Appleton Downtown Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION TO ESTABLISH A VIBRANT AND ACCESSIBLE DESTINATION FOR BUSINESS, LEARNING, LIVING AND LEISURE IS ANCHORED IN OUR FOCUS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE NEW EXHIBITION CENTER, A ROBUST EMPLOYMENT CENTER AND A MORE LIVABLE DOWNTOWN. OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES BUILD SUPPORT FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE, A STRONG BUSINESS CLIMATE AND AN ATTRACTIVE, ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE DOWNTOWN WHERE MORE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $100,248, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- DOWNTOWN VITALITY THROUGH PROMOTING AND MANAGING DOWNTOWN EVENTS AND PROMOTING A CLEAN, SAFE AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT IS ANOTHER AREA THAT DOMINATES OUR TASK LIST. EVENTS PROVIDE QUALITY OF LIFE EXPERIENCES, GENERATE FOOT TRAFFIC FOR THE BUSINESSES AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE DISTIRCT. OUR EVENTS TYPICALLY GENERATE SUPPORT DOLLARS FOR THE ORGANIZATION HOWEVER SOME ARE STRICTLY DESIGNED TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO THE BUSINESSES AND ARE NOT CONSIDERED FUNDRAISERS. THE DOWNTOWN SUMMER FARM MARKET, WHICH FEATURED 88 LOCAL AND REGIONAL VENDORS, THE HEID MUSIC SUMMER CONCERT SERIES FEATURED TOP LOCAL ACTS AND PUT ON 11 FREE LIVE SHOWS. WE HOSTED TWO NIGHT MARKET EVENTS FREE TO ATTEND FEATURING CULUTRAL PERFORMANCES, ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES, LIVE MUSIC, VENDORS AND FOOD. OUR EVENTS INCLUDED A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE EVENTS INCLUDING DEATH BY CHOCOLATE, SOUP WALK, CULTURAL CUISINE WALK, CRAFT BEER WALK, WINE WALK, AND CAFE WALK. THESE EVENTS ARE DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE MOVING AROUND THE DISTRICT AND VISIT VENUES. WE ARE THE MANAGEMENT ARM FOR THE COMMUNITY PARADES HANDELING LOGISTICS. WE ARE ALSO A CONTRACTED PARTNER OF OCTOBERFEST HELPING TO MANAGE THE ARTS AND CRAFTS AREA AND WRISTBAND BOOTHS. WE HOSTED OR PARTICIPATED IN A TOTAL OF 53 COMMUNITY EVENTS.
- OUR EFFORTS IN DISTRICT MARKETING ARE FOCUSED ON SHOWCASING THE DOWNTOWN AS A DESTINATION FOR BUSINESS, ARTS AND LEISURE. ADVERTISING RANGES FROM IMAGE MARKETING TO EVENT MARKETING THAT DRAWS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO OUR DOWNTOWN. WE USE A VARIETY OF AVENUES INCLUDING RADIO, DIGITAL BILLBOARD ADS, PRINT ADS, TV ADS, KIOSK AND WINDOW DISPLAYS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA. OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING INCLUDES EMAIL, EBLAST, A WEB PAGE WITH 195K TOTAL ACTIVE USERS, FACEBOOK WITH 26,511 LIKES, AND INSTAGRAM WITH 8,995 FOLLOWERS. WE PRODUCE AN ANNUAL DOWNTOWN GUIDE AND DISTRIBUTED 15,000 OF THEM TO VISITORS AND LOCAL RESIDENCE, EXPENSE OF $8420. WEEKLY COMMUNICATION TO THE BUSINESSES AND GENERAL PUBLIC KEEPS EVERYONE INFORMED ON ISSUES AND HAPPENINGS IN THE DISTRICT, WE SWITCHED TO CONSTANT CONTACT THIS YEAR $1344 FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION. AN IMAGE MARKETING CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED INVESTING A TOTAL OF: $55,150 INVESTED. WE CONTRACTED WITH COALSCE MARKETING AND INVESTED $21,100 TO HAVE OUR WEBSITE REBUILT. A TOTAL OF $59,042 WAS INVESTED IN CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN. THE DOWNTOWN GUIDE AND SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY PROGRAM ATTRACT COOPERATIVE INVESTMENT OF $25,700 FROM DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES AND SPONSORS. $104,690 OF OUR MARKETING AND PRINTING EXPENSES ARE COVERED BY BID FUNDING.
- WE SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR THE RECRUITMENT, IMPROVEMENT AND RETENTION OF 206 PROPERTY MEMBERS IN DOWNTOWN APPLETON. BID BUILDING IMPROVEMENT FUNDS ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE. IN 2024 THE BID DISTRIBUTED $49,079 FOR BUILDING AND SIGNAGE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS AND $10,650 IN NEW BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANTS FROM THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS RECRUITMENT THROUGH OUR SEARCHABLE ONLINE PROPERTY TOOL HELPS CONNECT BUILDING OWNERS WITH POTENTIAL TENANTS OR BUYERS. WE ALSO PROVIDE A RESIDENT AND EMPLOYEE WELCOME PACKET PROGRAM. ALL PROGRAMS ARE BID SUPPORTED. WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF APPLETON TO EXECUTE THE DOWNTOWN PLAN CHAPTER 14 OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
- OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH RIVERVIEW GARDENS CARE PROGRAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE GENERAL CLEANING SERVICES TO THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM PROVIDED 656 HOURS OF SIDEWALK CLEANING SERVICE, WITH 131 BAGS OF TRASH COLLECTED. WE CONTRACTED WITH PFEFFERLE MANAGEMENT FOR 370 HOURS OF ADDITIONAL CLEANING SERVICES INCLUDING GRAFFITI REMOVAL. WE ALSO PROVIDE THE FLOWERS FOR THE SIDEWALK PLANTERS, AND LIGHTS IN HOUDINI PLAZA. THE PROGRAM IS BID SUPPORTED.
- IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VALLEY TRANSIT WE SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN TROLLEY IN DOWNTOWN AND THE RIVERFRONT. IN 2024 WE WERE AWARDED A GRANT FROM THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU TO FUND OUR PORTION OF THE TROLLEY. ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE WAS FOR THE PUBLIC BROCHURE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
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? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1993.
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.
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.