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Venture Richmond Inc

EIN 52-1256458 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VENTURE RICHMOND ENGAGES BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN PARTNERING WITH THE CITY TO ENHANCE THE VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY DOWNTOWN, THROUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING, PROMOTION, ADVOCACY AND EVENTS.

Income
$13.7 million
Spending
$8.6 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
41
Volunteers
900
Highest pay
$345,801, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    55 of 55 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 December 31, 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 (4)
  1. $3.1 million spent. VENTURE RICHMOND MANAGES PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN SPECIAL SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND. TOTAL REVENUE FOR THE GENERAL SERVICE DISTRICT OF $2,423,756 REPRESENTS SUPPORT FROM THE SERVICE DISTRICTS. THE PROGRAM ALSO RECEIVED A $1,210,000 CLEAN, SAFE, AND GREEN MUNICIPAL GRANT PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF RICHMOND.
  2. $2.0 million spent. RICHMOND FOLK FESTIVAL - OVERSEE, PLAN, PRODUCE, MARKET & SPONSORSHIP OF RICHMOND FOLK FESTIVAL EVENT IN DOWNTOWN RICHMOND AS WELL AS THE FOLK FEAST. INCLUDED IN REVENUE IS SUPPORT FROM THE SERVICE DISTRICTS OF $200,000. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE REVENUE, THE PROGRAM RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE CITY ARTS & CULTURE OF $167,000 AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF $15,080.
  3. $1.3 million spent. VENTURE RICHMOND MANAGES AND MAINTAINS THE RIVERFRONT IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND; OPERATING RIVERFRONT CANAL CRUISES AND MAINTAINING THE CANAL WALK, BROWN'S ISLAND, AND BELLE ISLE PARKING LOT. MANAGES PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS FOR THE RIVERFRONT SPECIAL SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND. IN ADDITION TO THE REVENUE ABOVE, THE PROGRAM RECEIVED A $200,000 MUNICIPAL GRANT PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF RICHMOND. VENTURE RICHMOND, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND, HAS PLANS TO TRANSFORM BROWN'S ISLAND INTO A WORLD CLASS RIVERFRONT PARK WITH RESTROOMS, POTABLE WATER, ADA ACCESSIBILITY AND SO MUCH MORE. THE $30 MILLION PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED AS 50/50 PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF RICHMOND AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. VENTURE RICHMOND IS LEADING THE PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDRAISING THAT BEGAN IN 2024.
  4. $1.5 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.