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Wheat Ridge 2020 Inc

EIN 56-2550132 · Wheat Ridge, CO

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

WHEAT RIDGE 2020, INC. DBA LOCALWORKS ADVANCES WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO, AS A VIBRANT AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY. LOCALWORKS FOCUSES ON PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT ENHANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ARTS AND CULTURE.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$936,403
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
10.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 48%
Employees
7
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$105,676, executive director

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 81% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $302,300 spent. SPECIAL EVENTS, BUSINESS PROMOTION, BUSINESS STABILITYDESCRIPTION: LOCALWORKS PROVIDED THREE LARGE COMMUNITY EVENTS, THE 38TH AVENUE BUSINESS BLOCK PARTY, RIDGEFEST AND THE MID-CENTURY AND MODERN HOME TOUR. LOCALWORKS ALSO PROVIDED BUILDING UP BUSINESS LOANS, SUPPORTING LOCAL WHEAT RIDGE BUSINESSES WITH BOTH BRICK AND MORTAR IMPROVEMENTS AND INTERNAL PROCESSING IMPROVEMENTS. LOCALWORKS ALSO HOSTED A GOLF TOURNAMENT IN SEPTEMBER, OVER $18,480 WAS RAISED TO SUPPORT THE LOCALWORKS MISSION.
  2. $52,338 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PROMOTION OF VOLUNTEERISM AND CLEANER COMMUNITIESDESCRIPTION: LOCALWORKS PROVIDES BLOCK PARTY GRANTS, A BLOCK PARTY LIBRARY HOUSED WITH EQUIPMENT FOR WHEAT RIDGE RESIDENTS TO CHECK OUT FOR FREE, TLC CLEAN UP DAYS, NEIGHBORHOOD DUMPSTER GRANTS AND 10 LIVE LOCAL EVENTS PROMOTE COMMUNITY, ENGAGEMENT, VOLUNTEERISM, WHILE PROMOTING CLEANER AND SAFER COMMUNITIES. THERE WERE 15 NEIGHBORHOOD DUMPSTER GRANTS THAT NEIGHBORS GATHERED AND FILLED DUMPSTERS WITH DEBRIS AND JUNK, COMING TOGETHER AND BEAUTIFYING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE WERE FOUR TLC DUMPSTER DAYS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 15 BLOCK PARTY GRANTS UP TO $150 EACH TO PROMOTE NEIGHBORS TO GATHER TOGETHER TO BETTER RETAIN RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE. LOCALWORKS ALSO HOSTED 10 LIVE LOCAL EVENTS, GETTING RESIDENTS INSIDE OF LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SHOP AND LIVE LOCAL.
  3. $321,599 spent. MAKERSPACEDESCRIPTION: LOCALWORKS OPERATED FOR A FULL 365 DAYS CLEAR CREEK MAKERSPACE, A 7500 SQUARE FOOT SPACE DONATED BY THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE. THE SPACE INCLUDES A FABRICATION SHOP, WOODSHOP AND METAL SHOP. THE MAKERSPACE RUNS ON A PAID MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE, BUT OFFERS MANY FREE CLASSES TO THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS AND HOSTS COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE MAKERSPACE RECEIVED A $200,000 GRANT IN CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING, $100,000 TO GO TO PROGRAMMING SUPPORT, INCLUDING STAFF SUPPORT, AS WELL AS $100,000 GOING TO EQUIPMENT UPGRADES. THE MAKERSPACE ALSO BEGAN AN 800 AMP POWER UPGRADE IN Q4 OF 2025 TO HOUSE NEW, STRONGER EQUIPMENT AND PREPARE FOR AN EXPANSION. A SMALL PORTION OF EXPENSES WERE INCURRED IN THE 2025 YEAR FOR THIS 800 AMP POWER UPGRADE THAT WAS COMPLETED AT THE END OF FEBRUARY 2026.

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 March 2008.

    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.