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Federal City Council

EIN 53-0219643 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE FEDERAL CITY COUNCIL IS TO FOCUS THE CREATIVITY, TALENT AND RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON DC'S BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS ON WASHINGTON, DC'S BIGGEST CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
20
Volunteers
59
Highest pay
$420,412, ceo & executive 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

Weak: 40 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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.

  • 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

    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 (1)
  1. $2.6 million spent. FEDERAL CITY COUNCIL (FC2) WAS ORGANIZED IN 1954 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING WASHINGTON, DC BY SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR PROGRESS. THE COUNCIL FOCUSES THE CREATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE TALENTS OF THE DISTRICT'S BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LEADERS ON SOLVING THE MAJOR PROBLEMS FACING METROPOLITAN DC. SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR PROGRESS, THE FC2 FOCUSES THE TALENTS OF ITS TRUSTEESMANY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.'S MOST RESPECTED BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LEADERSON MAJOR INITIATIVES AND CIVIC PROJECTS TO ENHANCE THE VITALITY AND RESILIENCY OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL. WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INSTITUTIONS, THE FC2 DELIVERS INNOVATIVE, ACHIEVABLE SOLUTIONS TO DEEPLY EMBEDDED CHALLENGES.AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMY, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE - ADVANCING METRO AND TRANSIT INNOVATIONS. D.C. NEEDS A FUNCTIONAL, RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND IMPROVING METRO IS CRITICAL IN ACHIEVING THIS GOAL. IN AN EFFORT TO REBUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE, METRO WILL EMBRACE INNOVATION AND COMPETITION TO IMPROVE ITS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. THEREFORE, CITY AND REGIONAL LEADERS MUST PUT ASIDE TRADITIONAL, PAROCHIAL INTERESTS AND APPROACHES TO WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE BEST PRACTICES FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE.ECONOMY - PRIORITIZING ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND FISCAL RESILIENCY. D.C.'S FISCAL AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS IS EXTRAORDINARY, BUT IT IS ALSO DELICATE AND EASILY REVERSIBLE, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR REGION AND FEDERAL INFLUENCE OVER OUR ECONOMY. D.C. MUST PRIORITIZE ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION, INNOVATION, AND SENSIBLE PUBLIC POLICY TO MAINTAIN ITS POSITIVE TRAJECTORY.EDUCATION - A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE. WITH ONE OF THE FASTEST IMPROVING URBAN SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY THE DISTRICT HAS MUCH TO CELEBRATE. THE FC2 CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE THE INGREDIENTS OF SUCCESS, EMPHASIZED WITHIN DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP, HUMAN CAPITAL, ACCOUNTABILITY, EQUITABLE AND SUFFICIENT FUNDING, AND A FOCUS ON OUR PERSISTENT ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS - ACTIVATING CUTTING-EDGE INITIATIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THE FC2'S MOST COMPLEX PROBLEMS REQUIRE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE FC2 IS A TRUSTED PARTNER AS IT FACILITATES THESE PARTNERSHIPS TO BENEFIT D.C. RESIDENTS, WHETHER THROUGH THE WASHINGTON HOUSING INITIATIVE OR THE LANGSTON INITIATIVE.

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 October 1959.

    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.