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Downtown Partnership

EIN 71-0602465 · Little Rock, AR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP BY ADDRESSING OR ADVOCATING FOR PLANNING, LEGISLATION, TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NUMEROUS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INITIATIVES. THESE INITIATIVES SERVE TO STRENGTHEN THE OVERALL DOWNTOWN BUSINESS, CULTURAL, ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATIONAL, AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES AND TO ENHANCE THE IMAGE OF DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK.

Income
$818,768
Spending
$841,283
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 48%
Employees
5
Volunteers
325
Highest pay
$176,418, 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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    70 of 70 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $583,762 spent. DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT - TO STIMULATE AND ENCOURAGE THE MODERNIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, AR, IN ORDER TO PREVENT URBAN BLIGHT AND DECAY, REDUCE UNSAFE AND UNSANITARY CONDITIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE COMPANY CREATED A MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE TO ASSIST WITH 'TURNING THE CORNER ON MAIN STREET'. THE COMMITTEE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK IN THE REVITALIZATION EFFORTS. EARLY SUCCESSES HAVE INCLUDED THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF RENOVATIONS TO THE BUILDING AT 315 MAIN STREET FOR A JAZZ CAFE AND BAR, AND APARTMENTS, A SECURITY CAMERA AT THE CORNER OF 3RD AND MAIN, AND THE COMPLETION OF STREETSCAPE ALTERATIONS AT THE REPERTORY THEATRE.LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND FUNDRAISING ASSISTANCE FOR MCARTHUR PARK GROUP'S DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN TO UPGRADE HISTORIC MCARTHUR PARK TO A 'CLASS A' PARK DESIGNATION AS WELL AS BETTER INTEGRATION OF THE PARK WITH IT'S HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD IN AN URBAN SETTING. THE GROUP HAS ALSO DEVELOPED THE MUSEUM ART AND HERITAGE (WALKING) TRAIL AND THE ACCOMPANYING AWARD WINNING ARKANSAS POLITICAL HISTORY AUDIO TOUR.

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 October 13, 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 September 1999.

    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 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.