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Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance

EIN 81-3402431 · Akron, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BUILD A BETTER KENMORE THROUGH CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND BUSINESS REVITALIZATION, EMBRACING OUR HISTORY, CELEBRATING OUR CREATIVITY AND IMPROVING OUR HISTORIC BUSINESS DISTRICT.

Income
$395,946
Spending
$324,559
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
3
Volunteers
112
Highest pay
$85,102, exec. dir.,

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: 63 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 76 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $29,135 spent. AMPLIFY AKRON'S MUSIC ROW THROUGH MARKETING, EVENTS AND LOCAL ARTISTS: BETTER KENMORE HOSTED A SERIES OF PLACEMAKING EVENTS INCLUDING FOUR FIRST FRIDAY FESTIVALS WITH LIVE MUSIC, VENDORS, FOOD TRUCKS, AND A KIDS ZONE; A BOO ON THE BOULEVARD HALLOWEEN EVENT WITH TRICK-OR-TREATING, A HAUNTED THEATER, AND A COSTUME CONTEST; A LIGHT THE BLVD HOLIDAY EVENT WITH LIVE HOLIDAY MUSIC, SANTA CLAUS, AND KIDS ACTIVITIES WITH HOT CHOCOLATE AND COOKIES; AND A SOLAR ECLIPSE WATCH PARTY. ALL THESE EVENTS ARE COMPLETELY FREE.
  2. $107,321 spent. IGNITE NEIGHBORHOOD-FRIENDLY INVESTMENT ACQUIRING AND DEVELOPING PROPERTY,AND ATTRACTING (AND MATCHING) BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS TO SPACES AND RESOURCES: THE RETAIL CORRIDOR VACANCY RATE HAS DROPPED BY DOUBLE DIGITS SINCE INCEPTION. THANKS TO RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND INCENTIVES, FEMALE AND MINORITY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES MORE CLOSELY MATCH THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S DEMOGRAPHIC. BETTER KENMORE ALSO PROVIDES RESOURCES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE SMALL BUSINESSES. FURTHER, THE ORGANIZATION HAS RESTORED TWO VACANT/BLIGHTED BUILDINGS AND IS CURRENTLY RESTORING A THIRD FOR MIXED-USE.
  3. $29,135 spent. CREATE SPACES THAT SING THROUGH SIGNAGE, PUBLIC ART AND "SAFE AND CLEAN"EFFORTS THAT MAGNIFY WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD: PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE PATHS AND WAYFINDING SIGNAGE HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. IN CONJUNCTION WITH VOLUNTEERS, WE TEND TO HUNDREDS OF NATIVE OHIO FLOWERS AND PLANTS IN THE BOULEVARD MEDIANS, AND HAVE TRASH CLEAN UP EVENTS. A CREATIVE PLACEMAKING PLAN HAS BEEN RECENTLY DEVELOPED TO COMPLEMENT THE PUBLIC ART MURALS BETTER KENMORE HAS ALREADY COMPLETED. A QUARTERLY COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS. IN 2024, WE INSTALLED HISTORIC DISTRICT WELCOME SIGNS AND WAYFINDING SIGNS FROM THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SUMMIT LAKE HIKE & BIKE TRAIL CONNECTOR OF THE OHIO ERIE & CANALWAY TOWPATH TRAIL TO THE BOULEVARD HISTORIC DISTRICT.
  4. $29,135 spent. ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AROUND CRITICAL ISSUES: WE SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED AKRONPUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REBUILD MILLER SOUTH AND PFEIFFER ELEMENTARY ON THE SITE OF THE FORMER KENMORE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, JUST ONE BLOCK NORTH OF THEBOULEVARD, A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT VALUED AT 62,000,000. ENROLLMENT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN FALL 2027.
  5. ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AROUND CRITICAL ISSUES: WE SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED AKRONPUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REBUILD MILLER SOUTH AND PFEIFFER ELEMENTARY ON THE SITE OF THE FORMER KENMORE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, JUST ONE BLOCK NORTH OF THEBOULEVARD, A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT VALUED AT 62,000,000. ENROLLMENT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN FALL 2027.

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 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 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 August 2016.

    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.