Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Lancaster City Alliance

EIN 46-3353021 · Lancaster, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LANCASTER CITY ALLIANCE IS A NON-PROFIT THAT PROMOTES CITY GROWTH AND STABILITY SO THAT LANCASTER CITY FLOURISHES AND EVERYONE SHARES IN ITS SUCCESS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
12.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$202,039, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOCUSES ON THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY, CREATING JOB GROWTH, AN INCREASED TAX BASE, AN ENHANCED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CITY RESIDENTS, AND STRENGTHENING THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY OF LANCASTER. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH MANY STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY GROUPS, NONPROFITS, SCHOOLS, AND MUNICIPALITIES. LANCASTER CITY ALLIANCE (LCA) CONTINUES A PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE IN ALL QUADRANTS OF THE CITY. THIS INCLUDED MANAGING A HIGHLY SUCCESSUL FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IN SEVERAL SOUTH LANCASTER NEIGHBORHOODS. DURING THE YEAR 24/25, LANCASTER CITY ALLIANCE CONTINUED MANAGING THELANCASTER CITY REVITALIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT ZONE (CRIZ) PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY'S 15YEAR COMMUNITY OWNED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN, BUILDING ON STRENGTH.
  2. $204,322 spent. "QUALITY OF LIFE" IS CARRIED OUT BY A TEAM OF PERSONNEL TRAINED IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY CONSIST OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO OFTEN RIDE BICYCLES OR WALK IN THEIR DESIGNATED COVERAGE AREA IN THE CITY OF LANCASTER. WE REFER TO THEM AS LCA AMBASSADORS AND CLEAN TEAM. THEIR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ADDRESSING ISSUES THROUGH REPORTS TO LANCASTERCITY PUBLIC WORKS, HOUSING AND SWEEP DEPARTMENTS; REPORTING BROKEN STREETLIGHTS; REPORTING EXCESSIVE TRASH INCIDENTS; REMOVAL OF GRAFFITI TAGS FROM PUBLIC SPACES; AND CONTACT WITH CITY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE HELP WHEN NEEDED. THE TEAM ALSO PROVIDES SIDEWALK SWEEPING AND SUPPLEMENTAL CLEANING SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.IN 24/25, LCA SPENT SIGNFICANT TIME ON DEVELOPING WITH THE CITY AND PARTNERS A PLAN TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SPACES IN DOWNTOWN AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS WELL AS THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF OUR OUTREACH WORKER, WORK DIRECTLY WITH THOSE POPULATIONS AT RISK TO RECEIVE SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 June 2014.

    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.