Charleston Regional Development Alliance
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE CHARLESTON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (CRDA) WAS INCORPORATED ON FEBRUARY 8, 1995 AS A PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED AND LED BY THE REGION'S MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS LEADERS, THREE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, LARGEST MUNICIPALITIES, AND TOP ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 120
- Highest pay
- $433,855, 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 (1)
- $3.9 million spent. CRDA IS AN ALLIANCE OF BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND HIGHER EDUCATION WORKING TOGETHER TO DRIVE A STRONG, SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY IN THE CHARLESTON REGION. OUR EFFORTS INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ATTRACT THE WORLD'S BEST COMPANIES, TALENT AND ENTREPRENEURS TO THE GREATER CHARLESTON AREA. WE ALSO FACILITATE THE SITE SELECTION PROCESS FOR COMPANIES CONSIDRING OUR MARKET FOR COMPETITIVE EXPANION OR LOCATION INVESTMENTS. DURING FY24-25, CRDA CONTINUED OUR GLOABLLY FOCUSED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SC DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND OTHER KEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS BY THE REGION'S MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS LEADERS, THREE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, LARGEST MUNICIPALIES, AND TOP ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. OF THE COMPANIES CONSIDERING OUR REGION FOR COMPETITIVE INVESTMENTS, FIVE MADE FORMAL COMMITMENTS FOR THE CHARLESTON REGION, INCLUDING FOUR WITH AN INNOVATION-RELATED FOCUS. THESE PROJECTS WILL GENERATE $210 MILLION ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE REGION AND GENERATE OVER 534 JOBS WITH WAGES THAT EXCEED THE REGION'S MEDIAN SALARIES. IN ADDITION TO THESE PROJECT WINS, CRDA STAFF ASSISTS OUR MUNICIPAL AND INVESTOR PARTNERS WITH THEIR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GOALS THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF 340 RESEARCH PROJECTS THIS FISCAL YEAR. COLLECTIVELY, THIS FOCUS HAS PROPELLED CHARLESTON INTO A RANKING OF THE 34TH MOST INNOVATOR METRO AREA IN THE UNITED STATES. TO HELP CATALYZE CHARLESTON'S NEXT WAVE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CRDA WORKED WITH NUMEROUS STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE A 5 YEAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY PRIORITIZING INNOVATION FOR OUR REGION. OTHER KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDING BEING A CATALYST FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE REGION (FOR BOTH EXTERNAL AND IN-MARKET) CANDIDATES THROUGH SUCH TOOLS AS OUR GETRO JOB PLATFORM, WHICH RANKS IN THE TOP 15% OF ALL USER PLATFORMS NATIONWIDE AND FUNNELED OVER 5,700 QUALIFED CANDIDATES TO REGIONAL COMPANIES. WE HAVE ALSO CONTINUED TO SPONSOR AND PROGRAM THE CHARLESTON INTERN NETWORK SERIES TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT TOP TALENT IN THE REGION. IN LINE WITH OUR INNOVATION FOCUS, STAFF COMPLETED AND PUBLISHED A REIGONAL INNOVATION SCORECARD, WHICH COMPARES OUR REGION AGAINST 5 KEY MARKETS ALONG MULTIPLE DATA POINTS.
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 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1996.
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 October 21, 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.