Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Building Bridges Across the River

EIN 52-2013526 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER (BUILDING BRIDGES) SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES WHO RESIDE EAST OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER BY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND FISCAL OVERSIGHT OF THE TOWN HALL EDUCATION, ARTS & RECREATION CAMPUS ("THEARC") AND THE SKYLAND WORKFORCE CENTER. THROUGH A COLLABORATION OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, "THEARC" PROVIDES ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATIONAL, ARTS, HEALTH, CULTURAL, RECREATION, AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS.

Income
$19.3 million
Spending
$9.3 million
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
26.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
96
Volunteers
340
Highest pay
$376,339, 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% 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 16% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (9)
  1. $2.0 million spent. 11TH STREET BRIDGE PARK - THE 11TH STREET BRIDGE PARK IS A PROJECT OF BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER AND THE D.C. CITY GOVERNMENT, AND IS A ONE OF A KIND, COMMUNITY-LED INTERVENTION THAT SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER. AS THE OLD 11TH STREET RIVER BRIDGE THAT CONNECT WASHINGTON, DC'S CAPITOL HILL AND HISTORIC ANACOSTIA NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, PARTNERS WILL TRANSFORM THE AGED INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE CITY'S FIRST ELEVATED PARK: A NEW VENUE FOR HEALTHY RECREATION, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND THE ARTS.
  2. $654,223 spent. THE TOWN HALL EDUCATION, ARTS & RECREATION CAMPUS ("THEARC") IS A COMBINED CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES CAMPUS LOCATED IN THE 203,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY THAT IS HOME TO FOURTEEN NON-PROFIT AGENCIES. THE COLLABORATION OF THESE FOURTEEN AGENCIES PROVIDES ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, ARTS, HEALTH AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS. BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER ("BUILDING BRIDGES") IS A WARD 8 NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND FISCAL OVERSIGHT OF "THEARC."
  3. $386,743 spent. SKYLAND WORKFORCE - PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN ONE LOCATION, LEADING TO WORK-READY CANDIDATES, CAREER-FOCUSED JOB PLACEMENT, ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY, & IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE.
  4. $293,611 spent. FARM
  5. $229,095 spent. BLACK BOX
  6. $42,794 spent. CAPITAL
  7. $10,193 spent. BBAR BASKETBALL LEGUE (BBBL)
  8. $102,535 spent. CAMPAIGN
  9. ICAN

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 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 2024.

    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 June 1997.

    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.