Downtown Churches United Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Downtown Churches United , Inc. is a union of the faith community and other human services organizations responding to the essential needs of the Greater Petersburg Region by serving as a centeralized source of outreach services.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 5,124
- Highest pay
- $25,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 September 30, 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)
- $49,617 spent. Daily Noon Feeding Program - The Daily Noon Feeding Program provides a nutritious meal, often a hot meal, to homeless and food-insecure individuals in the community. Meals are served Monday through Friday and on the second and third Sundays of each month at the Hope Center. There are no eligibility requirements for participation other than being hungry, and individuals may receive meals as often as needed.The program is staffed by volunteer teams from member churches of Downtown Churches United, Inc. (DCU) and other community organizations. These volunteers purchase or donate food, prepare and serve meals, and clean the dining and kitchen areas following each meal service. DCU supports the program by providing the facility, paper and plastic products, serving utensils, cleaning supplies, and program oversight. A DCU Board member maintains records of participants and meals served to ensure accurate reporting.During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, the Daily Noon Feeding Program served 22,896 meals to individuals experiencing hunger and food insecurity. Program expenses totaled $6,115 and included feeding supplies and cleaning supplies.This program helps address food insecurity among some of the community's most vulnerable residents by providing consistent access to nutritious meals in a safe and welcoming environment.
- $1.1 million spent. Food Pantry - The Food Pantry provides groceries to residents of Petersburg, Virginia, and is open each Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Food is obtained through purchases from Feed More, Inc. and donations from numerous community partners, including Food Lion, Aldi, Walmart, Pepperidge Farm, Goya Foods, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Bon Secours Southside Medical Center, Virginia State University (Randolph Farm), the National Association of Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, Richard Bland College, and food drives conducted by local churches, civic organizations, and community groups. Volunteer drivers collect and transport donated food directly to the Hope Center.The Food Pantry is managed by a paid Pantry Manager and Pantry Assistant and relies extensively on volunteers from community organizations, local businesses, and individuals completing court-ordered community service. Volunteers assist with sorting, packaging, stocking, and distributing food to clients.Clients may receive food assistance once every 28 days and are interviewed and entered into Feed More's client database to ensure compliance with program guidelines. Homebound seniors receive food deliveries through a partnership with the Petersburg Sheriff's Department.During the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Downtown Churches United purchased 290,567 pounds of food from Feed More, Inc. at a cost of $18,190. Combined with donated food, the pantry provided food assistance to 21,583 individuals during the year.
- $44,815 spent. Utilities Assistance Program - The Utilities Assistance Program helps eligible residents of Petersburg, Virginia, avoid the disconnection of essential utility services, including electricity, natural gas, and, when appropriate, water and sewer service.Applicants must provide proof of Petersburg residency, a current utility termination or disconnect notice, and a copy of the past-due bill. Assistance is limited to $150 per household per calendar year. If the outstanding balance exceeds $150, applicants must secure the remaining funds from other sources and provide proof of payment before assistance is issued. Payments are made directly to the utility provider.The program operates on the same schedule as the Food Pantry, serving clients on Tuesdays and Thursdays. During the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, the program provided utility assistance to 342 households, with total program expenditures of $44,815.
- Downtown Churches United also operates a small clothes closet stocked with lightly used clothes and household items donated from various sources, including Aldi stores. Clients are allowe two to three items during their daily visits to the lunchtime feeding program.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.