New Town Macon Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
INVEST TIME, RESOURCES, AND MONEY IN LOCAL PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN MACON.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 44%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 208
- Highest pay
- $377,825, president &
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 51% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 95% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 27 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (5)
- $1.9 million spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (CDFI): NEWTOWN MACON, THROUGH ITS SUBSIDIARY NEWTOWN LOANS, LLC, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AS A CDFI. THE CDFI FACILITATES THE LARGER STRATEGY OF INCREASING DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS BY FUNDING LOFT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE REAL ESTATE LOAN FUND AND GROWING JOBS BY PROVIDING CAPITAL AND MENTORING TO ENTREPRENEURS. THE REAL ESTATE LOAN FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MACON- BIBB URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND MACON-BIBB COUNTY. THE BOND FUNDS ARE USED IN VIABLE RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN SOURCES OF FUNDS (INCLUDING OWNER EQUITY, TRADITIONAL FINANCING AND HISTORIC TAX CREDITS) AND THE ACTUAL COST TO REHABILITATE OR BUILD REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS DOWNTOWN. AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE CDFI HAD 14.1 MILLION OF LOANS IN SERVICE ON PROJECTS. IN TOTAL, THE CDFL'S REAL ESTATE LOANS PRODUCED PROJECTS WITH MARKET VALUES OF 212.2 MILLION, THAT ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE 298 RESIDENTIAL LOFTS AND REHABILITATE 44,309 SQUARE FEET OF UNDERUTILIZED BUILDINGS AND CREATE OVER 200,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE OFFER A VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND DEVELOPERS INCLUDING SHEPHERDING APPLICANTS THROUGH THE PERMIT PROCESS, ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP COUNSELING, AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL THROUGH LOANS, EQUITY INVESTMENTS AND JOINT VENTURES. OUR STAFF SERVED OVER 600 INDIVIDUAL ENTREPRENEURS DURING THE YEAR THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP TRAINING PROGRAMS. IN TOTAL BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE CDFI HAD CLOSED 8 BUSINESS LOANS, FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 153,000. THESE SERVICES ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO DOWNTOWN, VERIFIED BY A TOTAL OF 20 NET NEW BUSINESSES OPENING IN DOWNTOWN MACON DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (CDFI): NEWTOWN MACON, THROUGH ITS SUBSIDIARY NEWTOWN LOANS, LLC, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY AS A CDFI. THE CDFI FACILITATES THE LARGER STRATEGY OF INCREASING DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS BY FUNDING LOFT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE REAL ESTATE LOAN FUND AND GROWING JOBS BY PROVIDING CAPITAL AND MENTORING TO ENTREPRENEURS. THE REAL ESTATE LOAN FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MACON- BIBB URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND MACON-BIBB COUNTY. THE BOND FUNDS ARE USED IN VIABLE RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN SOURCES OF FUNDS (INCLUDING OWNER EQUITY, TRADITIONAL FINANCING AND HISTORIC TAX CREDITS) AND THE ACTUAL COST TO REHABILITATE OR BUILD REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS DOWNTOWN. AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE CDFI HAD 14.1 MILLION OF LOANS IN SERVICE ON PROJECTS. IN TOTAL, THE CDFL'S REAL ESTATE LOANS PRODUCED PROJECTS WITH MARKET VALUES OF 212.2 MILLION, THAT ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE 298 RESIDENTIAL LOFTS AND REHABILITATE 44,309 SQUARE FEET OF UNDERUTILIZED BUILDINGS AND CREATE OVER 200,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE OFFER A VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND DEVELOPERS INCLUDING SHEPHERDING APPLICANTS THROUGH THE PERMIT PROCESS, ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP COUNSELING, AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL THROUGH LOANS, EQUITY INVESTMENTS AND JOINT VENTURES. OUR STAFF SERVED OVER 600 INDIVIDUAL ENTREPRENEURS DURING THE YEAR THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP TRAINING PROGRAMS. IN TOTAL BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE CDFI HAD CLOSED 8 BUSINESS LOANS, FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 153,000. THESE SERVICES ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO DOWNTOWN, VERIFIED BY A TOTAL OF 20 NET NEW BUSINESSES OPENING IN DOWNTOWN MACON DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.
- $951,070 spent. CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE: A DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOOD IS BOTH LIVABLE AND WALKABLE, SO NEWTOWN MACON IS PROMOTING THE DOWNTOWN LIFESTYLE AND PROVIDING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. NEWTOWN PROMOTES A SENSE OF PLACE BY MANAGING FIRST FRIDAY EVENTS AND THE MACON CHRISTMAS LIGHT EXTRAVAGANZA, BEAUTIFYING THE STREETS, PROMOTING DOWNTOWN EVENTS, AND PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OCMULGEE HERITAGE TRAIL. NEWTOWN MACON ALSO PROMOTES DOWNTOWN LIVING THROUGH MARKETING AND BRANDING. THROUGH THESE STRATEGIES, DOWNTOWN MACON IS ATTRACTING NEW RESIDENTS. WE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL OF 85% OCCUPANCY WITH 91 % OF THE LOFTS OCCUPIED AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
- $181,427 spent. THE OCMULGEE HERITAGE TRAIL (OHT): OHT CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN FOCUSES AS A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. NEWTOWN MACON RUNS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PLAN AND MANAGE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE TRAIL SYSTEM AND RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS TO ENABLE THESE IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH THE OHT CONSTRUCTION FUND. ONCE IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMPLETE, NEWTOWN TURNS THE IMPROVEMENTS OVER TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO RUN AS PUBLIC PARK SPACE IN PERPETUITY. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED THE DESIGN, FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF A MASTER SIGNAGE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE EXISTING TRAIL SYSTEM. WE ALSO COMPLETED A BRIDGE INSTALLATION AND TRAIL EXTENSION PROJECT IN RIVERSIDE CEMETERY. THE COMMITTEE COMPLETED A NEW TURNAROUND IN THE AMERSON NORTH PARKING AREA TO IMPROVE RECREATIONAL AND BOATING ACCESS TO THE OCMULGEE RIVER AND TRAIL NETWORK. THE OCMULGEE HERITAGE TRAIL (OHT): OHT CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN FOCUSES AS A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. NEWTOWN MACON RUNS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PLAN AND MANAGE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE TRAIL SYSTEM AND RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS TO ENABLE THESE IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH THE OHT CONSTRUCTION FUND. ONCE IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMPLETE, NEWTOWN TURNS THE IMPROVEMENTS OVER TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO RUN AS PUBLIC PARK SPACE IN PERPETUITY. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED THE DESIGN, FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF A MASTER SIGNAGE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE EXISTING TRAIL SYSTEM. WE ALSO COMPLETED A BRIDGE INSTALLATION AND TRAIL EXTENSION PROJECT IN RIVERSIDE CEMETERY. THE COMMITTEE COMPLETED A NEW TURNAROUND IN THE AMERSON NORTH PARKING AREA TO IMPROVE RECREATIONAL AND BOATING ACCESS TO THE OCMULGEE RIVER AND TRAIL NETWORK.
- $374,104 spent. GROWING JOBS AND INCREASING RESIDENTS: ONE OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE WAYS NEWTOWN MACON IS CHANGING DOWNTOWN IS BY TURNING VACANT, DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS INTO BEAUTIFUL, USEFUL SPACES. NEWTOWN IS GROWING JOBS AND INCREASING RESIDENTS BY PROTECTING ENDANGERED BUILDINGS THROUGH THE TRANSITIONAL PROPERTY FUND (TPF). THIS FUND ALLOWS A BUILDING OWNER TO DONATE OR PARTIALLY DONATE A BUILDING TO NEWTOWN, AND NEWTOWN MATCHES THE BUILDING TO CAPABLE DEVELOPERS. THE TPF TRANSFERRED ONE PROPERTY AT 167 RIVERSIDE DRIVE FOR AS PART OF A PARCEL ASSEMBLAGE FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF MERCER UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE. ONE PROPERTY PREVIOUSLY HELD BY THE TPF REMAINED IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR: 442 SECOND STREET, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE APPROPRIATE DEVELOPER. THE TPF CONTINUED TO INDEPENDENTLY OWN AND REHABILITATE 455 THIRD ST., A HISTORIC THEATRE. ONE PREVIOUSLY- REHABILITATED TPF PROJECT, A BOUTIQUE HOTEL AT 350 SECOND STREET, WAS SOLD TO ANOTHER OWNER AND REMAINS IN OPERATION AS A HOTEL. PREVIOUS TPF PROJECTS INCLUDE: 596 CHERRY ST. (CLISBY LOFTS), 536 THIRD ST. (LEE LOFTS), 518-530 CHERRY ST. (TRAVIS JEAN), 552-580 CHERRY ST. (LAMAR LOFTS), 566 POPLAR ST., 546 POPLAR ST., 350 SECOND ST. (CAPITOL), 555 POPLAR ST., 454 TERMINAL AVE., 360 SIXTH ST., RIVERSIDE DR. ASSEMBLAGE, 300 CHERRY ST. (SPORTS HALL) AND , 7 45 POPLAR ST. (SHRINE TEMPLE) AND 540 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BLVD. (MERCER MUSIC AT CAPRICORN).
- GROWING JOBS AND INCREASING RESIDENTS: ONE OF THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE WAYS NEWTOWN MACON IS CHANGING DOWNTOWN IS BY TURNING VACANT, DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS INTO BEAUTIFUL, USEFUL SPACES. NEWTOWN IS GROWING JOBS AND INCREASING RESIDENTS BY PROTECTING ENDANGERED BUILDINGS THROUGH THE TRANSITIONAL PROPERTY FUND (TPF). THIS FUND ALLOWS A BUILDING OWNER TO DONATE OR PARTIALLY DONATE A BUILDING TO NEWTOWN, AND NEWTOWN MATCHES THE BUILDING TO CAPABLE DEVELOPERS. THE TPF TRANSFERRED ONE PROPERTY AT 167 RIVERSIDE DRIVE FOR AS PART OF A PARCEL ASSEMBLAGE FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF MERCER UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE. ONE PROPERTY PREVIOUSLY HELD BY THE TPF REMAINED IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR: 442 SECOND STREET, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE APPROPRIATE DEVELOPER. THE TPF CONTINUED TO INDEPENDENTLY OWN AND REHABILITATE 455 THIRD ST., A HISTORIC THEATRE. ONE PREVIOUSLY- REHABILITATED TPF PROJECT, A BOUTIQUE HOTEL AT 350 SECOND STREET, WAS SOLD TO ANOTHER OWNER AND REMAINS IN OPERATION AS A HOTEL. PREVIOUS TPF PROJECTS INCLUDE: 596 CHERRY ST. (CLISBY LOFTS), 536 THIRD ST. (LEE LOFTS), 518-530 CHERRY ST. (TRAVIS JEAN), 552-580 CHERRY ST. (LAMAR LOFTS), 566 POPLAR ST., 546 POPLAR ST., 350 SECOND ST. (CAPITOL), 555 POPLAR ST., 454 TERMINAL AVE., 360 SIXTH ST., RIVERSIDE DR. ASSEMBLAGE, 300 CHERRY ST. (SPORTS HALL) AND , 7 45 POPLAR ST. (SHRINE TEMPLE) AND 540 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BLVD. (MERCER MUSIC AT CAPRICORN).
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 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 May 1998.
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.