Downtown Raleigh Alliance
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
ADVANCING THE VITALITY OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH FOR EVERYONE.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 36
- Highest pay
- $196,500, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- THE DOWNTOWN RALEIGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SAFETY, AND SOCIAL SERVICES OUTREACH PROGRAM FOSTERS A WELCOMING AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN DOWNTOWN THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF SAFETY AMBASSADORS WHO PATROL THE PUBLIC REALM WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISTRICT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. THE SAFETY AMBASSADORS ALSO PROVIDE A STRONG, UNIFORMED PRESENCE, ENHANCING THE SENSE OF SAFETY WITH THEIR PATROLS OF THE MUNICIPALLY-OWNED PARKING DECKS AND LOTS. CLAD IN HIGHLY VISIBLE BLUE UNIFORMS AND EQUIPPED WITH HAND-HELD RADIOS, THE SAFETY AMBASSADORS SERVE AS SUPPLEMENTARY "EYES AND EARS" FOR THE DOWNTOWN DIVISION OF THE RALEIGH POLICE DEPARTMENT.IN ADDITION, THE AMBASSADOR TEAM CONTINUES TO INCREASE INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ONGOING INFORMATIONAL AND SAFETY PRESENTATIONS FOR BUSINESSES AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, PREPARING NEW EMPLOYEES MOVING INTO DOWNTOWN RALEIGH, AND HOLDING MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THE RALEIGH POLICE DISTRICT CAPTAIN TO STRATEGIZE WAYS TO LOWER CRIME. THIS PROACTIVE APPROACH HELPS BUILD TRUST AND COLLABORATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.THE DOWNTOWN AMBASSADORS PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:BUSINESS CHECK-INSHOT SPOT CHECKSSAFE WALKSHOSPITALITY ASSISTANCE (INCLUDING DINING RECOMMENDATIONS, DIRECTIONS, AND MOTORIST ASSISTANCE)DIRECTIONSMOTORIST ASSISTSSAFETY AMBASSADORS DECK PATROLS
- THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THE STOREFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ARE TO CONTRIBUTE TO DOWNTOWN RALEIGH'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS BY ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES TO VACANT STOREFRONTS, PROVIDING MARKET DATA TO ATTRACT NEW INVESTMENT AND EMPLOYERS, AND OFFERING NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO A DIVERSE SET OF BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS. DRA MONITORS PEDESTRIAN COUNTERS IN DOWNTOWN TO MEASURE FOOT TRAFFIC, HELPING TO ATTRACT TENANTS AND AID LAND USE DECISIONS. DRA CONTINUED ITS UPFIT GRANT WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING AN INCENTIVE TO ATTRACT NEW RETAIL OR AID IN THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING RETAIL IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF RALEIGH, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF ACTIVELY WORKS WITH RETAIL BROKERS AND LANDLORDS TO FILL STOREFRONT SPACES IN DOWNTOWN WHICH ADDS NEW JOBS AND EXPANDS TAX REVENUES. DRA CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH WAKE TECH TO PROVIDE POP-UP SPACE FOR MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED RETAIL BUSINESSES. THE ECONOMIC DATA AND ANALYSIS TRACKED EACH YEAR IS TRANSLATED INTO DRA'S STATE OF DOWNTOWN REPORT. THE REPORT INCLUDES MARKET TRENDS, POPULATION DATA AND PROJECTIONS, DATA ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, AND OVERVIEWS OF EVERYTHING DOWNTOWN. THE REPORT COMPLEMENTS OUR STATE OF DOWNTOWN ANNUAL EVENT, ATTENDED BY DOWNTOWN'S TOP BUSINESS LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.DRA ALSO CONDUCTS PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY IN DOWNTOWN RELATED TO BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, TRANSIT, AND PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE. DRA PROVIDED COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SUPPORT FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY, CHANGES TO DOWNTOWN PARKING, AND ADVOCACY FOR NEW BIKE LANES IN DOWNTOWN.DOWNTOWN RALEIGH ALLIANCE'S MARKETING EFFORTS SHARE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, BRING VISIBILITY TO THE ORGANIZATION AND THE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY, AND POSITION DOWNTOWN RALEIGH AS A VIBRANT CITY CENTER.DRA'S COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROGRAM WEBSITES, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS INCLUDING FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, X, AND LINKEDIN.MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, INCLUDING BLOGS TO HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL AND AFFINITY CELEBRATIONS SUCH AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, RETAIL PROMOTIONS SUCH AS RESTAURANT WEEK AND HOLIDAY HUB, AND EVENT-SPECIFIC PROMOTIONS FOR FIRST FRIDAY, ILLUMINATE ART WALK, LIVE AFTER 5, AND OTHERS GARNERED NEARLY 1 MILLION IMPRESSIONS ACROSS CHANNELS.
- THE BALANCED ACTIVATIONS PROGRAM SERVES AS THE FACE OF THE ORGANIZATION TO THE COMMUNITY. LIVE AFTER 5 IS A SUMMER CONCERT SERIES THAT TAKES PLACE ON THE LAST WEDNESDAYS OF THE MONTH FROM MAY TO AUGUST. THIS MUSIC SERIES ALSO BRINGS FOOT TRAFFIC TO DOWNTOWN RESTAURANTS MID-WEEK AND ENCOURAGES DOWNTOWN OFFICE WORKERS TO STAY AFTER WORK FOR A FUN EVENING.OTHER ACTIVATIONS AROUND DOWNTOWN, SUCH AS THE FEMINIST FIRST FRIDAY, ILLUMINATE ART WALK EVENTS, AND JAZZ IN THE SQUARE, ALSO DREW HEIGHTENED ATTENTION AND INTEREST FROM THE COMMUNITY.
- THE BEAUTIFICATION AND CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM PROVIDES PUBLIC ART AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS SUCH AS MURALS, ALONG WITH INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY AND CONNECTIVITY IN DOWNTOWN, RELATED TO BICYCLE, PEDESTRIAN, AND PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE ADVOCACY & SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM IS TO BRING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS AND MEMBERS THAT SUPPORT DRA'S MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISTRICT TO COLLABORATE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY. DRA BRINGS THESE GROUPS TOGETHER THROUGH TOWN HALL MEETINGS, LARGE CORPORATE EVENTS, AND BY PROVIDING STRATEGIC RESOURCES TO ENCOURAGE GROWTH IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.