN JANESVILLE INC WORKS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ENCOURAGE THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVITIES IN THE DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN JANESVILLE INC GOALS INCLUDE BUSINESS RETENTION, EXPANSION, RENOVATION, HISTORIC REHABILITATION AND REDEVELOPMENT.

Income
$174,882
Spending
$177,003
Spent on programs
22%
Reserves
16.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 72%
Employees
4
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$74,784, managing direct

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    22% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (3)
  1. $26,107 spent. FOCUSES ON CAPITAL, INCENTIVES, AND OTHER ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL TOOLS TO ASSIST NEW AND EXISTING BUSINESSES, CATALYZE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, AND CREATE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS THAT DRIVE LOCAL ECONOMIES.
  2. $13,583 spent. SUPPORTS A COMMUNITY'S TRANSFORMATION BY ENHANCING THE PHYSICAL AND VISUAL ASSETS THAT SET THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT APART. THE COMMITTEE DECORATES THE DOWNTOWN FOR A VARIETY OF SEASON USING FUNDING FROM DJI AND THE BID. FOCUS IS ON THE ROTH PAVILION, JP CULLEN PAVILION, MAIN STREET, AND MILWAUKEE STREET. COMMITTEE OVERSEES CLEAN-UP ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AND OVERSEES THE WINTER WINDOW DECORATING CONTEST.
  3. POSITIONS THE DOWNTOWN AS A DESTINATION; MAINTAINS THE INTEGRITY OF THE DESTINATION DOWNTOWN BRAND; AND CREATES A POSITIVE IMAGE THAT SHOWCASES THE DOWNTOWNS UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS. PROGRAM MAINTAINS, UPDATES AND SOLICITS SPONSORSHIPS FOR DOWNTOWNJANESVILLE.COM; COORDINATES THE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION OF PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, AS THE BUDGET ALLOWS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.