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Denver Civic Ventures Inc

EIN 74-2187538 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

DCV IS A CHARITABLE PUBLIC PURPOSE ORGANIZATION, WHICH MOBILIZES RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT CIVIC DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AND TO ACTIVATE THE DOWNTOWN DENVER PUBLIC REALM.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
-7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 38%
Employees
0
Volunteers
235
Highest pay
$629,491, president &

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 118% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 125% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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, 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. $2.3 million spent. DOWNTOWN ENVIRONMENT AND THE PUBLIC REALM: DCV UNDERTAKES INITIATIVES TO INVIGORATE AND REVITALIZE THE CENTER CITY, SUCH AS GROWING THE TREE CANOPY IN DOWNTOWN DENVER AND THE 5280 TRAIL THAT WILL LINK NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONNECT PEOPLE BY REIMAGINING UNDERUTILIZED STREETS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE AND FESTIVALS AND EVENTS: DCV PRODUCES A WIDE ARRAY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS AND EXPERIENCES THAT ACTIVATE THE PUBLIC REALM, PERPTUATE A POSITIVE BRAND FOR THE CENTER CITY, AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $900,323 spent. MEMBER AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: DCV HOLDS CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND INCLUDE EXCITING PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS AND CITY BUILDERS.
  4. $1.4 million spent. ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION: DENVER STARTUP WEEK HOSTS A SERIES OF EVENTS SHOWCASING DENVER'S ENTREPRENEUR COMMUNITY IN TECH, DESIGN, BUSINESS, AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THESE EVENTS HIGHLIGHT DENVER'S POTENTIAL AS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER AND CONTINUE TO BUILD THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONGST THE CURRENT ENTREPRENEURS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND MOBILITY: DCV IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING AN ECONOMICALLY POWERFUL CENTER CITY AND A MULTI-MODAL DOWNTOWN DENVER THAT ENHANCES TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR ALL USERS, CONNECTS DOWNTOWN DENVER WITH SURROUNDING CENTER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND STRENGTHENS DOWNTOWN DENVER'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES BY ENSURING SEAMLESS REGIONAL CONNECTIONS.
  5. ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION: DENVER STARTUP WEEK HOSTS A SERIES OF EVENTS SHOWCASING DENVER'S ENTREPRENEUR COMMUNITY IN TECH, DESIGN, BUSINESS, AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THESE EVENTS HIGHLIGHT DENVER'S POTENTIAL AS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER AND CONTINUE TO BUILD THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONGST THE CURRENT ENTREPRENEURS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND MOBILITY: DCV IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING AN ECONOMICALLY POWERFUL CENTER CITY AND A MULTI-MODAL DOWNTOWN DENVER THAT ENHANCES TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR ALL USERS, CONNECTS DOWNTOWN DENVER WITH SURROUNDING CENTER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND STRENGTHENS DOWNTOWN DENVER'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES BY ENSURING SEAMLESS REGIONAL CONNECTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 October 1981.

    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.