Urban Manufacturing Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UMA is a coalition working towards sustaining and growing manufacturing in cities. UMA brings participants together to develop best practices around economic development.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 13 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 9
- Highest pay
- $101,423, co-director
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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 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
0 of 7Reports no 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 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 (1)
- $888,798 spent. In 2024 UMA continued strengthening its organizational core while advancing objectives across its 3 programmatic pillars to realize a vibrant manufacturing sector and catalyze inclusive and sustainable economic development. Milestones and highlight across our three program pillars of Place-based Strategies, Inclusive Workforce, and Catalytic Capital include SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION Statement of Program Accomplishments continuation Inclusive Workforce Successful implementation of the II 3.0 Regional Coalitions cohort. Accomplishments included an in-person convening in Detroit, sustained technical assistance resulting in shifts in program design and mindsets on equity and inclusion in their manufacturing programs, and establishment of a peer network that will continue beyond the cohort. Launched the Worker Voice Pilot project, a one year project to support intermediaries in Oklahoma City and Houston seeking to improve job quality and retention in small and medium size manufacturing businesses by engaging workers and businesses in collaborative efforts. Awarded a grant to launch II South and began initial work on the program. II South is a learning and action cohort focused on bringing together manufacturing practitioners in the Southern United States. This project builds on the findings and takeaways from previous industry and Inclusion cohorts. Presented at the National Fund for Workforce Solutions conference in Memphis, TN and attended a White House convening on Workforce Development Policy. Stmt of Program Accomplishments continuation Catalytic Capital SSBCI In Feb of 2025 the organization published a report SSBCI Making it Work for American Manufacturers gently critiquing how the program was working as it related to supporting small and mid sized manufacturers and including case studies of States who had programs to emulate. Note Unfortunately, the administration instructed the US Treasury, who runs the SSBCI program, to eliminate all field staff in April of 2025. At that same time the administration cut the Small Business Administration staff by 43 and threatened to eliminate the MEP network essentially dismantling the manufacturing business support system needed to undergird this financial program. Stmt of Program Accomplishments continuation Catalytic Capital continuation Presented on a panel at the SSBCI Midwest Conference in August of 2024. Stmt of Program Accomplishments continuation Catalytic Capital continuation Manufacturing Succession Tool The organization built and tested an online platform for manufacturing business owners exploring succession planning. This tool brings manufacturing business owners on their own journey of exploring the elements of succession planning including continuity plans, employee ownership, using a letter of intent, and building an advisory team. The next step is to improve the tool based on the feedback we have received from testers and to build the referral network navigation part of the tool. The organization facilitated a panel on Access to Capital Building New Pathways and Products for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses at the CityScapes Summit in Durham, NC in May of 2024. Stmt of Program Accomplishments continuation Place Program Implementation of Cincinnati Makers Collaborative The organization transitioned the CMC program into the Build Phase with a steering team and local lead getting involved in a deeper way to create an operations guidebook and CMC overview document. The organization also engaged the broader community and hosted four listening sessions where we shared the vision of the Makers Collaborative and discussed opportunities to build new partnerships and collaborations. Planning and Prep for ReUse Design Jam Series Launched the planning for a three part Design Jam series focused on circular manufacturing strategies in Appalachia. The organization worked with new partners Relmagine Appalachia, Coalfield Development, and American Sustainable Business Network. Together we developed the goals and outcomes of the event and began outreach for events hosted in Spring 2025. Stmt of Program Accomplishments continuation Place Program continuation Planning and Prep for Massachusetts Textile Ecosystem Project Developed a work plan to complete an industry and community engagement process in partnership with MassDevelopments TDI program. This included developing a strategy to engage with members of the textile and softgoods manufacturing ecosystems through interviews, online small group discussions, surveys, and an in-person event. The work plan was developed to run from Feb through June 2025. Stmt of Program Accomplishments continuation Place Program continuation Makerspace Learning and Workshop Series in Los Angeles In 2024, the organization planned and completed a five-part discussion and learning series - How to Launch Your Makerspace- engaging a coalition of community and economic development leaders in South Los Angeles. Community Development Technologies, CDTech, lead organizer of the coalition, brought in UMA to provide a comprehensive overview of makerspaces. The series included four online sessions focusing on Introduction to Makers and Makerspaces, Matching Makers Needs to Makerspace Offerings, Supporting Entrepreneurship Business Development, and Faciliting Pathways to Employment and Opportunity. Throughout these discussions, participants delved into the history of makerspaces, examined case studies from across the nation, and brainstormed ways to create a makerspace tailored to the unique needs of South LA communities. The series culminated in an immersive day-long workshop, focusing on makerspace business models and the essential elements of a successful makerspace. Stmt of Program Accomplishments continuation Place Program continuation Flexible Product Fabrication Showcase and Podcast Series In response to our Flexible Product Fabrication Community of Practice members we developed and hosted the first two of a five part
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
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? 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? 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 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 September 2015.
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.