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Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance

EIN 58-2675553 · Harrisonburg, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HDR IS A DESIGNATED MAIN STREET AMERICA COMMUNITY AND RECEIVED ITS ANNUAL ACCREDITATION FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND MAIN STREET AMERICA. THE NONPROFIT IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT IS FOCUSED ON THE ON-GOING REVITALIZATION OF HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HARRISONBURG (VA). ITS MISSION IS TO BUILD DOWNTOWN HARRISONBURG AS A DESTINATION WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE AND PEOPLE ENJOY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES. IT MEETS ITS MISSION WITH SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY FESTIVALS & EVENTS, DESTINATION MARKETING, PLACEMAKING AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS, AND PROMOTING HISTORIC PRESERVATION. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2003, THERE HAS BEEN OVER $150M IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN DOWNTOWN, OVER $26M IN PUBLIC INVESTMENT, OVER 122,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS CONTRIBUTED TO OUR WORK, $61M IN HISTORIC TAX CREDIT PROJECTS. ITS WORK BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR COMMUNITY COHESIION AND PRIDE, BOOSTS THE TAX BASE, ATTRACTS INVESTMENT AND CUSTOMERS.

Income
$821,146
Spending
$879,834
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
13.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 34%
Employees
8
Volunteers
73
Highest pay
$89,189, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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, 2024, 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. $174,534 spent. HDR USES DESTINATION MARKETING STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND ATTRACTIONS AND AMENITIES TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS. THIS HELPS US ATTRACT NEW AND RETURNING CUSTOMERS TO THE DISTRICT, TALENT FOR AREA EMPLOYERS, STUDENTS AND FACULTY TO HARRISONBURG UNIVERSITIES, AND TOURISTS. IN 2024, HDR LED MULTIPLE MULTIMEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE THE DISTRICT IN GENERAL, WEEKLY EVENTS, RESTAURANT MONTH, HOLIDAY SHOPPING, AND COMMUNITY FESTIVALS. WE PARTICIPATE IN A WEEKLY WSVA TALK RADIO SPOT TO PROMOTE WEEKEND ACTIVITIES DOWNTOWN. OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY GUIDE WAS MAILED TO OVER 14,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE AREA, AND OUR DINING GUIDE REACHED OVER 12,000 HOUSEHOLDS. HDR ALSO LAUNCHED ITS HBURG HOUNDS PROGRAM TARGETED MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO DOG OWNERS SEEKING PLACES WHERE THEY CAN SHOP AND DINE WITH THEIR PUPS TO BOOST BUSINESS. PLACERAI DATA SHOWS THAT DOWNTOWN HARRISONBURG HAD A 4.1M VISIT COUNT FOR THE YEAR.
  2. $227,340 spent. HDR SPECIALIZES IN PEOPLE-BASED AND PLACED-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. OUR STRATEGIES FOCUS ON MATCHING ENTREPRENEURS WITH VACANCIES AND STRENGTHENING EXISTING BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN ATTRACT CUSTOMERS AND GROW THEIR BOTTOM LINES. OUR WORK CREATES AND RETAINS JOBS, CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS, AS WELL AS BOOSTS THE CITY'S TAX BASE. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE GRANTS, CUSTOMIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PLACEMAKING, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES. BY THE END OF 2024, DOWNTOWN CONTINUED TO ENJOY ITS LOWEST VACANCY RATE SINCE HDR GOT STARTED. DOWNTOWN SAW $6.4M IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND $668,000 IN PUBLIC INVESTMENT. SINCE 2020, HDR HAS PROVIDED OVER $324,000 IN GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. IN 2024, WE PROVIDED $125,800 IN GRANTS AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE THROUGH OUR BRICKS & CLICKS PROGRAM THAT WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY A $100,000 VIRGINIA MAIN STREET RESURGENCE GRANT. IT ALLOWED US TO OFFER THREE $10,000 GRANTS TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO FILL THREE VACANCIES. WE PROVIDED ALMOST $5000 IN COMMERCIAL COMPOSTING GRANTS. WE ALSO DESIGNED A NEW DOWNTOWN POCKET PARK AND SECURED A $75,000 GRANT TO SEED ITS CONSTRUCTION IN ORDER TO CREATE ANOTHER ATTRACTION TO BRING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. WE COMPLETED ANOTHER EYE-CATCHING BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT BY WORKING WITH THE CITY TO FUND ARTIST STIPENDS AND VINYL WRAPS FOR 10 TRAFFIC CABINETS AROUND THE DISTRICT.
  3. $194,485 spent. HDR PRODUCES FREE PUBLIC EVENTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY, ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS, ATTRACT TOURISTS, BOOST FOOT TRAFFIC AND EXPOSURE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, GENERATE TAX REVENUE AND SALES AT BUSINESSES, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY PRIDE AND COHESION THROUGH TOGETHERNESS. ANNUAL EVENTS INCLUDE DOWNTOWN HAPPY HOUR, A CHARCUETERIE BOARD WORKSHOP, BESTWEEKENDEVER, INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS, BLOCK PARTY IN THE BURG, SKELETON FEST, VETERANS PARADE, AND WINTER WONDERFEST. WE ALSO HOSTED 10 FREE COMMUNITY CONCERTS THANKS TO A $30,000 GRANT FROM THE LEVITT FOUNDATION AND SPONSOR SUPPORT. THE FIRST CONCERT IN JULY WAS PAIRED WITH INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS. WE STRIVE TO MAKE OUR EVENTS WELCOMING TO ALL BY SELECTING BANDS THAT REPRESENT DIVERSE MUSICAL GENRES AND CULTURES AND BY TRANSLATING OUR EVENT POSTERS INTO MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. WE HOSTED OUR FIRST LOW-SENSORY PROGRAMMING DURING SKELETONFEST WITH SPECIAL TRICK OR TREATING AND ACTIVITIES IN CALM SPACES SO ALL FAMILIES COULD ATTEND. BESTWEEKENDEVER SAW MORE THAN 4000 ADDITIONAL ATTENDEES THAN IN PAST YEARS AND FEATURED A DOWNTOWN WIDE PUTT PUTT COURSE. OUR OUTDOOR STREET FESTIVALS ENCOURAGED PARTICIPANTS TO CIRCULATE THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN TO DISCOVER BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT DURING THE EVENT AND TO VISIT ON RETURN VISITS AND TO ENJOY FREE ENTERTAINMENT IN THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY. TOTAL ATTENDANCE FOR HDR'S 25 EVENTS THIS YEAR EXCEEDED 97,000 PEOPLE. OUR EVENTS WERE SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED OVER 7,200 HOURS, WHICH HAS A MARKET VALUE OF $241,000.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.