Central Houston Civic Improvement Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CENTRAL HOUSTON CIVIC IMPROVEMENT LNC.'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED VITALITY AND TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF DOWNTOWN AND THE CENTRAL CITY THAT IS CRITICAL TO THE CONTINUED HEALTH AND GROWTH OF HOUSTON.
- Income
- $710,783
- Spending
- $687,524
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 80%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 45
- Highest pay
- $496,647, president
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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2545 of 45 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 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)
- $15,000 spent. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM-THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS USED AS A RELIABLE RESOURCE FOR INVESTORS, BUILDING OWNERS AND TENANTS SERVING AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR INFORMATION, INCLUDING INTERNALLY GENERATED DATA SUCH AS THE DOWNTOWN OFFICE STORY, DEVELOPMENT MAPS, AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCH. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OFFICE TENANTS, ENCOURAGE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT, GROW THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM, AND ULTIMATELY BRING EMPLOYERS AND JOBS TO DOWNTOWN.
- $438,962 spent. NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN CIVIC OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM-A FRAMEWORK FOR RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS REGARDING THE CIVIC OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHHIP PROJECT HAS BEEN CREATED THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND STEERING COMMITTEE OF CIVIC VOLUNTEERS. CENTRAL HOUSTON CIVIC IMPROVEMENT SERVES AS THE COORDINATING ENTITY TO PROVIDE A DEEP RESOURCE OF EXPERIENCED URBAN PLANNING, DESIGN, ENGINEERING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES, EITHER THROUGH INTERNAL STAFF OR THROUGH THE ENGAGEMENT OF CONSULTANTS, TO SUPPLEMENT THE RESOURCES OF THE CITY AND PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND TXDOT TO ADVANCE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF DESIGN FOR THE HIGHWAY PROJECT. CENTRAL HOUSTON CIVIC IMPROVEMENT OPERATES UNDER THE TERMS OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS WELL AS AN INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT WITH TXDOT WHICH DEFINES A PROCESS FOR JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF PRESCRIPTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS, PROCUREMENT SCORING AND JOINT REVIEW AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES THROUGH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PHASES.
- $81,870 spent. MARKET SQUARE PARK PROGRAM
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
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 December 2024.
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 September 1984.
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.