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Columbus Downtown Development Corporation

EIN 76-0704655 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

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

What it says it does

PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF PROJECTS FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS. PLEASE SEE PART I, LINE 1 AND SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION OF THE SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES STATEMENT.

Income
$40.7 million
Spending
$24.5 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 73%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$696,730, 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 87% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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. $23.5 million spent. CDDC CONTINUES WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2010 STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPED WITH COMMUNITY INPUT AND PROMULGATED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE THE RENOVATION OF A FORMER DOWNTOWN DEPARTMENT STORE INTO PREMIER OFFICE AND RETAIL SPACE, DEVELOPMENT OF DOWNTOWN PARKS THROUGH THE OVERSIGHT OF THE SCIOTO MILE PARK AND THE SCIOTO GREENWAYS PROJECT, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOWNTOWN SCIOTO PENINSULA. IN NOVEMBER 2018, CDDC'S SUBSIDIARY SP HOLDINGS ENTERED INTO SEPARATE PURCHASE, SALE AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WITH THREE DEVELOPERS FOR DEVELOPMENT SITES ON SCIOTO PENINSULA PROPERTY THE CORPORATION AND SP HOLDINGS ARE LEASING FROM THE CITY. SEE SCHEDULE O.THE SALES OF THESE SITES WERE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2020. THE DEVELOPERS OF THE PHASE 1 OFFICE, HOTEL AND RESIDENTIAL SITES STARTED CONSTRUCTION IN 2021. THE PHASE 1 OFFICE SITE OPENED IN 2022, WHILE THE RESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL SITES OPENED IN 2023. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE REMAINING COMPONENTS OF THE SCIOTO PENINSULA MASTER PLAN CONTINUED INTO 2024, WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR PHASE 2 EXPECTED IN 2025. IN RESPONSE TO A PRIORITY IDENTIFIED BY THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, CDDC ACQUIRED .72 ACRES OF LAND AT 497 EAST TOWN STREET IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS IN FEBRUARY 2021. CDDC IS DEVELOPED A 98 UNIT AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT, TOPIARY PARK CROSSING, ON THE SITE. THE PROJECT WAS FUNDED THROUGH A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LOAN, GRANTS FROM THE CITY OF COLUMBUS AND CAPITOL SOUTH AND AN EQUITY INVESTMENT FROM THE CORPORATION. CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY STARTED IN 2022. THE FACILITY OPENED IN FALL OF 2023.IN 2021, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS REQUESTED CDDC TO LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN. CDDC ENGAGED CONSULTANTS AND HAS SCHEDULED A SERIES OF PUBLIC FORUMS IN 2022 IN ORDER TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM DOWNTOWN STAKEHOLDERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE FINAL PLAN WAS ISSUED IN LATE 2022. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2022 DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN CONTINUED INTO 2024 AND BEYOND.IN 2022, CDDC AND THE CITY OF COLUMBUS ENTERED INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDED CDDC THE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE DOWNTOWN YMCA AND THE PURCHASE OR RENOVATION OF OTHER REAL PROPERTY ASSETS IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS. CDDC ENTERED INTO A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT FOR THE YMCA IN OCTOBER 2022, WITH CLOSING OCCURRING ON FEBRUARY 4, 2025.IN DECEMBER 2022, CDDC ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBUS FOR THE RE-DESIGN AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SCIOTO MILE FOUNTAIN. CDDC RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE CITY FOR HALF OF THE EXPECTED PROJECT COST. CONSTRUCTION COMMENCED IN 2023 AND A GRAND RE-OPENING OF THE FOUNTAIN TO THE PUBLIC WAS HELD IN MAY 2024.IN 2024, THE CORPORATION LAUNCHED THE GROUND FLOOR GROWTH PROGRAM TO SUPPORT SMALL RETAIL BUSINESSES IN THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, GFG ENTERS INTO LEASES FOR UNUSED STOREFRONTS AND SUBLETS THE PREMISES TO RETAILERS SELECTED BY THE CITY, THE CORPORATION AND THE LANDLORDS. THE CITY PROVIDES THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE BUILDOUT OF RETAIL SPACES AND RENT SUBSIDIES FOR THE RETAILERS. ADDITIONAL PHASES OF THE PROGRAM ARE EXPECTED IN FUTURE YEARS.IN 2024, CDDC AND THE CITY OF COLUMBUS ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR THE CAPITAL LINE, ENVISIONED AS A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY URBAN PATHWAY CONNECTING VARIOUS DOWNTOWN ATTRACTIONS AND AMENITIES. THE INITIAL PHASE OF THIS PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED BY A $10,000,000 GRANT FROM THE STATE OF OHIO. CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO START IN LATE 2025.IN 2024, CDDC AND THE CITY OF COLUMBUS BEGAN COLLABORATING ON THE CREATION OF A DOWNTOWN SECURITY CENTER (DSC). LOCATED IN THE LAZARUS BUILDING, THE DSC WILL SERVE AS A COLLECTION POINT FOR CAMERA FEEDS ACROSS DOWNTOWN, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING A HEADQUARTERS FOR SECURITY OPERATIONS FOR THE LAZARUS BUILDING, COLUMBUS COMMONS, COLUMBUS COMMONS GARAGES AND THE SCIOTO MILE. CDDC RECEIVED A $1,500,000 GRANT FROM THE STATE OF OHIO FOR THIS PROJECT.ON DECEMBER 18, 2024, CDDC PURCHASED 3 DOWNTOWN LEGACY OFFICE BUILDINGS FROM HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK. THE PURCHASE WAS FINANCED THROUGH A GRANT RECEIVED FROM THE RIVERSOUTH AUTHORITY. THE CITY OF COLUMBUS HAS AGREED TO LEASE THE ENTIRE 37 WEST BROAD BUILDING. THIS LEASE IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED BY MID-2025. THE CORPORATION IS EVALUATING THE BEST USE OF THE 17 AND 21 BUILDINGS.

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 October 2002.

    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.