Downtown Community Benefit District
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE LEAD THE WAY IN BUILDING A THRIVING DOWNTOWN WHERE BUSINESS GETS DONE, PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, COME TO EXPLORE, AND MAKE MEMORIES.
- Income
- $5.8 million
- Spending
- $6.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 7.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 83%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $275,628, president & ceo
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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or 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 (2)
- $3.8 million spent. CLEANING SERVICES - CLEANING SERVICES ARE OFFERED DAILY FROM 6 AM - 8 PM. CLEANING AMBASSADORS PERFORM PAN AND BROOM SIDEWALK SWEEPS, REMOVE TRASH AND DEBRIS, SCRUB AND CLEAN SPILLS, REMOVE GRAFFITI, CLEAN HAZARDOUS WASTE, AND POWER WASH SIDEWALKS.SAFETY SERVICES - SAFETY AMBASSADORS ARE VISIBLE AND ENGAGED MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WHO PRIMARILY OBSERVE, ADVISE, AND REPORT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT AND JACKSON SQUARE. THEY OPERATE 6 AM - 8 PM DAILY. DCBD ALSO FUNDS AN OUTREACH WORKER THROUGH A NON-PROFIT PARTNER TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ON THE STREETS.MOBILITY MANAGEMENT - DCBD PARTNERS WITH THE CITY AND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES TO ADVOCATE FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL OFFICERS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND MICRO MOBILITY PROJECTS AND RIDERSHIP USAGE.
- $709,452 spent. PUBLIC REALM & BEAUTIFICATION - DCBD HAS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC REALM ACTION PLAN TO REIMAGINE DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO WITH CONCEPTS AND STRATEGIES TO CREATE NEW PUBLIC SPACES AND REVITALIZE EXISTING SPACES AND ALLEYS WITH MURALS, LIGHTING, GREENING, SEATING, AND ON-GOING ACTIVATION AND EVENTS.MARKETING & PROMOTION - DCBD MANAGES A WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, AND PUBLISHES A REGULAR E-NEWSLETTER TO ENGAGE WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS, BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND VISITORS.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - DCBD TRACKS GROUND FLOOR VACANCIES AND PROVIDES DISTRICT DATA TO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS. THESE TOOLS ARE USED TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES TO DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO. DCBD MAY ALSO PROVIDE MICRO GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
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 January 2020.
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.