Downtowndc Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE DOWNTOWNDC FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO SERVE AND CELEBRATE OUR VIBRANT AND DIVERSE DOWNTOWNDC COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING HOMELESS SERVICES, REVITALIZING PARKS, AND ENHANCING PUBLIC SPACES AND EXPERIENCES.
- Income
- $837,885
- Spending
- $811,934
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $382,504, president and ceo - downtowndc bid
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 76 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 September 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 (3)
- $142,852 spent. HOMELESS SERVICES:THE DOWNTOWNDC FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTED 33 WELCOME HOME KITS TO INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONING FROM HOMELESSNESS TO HOUSING, WITH EACH KIT VALUED UP TO $750. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTED THE INSPIRING CHANGE HOUSE INITITATIVE, WHICH HELPED 17 INDIVIDUALS EXIT HOMELESSNESS BETWEEN JULY AND SEPTEMBER 2025. THE FOUNDATION ALSO CATERED, HOT INDEPENDENCE DAY, THANKSGIVING, AND CHRISTMAS MEAL CELEBRATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTED HUNDREDS OF OVERNIGHT KITS THAT INCLUDED HYGIENE ITEMS, ESSENTIAL CLOTHING, NUTRITIOUS SNACKS, AND WATER TO COMBAT EXTREME WEATHER SUMMER AND WINTER CONDIDTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
- $334,616 spent. CULTURAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT: THE DOWNTOWNDC FOUNDATION FUNDED AND SECURED SPONSORSHIPS TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF FREE PROGRAMMING FOR THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE REVAMPED DOWNTOWNDC HOLIDAY MARKET THAT DREW AN ESTIMATED 340,880 VISITORS; DOWNTOWN'S FIRST-EVER HOLIDAY SKATE SPECTACULAR; JAZZ & BLOSSOMS (A PREMIER EVENT OF THE NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL); BIKE TO WORK DAY; KIDS WORLD EVENT, A WEEKEND FULL OF FUN PROGRAMMING FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS OF ALL AGES IN FRANKLIN PARK; AND FROSTED AT FRANKLIN PARK'S WINTER LIGHT DISPLAYS AND PROGRAMMING.
- $79,819 spent. PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES:THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND PROGRAMMING OF THE WORLD-CLASS GREEN SPACE, FRANKLIN PARK. IN 2025, THE DOWNTOWNDC FOUNDATION WON A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES GRANT, SECURED FOR PUBLIC SPACE INNOVATION FROM PEPCO AND SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND, AND FUNDED A SOLAR KIOSK PROJECT FOR A DOWNTOWNDC PUBLIC PARK.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2014 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2014.
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 September 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 December 2014.
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.