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Chattanooga Design Studio

EIN 47-3183435 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHATTANOOGA DESIGN STUDIO SEEKS TO ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CITIZENS THROUGH GUIDANCE, COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND EDUCATION THAT PROMOTES LIVABLE, ACCESSIBLE, WALKABLE, AND HUMANE URBAN DESIGN.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
11
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$120,362, president

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 309% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. A HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC REALM:CHATTANOOGA DESIGN STUDIO COLLABORATES WITH SEVERAL PARTNERS AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS TO ADVANCE AND GUIDE THE DESIGN OF A HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC REALM. THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON STREETS, PARKS AND OTHER PUBLIC SPACES WHILE ALSO HELPING TO SHAPE THE PRIVATE INVESTMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A VIBRANT PUBLIC REALM. PROJECTS ARE UNDERTAKEN AS PRIORITIES OF A MUNICIPALITY TO INVESTIGATE AND ARE CONDUCTED WITH CITIZEN INPUT AND ENORMOUS COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION. PROJECTS SUCH AS MONTAGUE PARK, WATERFRONT, BROAD STREET, OPTIMIZING CITY STREET, AND CIVIC CENTER ALL AIM TO PROVIDE INSPIRATION TO IMPROVEMENTS OF THE PUBLIC REALM.
  2. $301,299 spent. VIBRANT URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS:CHATTANOOGA DESIGN STUDIO HELPS GUIDE THE IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED FOR URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS TO BE BETTER CONNECTED THRIVING PLACES FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ALIKE. THE STUDIO SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BY IMPROVING MOBILITY AND STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF DOWNTOWN ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS. PROJECTS LIKE WESTSIDE EVOLVES, WALNUT HILL AND SOUTH BROAD DISTRICT HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY IN CREATING CLEAR VISIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS ADJACENT TO DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA.
  3. $193,694 spent. URBAN DESIGN EDUCATION:CHATTANOOGA DESIGN STUDIO OFFERS EDUCATION AND INNOVATION REGARDING THE ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN AND SHAPING THE CITY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL. THE STUDIO HOSTS A QUARTERLY OPEN AND FREE SPEAKER SERIES KNOWN AS CIVIQ. THE CIVIQ PROGRAM OFFERS EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION FROM PRACTITIONERS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES REGARDING THE IMPROVEMENT OF CIVIC SPACES. THE STUDIO REGULARLY PRESENTS TO K-12 AND UNIVERSITY CLASSES REGARDING THE HISTORY OF CITY FORM AND THE ROLE OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 September 2015.

    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.

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